MANY congratulations to event rider and amateur jockey Toni Quail who was crowned this season’s leading lady point-to-point rider when the 2024/2025 campaign concluded last Sunday and will receive her award next Saturday night in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny.

The 26-year-old rode nine winners, four more than her nearest rival, Pandora Briselden, and all for Sam Curling at whose Skehanagh yard in Co Tipperary she will be based for another week. She will then spend the summer at home in Downpatrick apart, that is, from the week of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale when she will be working for Aisling Noone of Drumloose Stables.

Toni, who represented Ireland at Young Rider and Junior level, is looking forward to her return to the eventing sphere with the Irish Sport Horse mare Wellan Summertime on whom, with a fence down show jumping, she finished 24th of 57 in the CCI3*-S at the Lisgarvan House international last August. While her owner has been concentrating on racing, the daughter of Mermus R has been prepped for eventing by Molly Evans who was to ride her in the EI110 (Open) at Hazeldene (2) but the going was considered too firm.

“As she’s 15 now, my mare [needs] to be managed carefully,” said Quail of the bay who comes from the family of 5* performer Magennis. “She’s qualified to go 4* so that will be our main aim for the season.”

Queally rides first winner

Many congratulations also to show jumper and amateur jockey Orla Queally who recorded her first point-to-point win last Sunday at the Ormond Foxhounds’ meeting in Ballingarry where, on just her third ride between the flags, she landed the ladies’ open on Pat Coyne. The 24-year-old has had two rides over hurdles and six in bumpers.

Pat Coyne, an 11-year-old Fairly Ransom gelding, is owned by the rider’s mother Miriam and trained by her father John, a former champion amateur jockey. Queally’s parents are owners also of the four horses she is currently competing on the Showjumping Ireland circuit, will be riding at this weekend’s Mullingar international and who she hopes to qualify for Dublin. Orla is a member of the marketing team at Plusvital, sponsors of the Premier Grand Prix Series.

And many congratulations also to show jumper and champion amateur jockey Jody Townend who, at the Galway Equestrian Centre on Saturday, qualified her eight-year-old Quidam Junior mare JT Calover Junior for the amateur championship at the Dublin Horse Show. As Jody mainly rides on the racecourse for the powerful Willie Mullins yard, she has little time to go pointing but did record two wins from four rides this season, one being on Pat Coyne in the ladies’ open at Turtulla in mid-January.