The Foxhunters Chase was deemed a resounding triumph for Victoria Pendleton who successfully got around the track finishing in fifth place.
She expressed her delight at finishing the race, and finishing as high as fifth, from the odd terrain of the winners enclosure, not usually a place too accommodating to jockeys who've finished fifth.
But then it would be churlish to carp too much. She's done incredibly for someone who's only at this a year.
The race was also something of a triumph for Nina Carberry, whose horse, On the Fringe, finished the race before anyone else.
Thankfully, she was also allowed into the winners' enclosure afterwards. This in spite of the fact that the victors' enclosure is, like many a town in old westerns, only big enough for one big boy.
Channel 4 elbowed Nina out of the way (well, metaphorically) in a desire to reach Pendleton. Rishi Persad showered her in love and acclaim.
"I'm overwhelmed, one of the greatest achievements of my life!" @v_pendleton on her 5th at #CheltenhamFestival https://t.co/0yrXTQInEb
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) March 18, 2016
As ever, social media got bogged down in a pedantic row over etiquette. Many took umbrage. Nina didn't get no respect, was the consensus.
Did Nina Carberry or Victoria Pendleton win that race? Could have sworn it was Nina
— Boylesports (@BoyleSports) March 18, 2016
why is the breaking news victoria pendleton finishes 5th & not nina carberry wins?? #CheltenhamFestival #wrongpriorities #Cheltenham
— Jackie Martin (@jackiemartinart) March 18, 2016
I thought Nina Carberry won the foxhunters not Victoria Pendleton ?
— Matt Griffiths (@mattgr1ff1ths) March 18, 2016
Looking forward to seeing Nina Carberry cycling in the Olympics now #thetoughesttrade
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) March 18, 2016
AP sums it up perfectly 'well done to Victoria Pendleton for getting round, but it's all about Nina Carberry.' Too right
— Sarah Hargreaves (@sareypare) March 18, 2016
Dear non-horsey people going mad over Victoria Pendleton staying on a horse, how about congratulating Nina Carberry who actually won?
— Charlotte Telfer (@CharlotteTelfer) March 18, 2016
@RishiPersad1 thought a lot of coverage of Pendleton was pathetic what about Nina carberry on the horse that won the race
— Richard Atkinson (@acko42) March 18, 2016
And while Pendleton did well, the winner was tremendous Irish jockey, Nina Carberry. #CheltenhamFestival https://t.co/66NWjyHvbN
— Tim Brannigan (@tim_brannigan) March 18, 2016
David Parry found a neat way out of this moral quandary.
It is entirely possible to congratulate both Victoria Pendleton AND Nina Carberry. There I've just done it. Not that hard.
— David Parry (@DavidParryRacin) March 18, 2016
AP sums it up perfectly 'well done to Victoria Pendleton for getting round, but it's all about Nina Carberry.' Too right
— Sarah Hargreaves (@sareypare) March 18, 2016
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