Ormond Foxhounds
Charlie and Donald Swan
A Horse&Hound Legend of the Sport, Charlie Swan was Champion Jockey for 9 consecutive years until his retirement.
The bond between son Charlie and father Donald shone like a beacon when I had the opportunity to speak to them both during the lock-down. Charlie begins their story.
“Dad adored his riding, whether it was hunting or riding as an amateur. And I guess he passed that on to me. He loved the training and always had a few horses for me to ride. My great-grandfather on my mother’s side was champion flat Jockey in England and rode a Derby winner. I would have often looked to Dad for advice, and I gained a lot of experience with him.”
O’Connor and Codd Battle for Top Rider in Ireland
The suspense continues as to who will win this season’s Irish Point-to-Point Riders Championship. Both Derek O’Connor and Jamie Codd have been alternating at the top of the table all season with O’Connor edging ahead last week with a season tally of 94 winners and Codd slipping slightly at 91. O’Connor is the leading Irish point-to-point rider of all time with a remarkable 700 winners. But Jamie Codd from County Wexford will not give up easily having held the lead up to last week. This is a fascinating climax to the season which closes on June 6 at the Ormond Foxhounds meeting at Southpark, Ballingarry, County Tipperary. Meanwhile Liz Lalor looks to have the Ladies Point to Point Riders Championship well in her grasp with 12 winners. Posted May 19, 2011 Derek OConnor on John Paul Gilligan’s Phar From A Friend at the Galway Blazers Point-to-Point, Athenry, Co. Galway
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