Grooms' Association of Jamaica president, Paul Pancho, was elected president of the newly formed Association of Jamaican Farriers at a meeting, last Thursday at Caymanas Park.

Pancho was elected unopposed and will serve for four years. Others elected to the executive were Garfield Reid (vice-president), Peter Dixon (secretary) and Craig Thompson (treasurer).

Pancho said trustees will be appointed along with a management committee. He will represent 14 farriers (blacksmiths) along with six others in training.

He said the aims and objectives of the association are to promote awareness of the profession, inviting overseas farriers to assist with its general upgrading and to work closely with other associations within the racing industry.

Pancho further stated that he would work tirelessly to put farriers on par with their counterparts abroad. According to the Kingston College old boy, the fact that he will be wearing two hats as representative of both the grooms and farriers should not pose a problem.

"I am looking forward to the challenge but when one is committed to giving the best representation possible, cooperation follows and little can go wrong," he emphasised.