Not many people know Joshua Kearney Millner, except perhaps those who are devoted to dogs, particularly the Irish Red Setter. Col Millner, who was born in Dublin on July 5th, 1847, remains the oldest winner of an individual gold medal in Olympic history at 61 years and four days.

John Botos of Raheny, Dublin hopes to have a plaque erected in Millner's last residence to mark the honour as the record most unlikely to be beaten in the modern Games. The 1,000-yards free-rifle competition is now discontinued but in London in 1908, the Irishman scored 98 points to beat USA's Kellogg Casey into second place on 93 points and Britain's Maurice Blood into the bronze medal position. Millner subsequently published The Irish Setter, It's History and Training in 1924, the first book soley devoted to the breed, before dying at Leeson Park House in 1931 at the age of 84.