Friends Barry and Rob are sharing champions

By Dan Walsh

The national point-to-point season 2023-’24 ended today after eight months and a pleasant outcome is that friends and neighbours, Barry O’Neill, (35), and Rob James, (30), entered “a gentleman’s agreement” and didn’t ride on the final weekend, and consequently they share the 2023-’24 The Irish Field National Point-to-Point Riders’ Championship with both ending the season on 39 winners each.

Barry said; “Rob and I have worked together for nearly 20 years at this stage. Rob was one of the Best Men at my wedding, so we have been friends for a long time, and we have travelled up and down the country together going racing.”

It is Barry O’Neill’s eighth time being crowned champion point-to-point rider having taken his first title from Jamie Codd on the final day at Ballingarry in 2017, but it is a first for James, who last weekend also sealed a share of the Eastern regional title. Both will receive their awards at a special function taking place in Kilkenny in a few weeks’ time.

On the final day of the season at two tracks today, the Wexford winners kept flowing. Champion handler Colin Bowe enjoyed a double at Inchydoney to bring his seasonal total to 38 winners; Devilskin by eight lengths in the Winner of Two race and Doyen Evening, running in the colours of Owen Murphy, Galbally, scraped home by ‘a head’ in the maiden race for five-year-old mares plus. Both were ridden by Oulart rider Bertie Finn.

Newcomer  Dippedinmoonlight scored by 40 lengths in the maiden race for four-year-olds for handler Darragh Berry and young Kilmore rider Josh Berry, riding his second winner in two days.

Denis Murphy saddled a five lengths winner in newcomer Berkenshtaap in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings ridden by the new under 21 champion rider, Sean Cotter from Cork. Another newcomer Freddies Back, running in the colours of Áine Dagg, scored a two lengths victory for the Tinahely father and son, handler and rider partnership of John Edward Walsh and James Walsh. That was in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.

Today’s other fixture was at Ballingarry where Cleariestown rider Barry Stone enjoyed double success in the first two races; Cocovic for Butlerstown, Co. Waterford handler Paul Power in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings and Eager Eyes for Mark Scallan, Cleariestown, and running in the colours of Shane Roche, by two lengths in the maiden race for six-year-old mares.

Cormac Doyle, Ballindaggin, saddled Diese Des Bieffes in the Open Race confined to Lady Riders at Ballingarry. Seven lengths the winning verdict and a second career success for Kilmore rider Joanne Corish.