PENANG,  20 Apr 2009

History was created today at the Penang Turf Club (PNTC) annual general meeting when 32-year-old architect Teoh Mei Shean was elected into the management committee of the club.

She is the first woman ever to be elected to such a position in a turf club in the country.

"It's a great honour," said a modest Teoh, who currently sits in two sub-committees of PNTC and also doubles up as timekeeper and racing steward.  "This is a step forward towards the modernisation of horse racing in the country."

Teoh's family has been involved in horse for three generations. Her grandfather Teoh Kon Moh's horse PUNKAWALLA won the prestigious Singapore Gold Cup in 1932. Her father Teoh Ming Khean is also a horse owner.

A graduate of the University of Glasgow, she hopes to rejuvenate the sport by getting more young people involved.

The AGM today also elected another new face, lawyer Saw Lip Khai, into the management committee.

Re-elected today were Dato Ong Eng Khuan (president), Dato Seri Teh Choon Beng, John Alexander Rodgers, Dato Dr Henry Ooi Kwee Lim, Tan Phaik Guan and Dato Robert Chan Woot Khoon.