Tony Cameron

An outstanding Irish horseman in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, Tony Cameron was an eventer, show jumper, point-to-point rider, and steeplechase jockey, and also rode with both the Louth and Meath Foxhounds. As an equestrian rider, Cameron won team silver medals at the 1962 and 1965 European Eventing Championships riding Sam Weller and Lough Druid respectively. In 1960, Cameron and Eddie Harty were the first two civilian riders to represent Ireland in an Olympic equestrian event. They finished sixth in the team eventing competition, but at Tokyo four years later Cameron and the Irish team finished a creditable fourth behind Italy, USA, and Germany, with Cameron the leading Irish rider in fifth place in the individual competition.

As a jockey, Cameron rode at both the Cheltenham meeting and Aintree Grand National when he came close to winning the world’s greatest steeplechase in 1962. Riding the 100-1 outsider Gay Navaree, they led five furlongs from home and were still in the lead with two fences to jump. Sadly, Gay Navaree succumbed to Fred Winter on Kilmore, and they finished fourth. It was the first time Cameron had ridden Gay Navaree in public, as they had only previously ridden together in a racehorse school. Cameron made history as the first person to represent Ireland at the Olympics and ride in the Aintree Grand National. Through 2026, two other men have emulated him: 1960 team-mate Harty and Bill McLernon.