The 2021 autumn campaign which gets underway at Oldcastle on Saturday will feature an enhanced schedule of lady-rider races programmed beginning next month at the Island Hunt point-to-point in Ballycrystal.
Last year’s interrupted season saw six female riders registering wins, including Toni Quail and Rachel Kelly, who both recorded their initial successes, as Maxine O’Sullivan went on to pick up her fifth ladies title with four wins from a total of 24 rides.
One of the big storylines for the 2021/22 season will be Liz Lalor’s continued quest to try and become the all-time winning lady rider between the flags.
The Tipperary native currently sits on a career total of 107 pointing winners, just two shy of the all-time record for Helen Bryce Smith which has stood since her last success in 1974.
The increased four-race schedule of ladies open races in the pre-Christmas campaign will surely boost Lalor’s chances of making history this year, with races being held at Ballycrystal, Quakerstown, Moig South and Mainstown.
The dates for each of the four races can be viewed below:
Oct 31st – Ballycrystal
Nov 14th – Quakerstown
Nov 28th – Moig South
Dec 5th – Mainstown
Current All-time top five lady riders standings:
Helen Bryce Smith – 109
Liz Lalor – 107
Rosemary Rooney – 101
Ann Ferris – 94
Claire MacMahon - 77
