SEVEN days after Downpatrick-born Danny McMenamin was crowned champion conditional jumps jockey in Britain, Castlederg native Simons Torrens claimed the Irish equivalent and was presented with his championship trophy on the final day of the season at Punchestown last Saturday.

The 24-year-old partnered 34 winners during the campaign, none from three rides for the champion trainer, Willie Mullins, but many for champion owner, J.P. McManus whose colours he wore to major handicap victories on Drop The Anchor (Pat Fahy) and A Wave of The Sea (Joseph O’Brien) at the Dublin Racing Festival in February.

The Tom Mullins-trained Scoir Mear (at Naas in March) also contributed to the Torrens/McManus totals as did the Anthony Honeyball-trained Sully D’Oc AA who gave the jockey his 34th and final success of the season when winning in the green and gold hoops at Punchestown last Thursday week.

Simon, who never sat on a horse until he was 15, described the 2020/21 campaign as “a season I won’t forget. I can’t believe how well it has gone and the support I received.”

Among those mentioned by the jockey for helping him on his way to the title were his uncle, Dromquin trainer Mervyn Torrens, who taught him how to ride, Johnny Murtagh, Aidan Howard, Barry Cash, Mark Walsh, Frank Berry and, not surprisingly, Mr J.P. McManus.

While also claiming to have luck on his side, Torrens’s own determination and work ethic brought him this championship success.

No shows through the summer

WHILE readers of this column would, in a normal year, be looking forward to attending next weekend’s two-day point-to-point at Necarne Castle – or Castle Irvine Necarne as it is now officially called – some would also be planning to take in a day or two at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society’s feature show at Balmoral Park.

Not too surprisingly, that four-day fixture, which was cancelled last year because of the pandemic, will not be taking place next week. However, it has been postponed and, hopefully, will go ahead in late September.

Unfortunately, the usual opportunities afforded to point-to-point followers to meet up during the summer months will not be happening again this year as all events affiliated to the Northern Ireland Shows Association through May, June and July have been cancelled.

Much sadness at passing of Philip White

AS with all branches of equestrianism in Northern Ireland, those involved in point-to-pointing were also shocked to learn of the sudden death last weekend of the Route Hunt’s joint-Master and chairman, Philip White, from Maddybenny.

Philip was long involved in the running of Route point-to-point from the time it was held at Stranocum and when it moved to Limavady, where it was last run in 2013.

He was one of the driving forces behind the meeting’s transfer to its present location where it is overlooking Portrush.

A full tribute to Philip, who rode for the late James Kelly in the 1970s and rode and trained his own horses in the 1980s, appears in the Horse World section on page 104.