THE autumn Point to Point season opened at Ballindenisk Co. Cork on Sunday last, before an excellent attendance, where the racing was interesting, exciting and competitive.

First Donn Jets, the hot favourite at 1/3, was an impressive three length winner for trainer Liam Burke and Carrigtwohill owner Jerry O’Mahony in the opening confined Maiden. Royal Ace caused a 7/1 shock in the four and five-year old Maiden Race for owner/trainer John Halley from Newtown, Co. Waterford.

Wexford trainer John Beary made the long trip well worthwhile with his River Grove, 3/1, winning the open lightweight by a length from Fishin Rhyme. The six-year old and upwards Geldings Maiden was won by The Pilot Son, 7/4, which was given a most enterprising ride by 21-year old Killeagh jockey, Martin Fitzgerald, who made every yard of the running for a game three length win. The concluding mares Maiden provided a marvellous family success for Declan Queally from Dungarvan whose charge, Poor Witness, 5/1, romped home by 10 lengths under a superb ride by Brendan O’Sullivan from Liscarroll, Co. Cork.

Winners: First Donn Jets 1/3 Eoin Gallagher, Royal Ace 7/1 John McGrath, River Grove 3/1, William Codd, The Pilot Son 7/4 Martin Fitzgerald. Poor Witness 5/1 Brendan O’Sullivan.

Norman Williamson and John Kavanagh retire from race riding

CORK born National Hunt jockey, Norman Williamson, shocked the racing public during the week when he announced his retirement from the saddle, at the relatively young age of 34 due to problems with discs in his neck.

A fall at Downpatrick aggravated the problem and after a recent scan Williamson decided that retirement was the best option. Norman said that if he had another fall he could be seriously injured.

He won 1268 races in a splendid career and was a leading rider at Cheltenham in 1995 where he had four winners, including Master Oats in the Gold cup and Alderbrook in the Champion Hurdle.

He had many other notable wins such as Back in Front last season at Cheltenham, Commanche Court in the Triumph Hurdle in 1997, Ned Kelly in Irish Champion Hurdle in 2002, Teeton Mill in the Hennessy Gold Cup and King George Chase in 1998. His best placing in the Grand National was runner up on Mely Moss in 2000.

Norman commenced his career in Horse and Pony Racing where he was champion on three occasions and rode no less than 65 winners in one season. When he commenced his apprenticeship, he rode as an amateur for Ireland’s leading trainer Dermot Weld, and was a superb and exceptionally talented Point to Point rider and was leading rider in the Munster circuit for many years. When he turned professional, he rode mostly for trainers Kim Bailey, John Edwards, Venetia Williams, and here in Ireland for Eddie O’Grady.

Many tributes are being paid to Norman, amongst them from Britain’s champion jockey Tony McCoy, who said “he was tough to beat and was a top class jockey at every level, it will be extremely difficult to replace him, and he will be sorely missed in the weigh room.”

Williamson is the second Irish jockey based in England to retire from race riding recently after Adrian Maguire. Meanwhile, jockey John Kavanagh, who rode the Queen Mother’s 400th winner and who has been associated with such stars in National Hunt Racing as Geos and Landing Light, has quit race riding and will shortly join recently retired top jump jockey Adrian Maguire.

Thirty-five year old Kavanagh says that the time is right to go as “the profit margins for a middle order rider are shrinking all the time. The game has been very good to me, and I have worked and ridden for some very nice people. I’m moving back to Ireland to work with Adrian Maguire who I have known for a long time.

Adrian Maguire has bought a place not far from the present Mallow Racecourse and will start off training point to pointers, and later when he gets his full trainers licence he will have runners under rules on the track.

Point to point racing is the shop window for National Hunt racing as many Cheltenham and Gold Cup winners have come from the point to point fields over the years.

John Kavanagh, who rode over 300 winners, was with Michael Hourigan at Patrickswell in Limerick, before moving to England to become a pivotal part of the powerful Niely Henderson operation in Lambourne, which he joined 13 years ago.

Kavanagh recalled his first winner for Henderson was on Master Bob at Cheltenham in December 1990. The highlight for him was riding the Queen Mothers Nearco Boy at Uttoxeter in May 1994. Henderson acknowledged that Johnny will be a big loss to him, and had been a very important member of his team, and rode some of his best horses.

This week’s racing fixtures

Thursday – Thurles 1.15 pm (Mixed)

Friday – Gowran park 1.15 pm (Flat)

Saturday – Naas (all National Hunt)

Sunday – Clonmel (All National Hunt) 1.00pm

Sunday – Leopardstown (All Flat) 12.45 p.m.

Sunday – Point-to-Point at Dungourney, Co. Cork 12.30pm