'Like winning the Irish National' - Nina Carberry wins Dancing With The Stars

Nina Carberry has compared being crowned champion of Ireland's Dancing With The Stars on Sunday night to her memorable Irish Grand National triumph by revealing the outpouring of support for both achievements are on a par with each other.

Carberry was one of the most successful amateur jockeys of all time with 423 winners, including that famous 2011 Irish Grand National triumph on Organisedconfusion, and it proved to be a seamless transition to the dancefloor over the last three months.

Less than 24 hours after wowing the judges, Carberry thanked the racing industry for its support, admitting she had yet to come back down to earth following her big win.

She said: "The support from this industry has been amazing. Between Noel and Derville [Meade] doing the TikTok videos, the jockeys and the trainers wishing me well, it's like winning the Irish Grand National all over again. The reception we got is similar for winning the Irish National.

"Everyone comes together in racing and that was driving me on. I wanted to do everyone in racing proud and that drove me every week. I'm delighted that I was able to dance well and repay everyone's faith in me."

Carberry added: "It's going to be sad now that I won't be learning to dance professionally. Pasquale La Rocca was an unbelievable partner. He was a perfectionist. He has a great career ahead of him in choreography.

"It was an incredible experience. I'll keep up the dancing, but only for fitness really, because I'd say I've never been as fit in my life."

Carberry was winning the fifth series of Ireland's Dancing With The Stars and was following in the footsteps of previous winners Aidan O'Mahony, Jake Carter, Mairead Ronan and Lottie Ryan.

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