THE FAMILY of one of the country’s most promising young jockeys was being comforted at their home yesterday following his death in a fire in Yorkshire. The fire started at about 2.15am on Saturday.
Jamie Kyne (18) from Kiltrogue, Claregalway, Galway, died with another apprentice jockey, Jan Wilson (19) from Forfar in Scotland. The fire ravaged the block of flats in which they were staying at Norton, close to their Malton training base in Yorkshire.
About 60 firefighters battled the blaze which broke out at a building known as the Tannery which was used as accommodation for apprentice jockeys in Norton, a small village about 15km (nine miles) from Doncaster.
Two other young jockeys, including Ian Brennan from Dublin, escaped the fire which led to the arrest on Saturday of a local man in his 30s. He was later released on bail.
Kyne was due to ride at Haydock on Saturday. Jockeys at that meeting observed a moment of silence and wore black armbands in memory of the deceased.
Neighbours and friends went to the family home at Kiltrogue, when news of the death emerged. Tributes also flooded into a Facebook page set up after the deaths.
Jarlath McDonagh, a Fine Gael councillor who is a second cousin of the young jockey, said the community was devastated by the loss.
“People are shocked and saddened. Jamie was a lovely young man who was heavily involved in sport before he went to England to pursue his career.
“His progress was being closely watched and he was destined to make it all the way to the top. We felt he was in with a great chance of being the apprentice jockey of the year. It is very difficult to come to terms with it all,” said Cllr McDonagh.
He said that the dead teenager’s parents, Gerry and Madeline, were devastated. He is survived by four brothers, Francis and Jason who are older and younger brothers Brandon and Daniel, and a younger sister Cassandra.
Jamie attended Cregmore primary school and later Athenry vocational school.
Like his brothers, he was a talented boxer and represented Monivea Boxing Club. He also played hurling for Turloughmore.
His family have a long association with horses. When he moved to England about 18 months ago he linked up with trainer John Quinn to pursue his career.
Kyne was enjoying an excellent season and had ridden 29 winners this year, rising to third place in the apprentice of the year stakes and showed considerable promise.
“He had a lovely personality and everyone was so proud of the progress he had made. It is hard to believe he will never fulfil that promise now,” Cllr McDonagh added.