By Dan Walsh
The 42nd annual Point-to-Point racing awards were presented at a function in Hotel Minella, Clonmel, last weekend where two Wexford sportsmen were feted – champion rider Barry O’Neill and champion handler Colin Bowe.
Barry O’Neill is The Irish Field Champion rider for the sixth time with 64 winners from 195 rides which is a strike rate of 33%. He had eight falls during the season. He also took the Horse Racing Ireland Northern Championship and the Horse Racing Ireland Eastern Championship.
Other Wexford riders who shared in the 2022-23 season success were Rob James (32), Jack Hendrick (22), Bertie Finn (15), Luke Murphy, Tiernan Power Roche and James Walsh (9 wins each).
Kiltealy-based Colin Bowe is the Race Displays Ireland Leading Handler – his 9th title – with 46 wins from 233 runners representing a strike-rate of 20%. Bowe only needs only four more winners to hit the 500-career winner mark and it should be noted that 41 of his 46 successes in the 2022-23 season were ‘maidens’.
Other Wexford handlers who performed well includes Donnchadh Doyle (25), Sean Doyle (19), Denis Murphy (15), Mary Ellen Doyle (11) and Harley Dunne (10).
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