End of Season Awards
by Brian and Gill Armstrong

THE curtain came down on the national Point-to-Point season when the Torrington Farmers held their meeting in party atmosphere at Umberleigh, near Barnstaple, Devon on Saturday. There was a double for Tiverton owners Rodney and Shirley Grant with Harnage (Confined) and Spinning Silver (Intermediate), while Richard Woollacott’s win aboard World Famous in the closing Open Maiden race was enough to secure the Devon & Cornwall Men’s Riding Award by a single point.

After racing, the Torrington Farmers Committee made presentations to Shropshire rider Richard Burton, National Champion Men’s Rider for the third time, and Wessex-based Rachael Green, the 2006 National Champion Lady Rider with 28 winners. This was a first National title for Rachael, who lives at Broomfield, near Taunton, and rides for Richard Barber’s Seaborough yard. It was also a fine performance by Rachael to depose Polly Gundry, reigning National Champion since 2000.

The Torrington Farmers secretary Carole Norman making presentations to 2006 National Champion Riders Richard Burton from Shropshire and Wessex-based Rachael Green
Photo by Brian Armstrong

Not surprisingly, Rachael also wins the 2006 Wessex Area Leading Lady Rider Award. Isle Of Wight owner Hazel Goody is the Wessex Area Leading Owner, thanks to her Barton Baron, whose regular rider Ryan Bliss – currently recovering in Frenchay hospital following a back operation – takes the Leading Gentleman Rider Award for the first time. Minehead-based Josh Guerriero was a comfortable winner of the Leading Novice Rider title.

Presentations of these and other awards will be made at the Wessex Area Dinner & Dance on Friday, 29 September 2006 at the Westland Sports & Social Club, Yeovil, Somerset. Tickets available from Len Vickery (01963 440043) or Jeremy Barber (01460 74943).