(Liz Lalor accepting her award from Jennifer Pugh)
P2P.ie Champion Lady Rider- Liz Lalor
This season eight ladies rode winners with a total combination of 29 winners.
ITM staged their second ladies series with races taking place at Tinahely, Mainstown, Quakerstown, Lisronagh, Stradbally, Dromahane and Ballingarry.
Former point-to-point rider Rachel Blackmore who became the first female jockey to win the conditional title last season is currently in front in the rider’s championship and along with Katie Walsh, represented the Irish Lady Riders in this year’s Aintree Grand National.
It was another great year for Lisa O’Neill- who rode 14 bumper winners in 2017/18 as well as taking the Kerry national for the second year in a row on Potters Point and was then crowned the champion lady rider for last season on the track at Punchestown.
We also saw Katie Walsh and Nina Carberry announce their retirement during the Punchestown Festival. Katie rode 26 point-to-point winners while Nina rode 12 point-to-point winners as well as steering On The Fringe to success in the Cheltenham Foxhunters and the Aintree Foxhunters.
This years winner, Liz Lalor has well and truly established herself as one of Irelands top lady riders when crowned the p2p.ie Champion Lady Rider for the seventh time at this years’ awards having claimed her first title in 2009 when sharing with Jennifer Pugh.
Lalors other winners came courtesy of Rattle The Cage, Defacto Lady, Minella For Value, B L Swagger, Conformist, Red Devil Boys, Fenno’s Storm (ITM Ladies Open at Lisronagh) and After Eight Sivola in the ITM Ladies open at Ballingarry on Monday which was her 99th career success in the saddle in Irish point-to-points.
Lalor is now the third most winning lady point to point rider with a total of 99 winners, with Rosemary Rooney (101) and Helen Bryce-Smith (109).
Runner-up this year was the 2010 and 2014 winner, Maxine O’Sullivan who had six winners coming from A Decent Excuse (X3), Sammantom, Cavite Beta and Oighear Dubh.
Jody Townend finished third in the table with three winners on Ourmanmassini, Whoyakodding and Grianan Fidh.
