Awards Venue
Silver Springs, Cork
Champion Rider: A.J. Martin, D.P. Costello (31 winners each)
Champion Lady: Lulu Olivefall
Champion Novice (Under 21): J.T. McNamara
Northern Champion: P.F. Graffin
Southern Champion: D.P. Costello
Eastern Champion: A.J. Martin
Western Champion: J.T. McNamara
Horse of the Year: Elegant Lord
Champion Senior (OVER 33): A.J.Martin
Personality of the Year: Tom Higgins
RIDERS TABLE
31 D.P.Costello, A.J.Martin
21 P.F.Graffin
19 E.Bolger, E.Gallagher, J.T.McNamara
15 W.Ewing
14 P.Fenton
13 I.Buchanan, G.Elliott, N.Fehily, D.M.O’Brien
12 H.F.Cleary, T.Lombard
11 K.O’Sullivan
10 J.A.Berry, T.Cloke, B.Hassett, R.Hurley, D.Murphy
9 J.A.Collins, B.R.Hamilton, G.J.Harford, W.M.O’Sullivan
8 P.Cloke
7 D.Keane, J.Motherway
6 R.Arthur, K.Beecher, J.T.Codd, P.M.Kelly, J.G.O’Connell, R.J.Patton, M.Phillips, K.Whelan,
5 L.J.Gracey, L.Lennon, J.Lombard, B.Moran, C.A.Murphy, Lulu Olivefalk, J.Quigley, K.Ross
4 D.K.Budds, A.G.Costello, J.A.Flynn, D.A.Harney, G.Mulcaire, A.O’Shea, R.Pugh, D.Valentine, D.Whelan
3 J.P.Berry, M.A.Cahill, D.P.Coakley, G.Coulter, A.C.Coyle, B.Doyle, Lillian Doyle, D.Duggan, S.Durack,
A.Fleming, B.Hallahan, T.P.Hyde, F.Kiernan, S.J.Mahon, G.Martin, M.D.Scanlon, J.G.Sheahan, B.Valentine.
2 J.Bright, P.J.Carey, B.Cash, P.Coleman,P.R.Costello, G.Crowley, J.Cullen, P.Curran, D.P.Daly,
J.P.Dempsey, E.Fehily, J.E.Finn, R.Flavin, D.Hickey, C.McCarren, D.McCartan, J.A.Nash, S.O’Callaghan,
R.P.O’Keeffe, W.Ross, N.W.Toal, J.S.Vance, B.Walsh, L.Winters
1 C.Andrews, T.J.Angel, R.J.Barnwell, D.Breen, M.Budds, M.Casey, J.Cash, B.Clohessy, G.Clugston,
F.Cunningham, V.P.Deveraux, C.P.Donnelly, T.J.Farrell, P.M.Gault, R.Geraghty, P.J.Gilligan, W.M.Hayes,
S.P.Hennessy, Mary Horgan, S.Jackson, M.Kavanagh, N.C.Kelleher, R.Kehoe, K.Kirwan, D.Lanigan, E.Magee,
J.Mawhinney, D.J.McAteer, L.D.McBratney, J.McGrath, G.J.McKeever, M.McNulty, J.P.Molony, A.Murdoch, Julia
Murdoch, L.B.Murphy, T.J.Nagle, E.Norris, M.O’Connor, P.O’Keeffe, B.Potts, D.P.Quinn, Rose Ring, J.M.Roche,
K.M.Roche, A.Ross, J.P.Shaw, E.Sheehy, A.Tate, K.Taylor, L.J.Temple, Lucy Townsley, M.J.Walsh.
Some of the newcomers of note to the List (Riders who make their first appearance to the list. In most
cases this is their first winners but not all)
D. Breen - (Former amateur with Josh Gifford. Nephew of Fr.Sean Breen)
J.A. Collins - (Carrigtwohill amateur)
A.C. Coyle - (Former amateur with Paddy Mullins)
J.L. Cullen - (Wexford professional. Eastern Champion ’00)
D. Deacon - (Clonroche Trainer)
S. Durack - (English based professional. Ridden over 200 winners including on Looks Like Trouble)
E. Fehily - (Brother of professional Noel)
R. Flavin - (Croom rider. Now based in England. Former joint champion novice ’97)
A. Fleming - (Blessington amateur. Joint Novice champion ’97. Winner of Ladies Cup on No Mistake for Ted
Walsh ’96)
R. Geraghty - (Meath professional. Winner of Irish Grand National on The Bunny Boiler in ’02 and brother of
champion rider Barry and point to point rider Norman)
P.J. Gilligan - (Galway Trainer)
M. Kavanagh - (Winner of a bumper on Cheltenham bumper winner Muckelmeg)
J.O. McGrath - (Waterford rider)
J. Motherway - (Cork amateur)
E. Norris - (Former Amateur with Pat Flynn. Won on Montelado & Aries Girl)
D.P. Quinn - (Clare Trainer)
K.M. Roche - (Wexford Amateur)
A. Ross - (Slanemore rider. Now based as a professional in England. Eastern Champion ’99. Rider of
Function Dream for Mary Reveley. Nephew of trainer Cecil)
W. Ross - (Slanemore Amateur. Cousin/brother??? of English based professional Anthony)
M.D. Scanlan - (Horse Transporter)
B. Walsh - (Donerlaile Amateur. Son of trainer J.J. )
SUMMARY
- The Cheltenham Foxhunters race has never been a particularly happy hunting ground for the Irish. In 1995 the Irish thought they had the answer with Elegant Lord but his followers were to be disappointed. This season however Elegant Lord was reunited with Enda Bolger in possibly one of the best fields ever assembled for the race.
- Bolger had endured much hard luck at the course and had a burning ambition to ride a winner there and many Elegant Lord followers were ‘on’ again. This time the favourite obliged beating subsequent Gold Cup winner Cool Dawn with former Irish Champion Kerry Orchid back in third. To stamp his supremacy on the sphere Elegant Lord took the Joseph O’Reilly by nine lengths and the Champion Hunter Chase by seven lengths. He was undoubtedly one of the finest horse to remain pointing for quite some time.
- The riders title was an exciting affair with Dermot Costello in the West and Tony Martin in the East but it was an interesting conclusion. Martin didn’t ride from mid April due to injury but was well clear of Costello. By the middle of May Costello needed 8 winners from only five meetings and by Kinsale he needed four winners over the two days.
- Mr Pipe Man was the only one he could manage so three were needed on the final day. Miracle Me took the opener while What Is The Plan quickly followed. In the four mile Open the treble was duly landed and title divided when the hot favourite What Thing duly obliged by eight lengths. Incidentally Costello had a crack at taking the title outright but failed on his other rides which included subsequent Galway Plate winner Stroll Home in the 3m Open.
- Cork Examiner reporter Tom Higgins was this years personality for his tireless work covering points in the area over the years.
- 1996 was a very exciting season for four year olds with no les than three subsequent top class recruits running between the flags. Nick Dundee, Florida Pearl & Boss Doyle all figured among the leading youngsters where the standard had never been higher.=
- There was plenty to look forward to among five and six year olds also with Dixon Varner, Stay In Touch, Stroll Home & Tearaway King all beginning to make a good impression.
