Racing Post graduate Mark Boylan scores big win at Student Media Awards

He describes himself as having been “a 20-1 shot in a six-runner race” but former Racing Post intern Mark Boylan outran his odds to be crowned Sports Writer of the Year at the National Student Media Awards at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday.

Boylan, a third-year Journalism and New Media undergraduate at University of Limerick, was up against writers who are in full-time employment or undertaking Masters degrees. However, the 20-year-old, who made a name for himself as a singer-song writer serenading the great Kauto Star, proved a versatile addition to the Racing Post last year when he joined the Irish office for a seven-month stint.

His entry comprised a spread celebrating Beef Or Salmon, a colour sketch from Laytown and an in-depth interview with Robbie McNamara.

“I was the most surprised man in the building,” Boylan said following the lavish ceremony in Dublin. “When I was writing I would only have been focusing on doing the best I could, but to look back now on my time with the Racing Post and to have something in my hand to show for it is really special.”

“I was competing with guys and girls writing on soccer and GAA and rugby, so to win it writing about racing means a lot to me. Racing people have always been so good to me, and the Racing Post was fantastic in helping me learn and develop.”

A died-in-the-wool Offaly GAA fanatic who is currently completing a semester at Ayr University, Boylan quipped on Twitter: “It’s not too often that an Offaly man leaves Dublin happy when there’s silverware involved but I’m thrilled!”

Worthwhile weekend

The 2017 Newmarket Open Weekend raised an impressive sum for local causes

The 2017 Newmarket Open Weekend raised £45,000 last year, which will be split between Racing Welfare’s Newmarket Housing Project, the Newmarket Day Centre and the Newmarket Academy.

On hand to receive the cheque (above) were (left to right) Nick Froy, principal of the Newmarket Academy, Elvis McMinn, general manager of the Newmarket Day Centre, trainer Charlie Fellowes, Dawn Goodfellow, Racing Welfare CEO, and Sara Cumani.

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