How did you get involved in point-to-pointing?

When I was younger my brothers and I use to hunt with the Oriel Harriers. I have always been interested in racing and alongside my brothers John, Gregory and Hugo, our family business has always been running betting shops.

What is your first racing memory?

As a child I always remember going to my local point-to-points at Taylorstown and nearby Tallanstown each year.

What does your typical day in your role consist of at a point-to-point?

I am always at the point-to-point two hours before the first race to set up the television and betting screens. There is always three of us at each meeting and my son Stephen works alongside me every weekend.

What have you noticed change with point-to-points over the years?

For us, it has been the introduction of television coverage from track racing in England and Ireland over 20 years ago. I was at the Bray point-to-point in Ashford about 25 years ago and the Hennessy Gold Cup was on that day so I decided to bring my 9-inch television to the meeting. I plugged it into a portable charger and managed to pick up a signal to watch the race. I put the television on the roof of the car. When I looked around, most of the crowd at the point-to-point were watching the race. There were even people standing on top of their cars with binoculars watching it.

What is the biggest challenge within point-to-pointing?

It has definitely become a lot more organized over the years. I feel that having point-to-points starting closer to the same time as track racing is a big help as many point-to-points were starting and finishing too early which didn’t help getting crowds into each meeting.

What is the funniest thing you have witnessed at a point-to-point?

I remember being at Tinahely point-to-point one day when they ended up running 12-races because of the size of the entry. It was starting to get dark so the jockeys got all of the lads to drive their jeeps beside each of the fences and turn on their lights so they could run the last race. In all my years pointing it was the only time it got dark before the last race. It was definitely something you wouldn’t see every day!

What is your favourite point-to-point to attend?

I really enjoyed the two meetings which were run at Portrush last season. They put a lot of effort into the two meetings and there was a great atmosphere on both days.

I also enjoy the Easter Monday meeting at Loughanmore as it is a great social event with a huge crowd.

What do you do outside of racing?

I run a betting shop in Tandagree so that keeps me busy during the week when I’m not point-to-pointing and racing.