Memories of Tyrella point-to-point

Memories of Tyrella point-to-point

13 May 2020

THIS week we look back at the East Down Foxhounds point-to-point meeting that took place at the Corbett family estate at Tyrella on Saturday, March 9, 1985.

As usual in those days the opening race on the card was the Alan Dunlop Confined Hunt Race. Only four of the nine entries went to post with Newcastle ride Tom Newsam setting off in the lead on his own Miss Lennihan, followed by Colin McBratney on Belle Lady, owned and trained at Strangford by Joe Magee.

Belle Lady came down and victory went to Midnight Auburn, owned and ridden by Downpatrick’s Gerry Lavery, whose son, Declan, is one of today’s top local amateur riders. Miss Lennihan took second as Paddy Fitzsimons had to pull up on Heather’s Braes. 

The winner was trained by Gerry’s brother, Brian, who works for Jeremy Maxwell at Ballee. For Gerry, this was his sole success in the saddle.

The third race of the day was the Rea’s Emporium Open which resulted in another nice local success for Nightmaster, owned and trained at Erenagh by John McCauley and ridden by his son Denis.

David Wilson’s Wremando, ridden by Laurence Millar, was second and third past the judge, David Shillington, from Dromara, was Blinky Bill in the colours of Comber’s Dessie Osborne, the former good amateur Paul Larkin being in the saddle.

On the days leading up to this meeting, the dogs were barking, as they say, for a horse called Supplementary Sam. This horse took part in the fourth race, the Andi Grand Prix qualifier and, with Rathfriland jockey Leo Gracey in the saddle, made all at the running to come home four lengths clear of Glen Keys, ridden by Paul Larkan, and Bentra Road, ridden by Tom Howley. Frankie Fitzsimons was fourth on Davy Black’s Anns Penny.

The winner, making his debut, ran in the colours of Rathfriland’s Sam McKee, better known as Uel, who told me not all that long ago, that they arrived at the track that day in a makeshift horse box and parked beside some of the lorries from top stables. 

The East Downshire (Dundrum) Open Farmers Race went to Grange Valley’, owned and trained by former good amateur Ballymena’s Samy Patton and ridden by Robert Steele, who rode all his runners. Second was Ballymoney farrier John Mawhinney’s Motalee, ridden by Denis Macauley who in later years bred Brave Inca. Strahane Last took third ahead of False Modesy, ridden by Ballygowan’s I Kerr for Tom Kerr.

This was double success for Lisburn vet-surgeon Robert Steele, as he had earlier won the second race of the day, the R E Hamilton Hunter Chase Championship Qualifier, value £150, on Eurowin. Second was Meadow Hawk, ridden by William Gault, from Randalstown, with Downpatrick’s painter Kieran McLoughin third on the Leo McGrady-owned Le Bambino.

I’m not sure where I watched all the races, but I do recall that I went to the second fence on the course to watch the final race, the Ashley Bar Mares Maiden Race. In those days the fence was an open ditch and permanent.

The leader going into the fence was Miss Alex, trained by Victor Robinson at Portadown and ridden by Tom Howley. The six year old never lifted, firing her rider onto the ground, and in the process brought down Colin McBratney on More Cloud. Somehow the other 13 runners avoided Howley as the race progressed. 

The eventual winner was Bonnetys Bridge, a rare ride and a sole career win for Don Ferris from Poyntzpass, Newry, who is now the father-in-law of top local amateur Mark O’Hare. Second past the post was Dalaray, owned by Banbridge farmer Robert Mulligan and the mount of Ian Buchanan, who was a dentist in those days. Third was Staboe Lady, ridden by her owner, M Campbell

The meeting was run under the stewardship of Craig Caven and Mrs Doreen Johnston. The hon secretary was Ballydrain’s Jim Pooler, while his son, Chris, was the announcer. The clerks of the course were Denis Macauley and Tom Edgar and among the honorary surgeons was Mr Alan Archbold from Seaforde. In those days Billy Cromie from Clough was well known as the board marker.

Among the advertisers were Charles Keown, Renault dealer; Royal Ascot Roadhouse, Carryduff; Seaforde Transport; CJ Foy MPS, Irish Street, Downpatrick; The Old Tom Bar, Castlewellan; Watt and McBriar Ltd, Saintfield; Abbey Grill, Downpatrick; and Irwin’s Superfoods, Ballynahinch.

Following on from the only career wins of Lavery and Ferris, it is interesting to record that in 1986 Craig Caven, Ardglass farmer and long time master of the East Downs, was able to achieve a long held ambition to ride in a point-to-point when partnering Nightmaster’, a course specialist owned and trained by John Macauley, in the opening Alan Dunlop Confined Hunt Race.

It was a very wet and windy day — only eight of the 19 entries took part — but Craig won from “Tullumgrange, bred and owned by Ardglass farmer Dick McConvey, and ridden by Darragh Cross rider Paul McMahon. Red Gazette, owned by Frances Haw from Ballynahinch, came third.

Felix Burns, who is now over 100, from Rossglass, had a runner in the race called Bright Spree VI. It is also interesting that More Cloud, ridden by Colin McBratney, won the concluding race, the Joseph Walls Mares Maiden Race, from Comber owner Elizabeth O’Prey’s Yankee Lass and No Time for Tears, in the colours of Drumaness owner Phil Kimber, this one ridden by Tom Howley, 

Other runners in the race were Eddie Armstrong’s Barcora Maid’, ridden by Yvonne Armstrong, both from Saintfield, Craig Queen, owned by Tom Stronge from Killinchy, and Turkish River VI, owned by Strangford’s Dickie Murphy, the mount of Paddy Fitzsimons.

Liam Lennon broke a bone in his foot when colliding with a rail on Sam Hamilton’s O’Briens Daughter and had to be helped of his mount.

It was sad to learn that former Downpatrick flat jockey, Michael Mathers, has passed away recently.