The funeral has taken place in Co Galway of teenage jockey Jamie Kyne who died in a suspected arson attack in England earlier this month.
The 18-year-old jockey from Kiltrogue, Claregalway, Galway, died with another apprentice jockey, Jan Wilson (19) from Forfar in Scotland when fire ravaged the block of flats in which they were staying at Norton, close to their Malton training base in Yorkshire on September 5th.
The fire broke out at a building known as the Tannery which was used as accommodation for apprentice jockeys in Norton, a small village about 15km from Doncaster.
Hundreds of mourners attended this morning's service at Our Lady Queen of Knock church in Lackagh, near Claregalway. They were led by Jamie's parents Gerry and Madeleine, his four brothers and one sister, and his two sets of grandparents.
It was announced yesterday that this year’s apprentice championship has been renamed in tribute to the two young riders.
The competition will now be called the Jan Wilson & Jamie Kyne Apprentice Championship 2009.
Jamie Kyne had already partnered 30 winners this year before the tragedy occurred with Wilson having tasted victory three times on her parents’ horse, Imperial Sword.