Two lady riders not forgotten

Sir, - Having read the interview given by Rachael Blackmore to Daragh Ó Conchúir (July 2nd edition) may I highlight the glaring omission of two of this country’s finest lady amateurs in Sarah Collen and Caroline Hutchinson.

It is not just Daragh who has overlooked these two as RTE Racing seems to think that the female era started with the current crop - Nina Carberry, Katie Walsh, Jane Mangan and Liz Lalor to name but a few - and yet the women who came before had to fight to even be granted a licence.

Last week’s article correctly pointed out that Helen Bryce-Smith, Jean Moore and the Rooney sisters were pioneers amongst the unpaid ranks and of course Joanna Morgan was in a league of her own on the flat, but what about the 20 years in between the Rooneys and the start of the ‘Nina’ generation?

In the late 1980s Sarah Collen rode Galway Plate winner Bold Flyer and won a Conyngham Cup when it was a Grade 3 handicap on Feltrim Hill Lad. During the summer months she rode just as successfully with a flat licence for trainers such as Vincent O’Brien and John Oxx and in some of the most famous silks including those of the Aga Khan and Sheikh Mohammed. Sarah retired with a 5lb claim in the early 1990s.

Caroline rode out her claim as an amateur but regained the 3lb allowance when the rules were altered in the early part of this century. She mixed training with riding in later years and no less a judge than Tony Martin called on her services as a work rider after she had retired. I cannot understand how Caroline is never mentioned in the media when lady riders are discussed.

I’m aware that when you start mentioning names someone will always be left out or offended but I really do feel that these two deserve more recognition. – Yours etc.,

JAMES GRIFFIN,

Oldtown,

Co Dublin.

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