Michelle Smith in 1980. At aged 14, Smith won ten medals at the Irish National Swimming Championships. At 14, she became National Junior and Senior Champion and dominated Irish women's swimming until her retirement in 1998. Smith first appeared on the world scene as an 18-year-old at the Seoul Olympics and only narrowly missed the semi-finals (top 16). Smith's second major championship was at the 1991 World Championships in Perth, Australia, where she finished 13th in the 400 m individual medley. She competed at the 1991 European Championships and qualified for the 1992 Olympic Games. She competed in the 200 m medley
Irish Champion Hurdle most recent winner of the Leopardstown version to win the Champion Hurdle in the same season was Hurricane Fly in 2013. The Irish Champion Hurdle was sponsored by AIG Europe from 1993 to 2008, and by Toshiba in 2009 and 2010. The race has been sponsored by BHP Insurance since 2011 and is now part of the Dublin Racing Festival weekend. Most successful horse (5 wins): Most successful jockey (6 wins): Most successful trainer (6 wins): The 1995 running took place at Fairyhouse. Irish Champion Hurdle The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland