VAL O’Connell is possibly one of the best known faces in the organisation of Irish racing through his role in the Turf Club (now named the IHRB) as chief inspector of courses and clerk of the course for half a dozen southern meetings. Perhaps what is less well known is that Val is one the keenest hunting men in these islands.

He has been field-master of the famed Scarteen Hounds in Co Limerick for almost 20 seasons. I am among those who have attempted to follow him on his grey and know what a formidable man he is to cross the country. His current grey was produced by Eamonn Forde and Val spotted him while inspecting Listowel racecourse.

As field-master, he follows in the footsteps of the legendary PP Hogan, who held the role for many years when Thady Ryan carried the horn. Scarteen whipper-in Tommy O’Dwyer became young Val’s mentor. “Give the hounds a chance and never jump into a field until hounds have left it,” was his advice and Val follows it to the letter in his role as field-master.

Growing up in Boher, Co Limerick, his homeplace was a farm steeped in horses and hunting. His father always kept a very smart gig and ensured there were plenty of good ponies for his boys to ride. Val recalls his first proper pony, Smokey. “A cracking pony that my father got out of Castleisland.

Aged about 10, I remember a day when we hunted all the way to Bilboa (near Cappamore). When we finished, I hadn’t a clue where we were but luckily, I remembered a forge where we used to get Smokey shod so I could find my way home which was a 10-mile hack to arrive well after dark.”

Career in horses

Horses were always going to be his career and Val was apprenticed to National Hunt trainer James Murphy in Midleton where he rode several winners; his first being Vaguely True in a maiden hurdle in Limerick. Midleton was good to him in many ways as it was there he met his wife to be Gobnett (Horgan).

He then went to the north of England to Ken Oliver where Jonjo O’Neill was first jockey. In due course, Gobnett and he got married and returned to racing in Ireland. It was with Andrew McNamara (father of racing commentator Andy) that he formed a connection with Yer Man who took him around Aintree on three occasions, being third in the Grand National in 1983 to winner Corbiere, ridden by Ben De Haan.

He retired as a result of a bad fall in Clonmel and he and Gobnett set up a B & B, specialising in riding holidays. It was then he was able to return to the hunting field on a former racehorse belonging to Lady Earles.

Thoroughbreds always make the most exciting hunters and ‘Bob’ was no exception as he would buck solidly for at least five minutes once mounted but once these ‘preliminaries’ were over, was foot-perfect thereafter.

Hunting

Racing was always in O’Connell’s blood and in due course, the job of assistant course inspector became vacant and Val took up office with Bill McLernon as boss and mentor. He was able to hunt on non-racing days, particularly midweek.

On the retirement of Eamonn Gleeson as field-master, Val and James Riordan took over with Chris Ryan carrying the horn.

He recalls some exciting days particularly a day from Cullen where hounds found in Riordan’s Bog. Running hard for Ballinacree and closely tracking Chris on the grey ‘Sprite’, they crossed some fantastic country at speed.

There was a stellar line-up of jockeys with Ted, young Ruby Walsh and Paul Carberry with Enda Bolger, all full of running, with the Olympian Michael Ryan thrown in for good measure. It is a day like this that would test the metal of even the best field-master but Val was not found wanting.

He has been hunting for over 50 seasons and while he has seen plenty of changes, he is optimistic about the future if a couple of golden rules are followed, namely, ‘respect the huntsman and hounds and above all, acknowledge the farmer and landowner.”

Cross-country masters

Reflecting on perhaps his greatest and most memorable days, O’Connell recalled a trip (with this author) to Wards when, from a meet at Fairyhouse, hounds finished at Summerhill, a distance not much short of 20 miles.

But for a sheer adrenalin-fuelled day, he recalls hunting in Leicestershire before the ban when Scarteen travelled with hounds and 40 riders to experience the thrill of jumping hedges at speed. This was organised by Scarteen joint-master Roger Dungworth who was contemporaneously joint-master of the Cottesmore.

As the day progressed after second horses, with hounds flying, a small group got away with hounds and for a couple of miles had High Leicestershire all to themselves. This elite group included Val, Enda Bolger and Shane Breen, possibly the three great cross-country riders of their generation, not forgetting Chris Ryan.

“Chris Ryan on Sprite was certainly the most daring and exciting rider I have seen. I saw him take on some spectacular fences with sheep wire and other hazards thrown in,” recalled Val.

Has Val any advice to preserve the future of hunting. “Yes, prepare and repair,” answered O’Connell.

His current grey, while less exciting than the former racehorses of the past, is equally competent and has never let him down.

Finally, when asked how he would compare the thrill of hunting to steeplechasing, Val O’Connell didn’t hesitate. “While hunting at top level is fantastic, nothing can compare with the Grand National in Aintree. It is the high point of any jockey’s life, there is just nothing to compare it with.”