Another three winners for Derek O’Connor saw him edge closer to the magic 1,000 mark (only seven to go) and it was particularly cheering to see that one of them was for Rosemary Rooney. It seems that many of the young brigade do not realise that Rosemary was champion rider in 1977, the last lady rider to hold the title. Having turned her hand to training she enjoyed a fair deal of success but it is quite a while since she last visited the winner’s berth so it was especially memorable to witness the win of Battle Dust.

Rosemary and her sister Ann both rode a considerable number of winners as befits the daughters of the great Willie Rooney who held the career record for so long. But while on the subject of great lady riders, as so often is the case, history gets obscured by the memories of the present generation.

Twice in the past six months I have seen it stated in this publication that Helen McDonagh (nee Bryce-Smith) is the most successful lady rider and holds the Irish record of 106 wins.

I had not seen the figure of 106 previously but was prepared to accept it but for the record the indomitable Mrs Sylvia Masters, who was master of the Tipperary hounds from 1935 until 1952. During her riding career, which started in the 1920s, she also rode 106 point-to-point winners and was the first of her sex to reach the century. I understand that she was a formidable rider across country and that all her wins would have been in races in which men also might have ridden.

Of course they would have been over natural hunting country, as was the custom in those days. Well done to all these lady riders who have enriched our memories but Sylvia Masters was arguably the best.