FOR the first time since 2002, The Irish Field leading rider prize will be shared with title contenders Rob James and Barry O’Neill, electing to sit out this weekend’s final two days of the point-to-point season.

James had held the slimmest of margins entering last weekend’s action, and although the weekend started well for him, as he claimed both divisions of the four-year-old auction maiden at Stradbally on Saturday, his friend and great rival, matched that feat when riding a double of his own on the same afternoon at Taylorstown.

O’Neill then edged back alongside James when the grey Backonthegoagain claimed the Ballindenisk finale, leaving the Wexford pair on 39 winners apiece.

“We had a chat on Sunday evening after the day’s racing, and we decided to share the title,” James explained.

“It was probably the best thing to do, and as we are so close and have worked together almost every day, it is a nice way for the two of us to do it.”

Fourth in 20 years

The title success sees the 30-year-old Killanne native become just the fourth rider in the past 20 years to have their name added to The Irish Field-backed trophy, as he joins Derek O’Connor, Jamie Codd and the reigning champion O’Neill within that period.

“It is brilliant to get the first one,” James adds. “To have your name on the main title alongside the likes of Barry, Derek [O’Connor], and Jamie [Codd], who are three of the greatest riders ever, is unbelievable. There are so many people that have helped me along the way that I am really grateful to, right from when I first started out, to all the handlers that have put me up on horses.

“I have a great bunch of lads at home helping with the yard that I have now too, so I couldn’t have got this without any of the people that have helped me along the way.” O’Neill was quick to praise his fellow champion, having witnessed first-hand his efforts.“Rob and I have worked together for nearly 20 years at this stage,” he said. “Rob was one of the best men at my wedding, so we have been friends for a long time, and we have travelled up and down the country together going racing.

“It is unbelievable the amount of work that he has put in to get his own yard going, and how far he has now come with it. It is not easy managing that and still being able to ride at the level he has been riding at, so he really deserves this.”

The 35-year-old may not have enjoyed the same level of success as in recent campaigns, but he did break through the 800-winner milestone at Necarne earlier this month and has once again successfully defended the champion rider’s title, which he has now won for an eighth time on the bounce, a feat which in itself cannot go overlooked.

Quieter

“I probably had a quieter year than other years, and I was unlucky to pick up an injury for a couple of weeks too, so it is great to get across the line despite all of that,” he reflected.

“I have to thank Colin [Bowe], David Christie, and all the handlers who have supported me through the season. I am very lucky to have the support that I do from so many different handlers, and it is very much appreciated.”

It is not unprecedented that the overall rider’s title is shared, as the pair are now the eighth joint champions since the mid-1950s, but it is the first time that it has happened since the late John Thomas McNamara and Davy Russell shared the spoils in 2002.

IN addition to his first overall rider’s title, Rob James has also added to his haul of regional prizes this season, having earned a share of the eastern title with Jack Hendrick last weekend.

Notably, it is the first time that neither Jamie Codd nor Barry O’Neill will lift that particular trophy since the 2005 victory of Robbie Moran.

James has already enjoyed regional success in the western and southern regions, but this fourth regional prize is the first in his home region, whereas it is a first-ever title for Hendrick.

The 25-year-old has seen the Mayglass native enjoy his fourth successive personal-best campaign, and year-on-year progress has certainly been aided by Denis Murphy joining Hendrick’s long-standing ally Cormac Doyle as the two big stables behind him.

Northern

Noel McParlan was the first to scoop a regional title this season when he secured the northern crown for a fourth time. Such was his dominance in the region this season that he had that prize in the bag with a fixture to spare.

McParlan rode 20 winners in his home region, double that of any other rider, and his supremacy this season was made possible by the personal-best campaigns that his principal supporters, Ger Quinn and Caroline McCaldin, enjoyed.

The pair saddled the most winners in the region, with Quinn the region’s most successful and Christie behind them in third. Interestingly, it is the only region where a Wexford handler does not feature among the three winning-most handlers, highlighting the success that local handlers there enjoyed during the season.

As was the case in the eastern region, there are also joint champions in the west, with Derek O’Connor and Alan O’Sullivan sharing the spoils.

O’Connor will take his title hauls to 46 this season, as his 13th prize in the west has been supplemented by winning the senior title for a fifth time.

Youngest

In complete contrast, O’Sullivan is one of the youngest riders in recent decades to win a regional prize, with this first title coming at the age of just 20.

Fellow Cork native Darragh Allen is in pole position to scoop a first title of his own. Heading into this weekend’s final four fixtures, he has a four-winner advantage over John Barry in what has already been a personal-best season for the Kilworth rider.

This weekend’s action will also decide the under-21 and ladies awards which are both all square.

Maxine O’Sullivan has been on the sidelines since a fall at Dawstown earlier in the month, but the six-time champion remains tied with the 2022 victor Susie Doyle on seven winners.

Remarkably, in his first season of riding, Ballynoe native Shane Cotter has drawn level with the reigning champion Dara McGill on the under-21 leaderboard.

The 17-year-old only rode his first winner at Lingstown in December, but he has benefitted from the significant backing of David Christie in novice rider opens in recent months, with the Fermanagh handler supplying him with six winners since February.

Crucially, Christie has no entries this weekend, so Cotter will turn to his other big supporter, Denis Murphy, in the hope of getting him through.

For McGill, it is notable that his father Gary, and fellow Derry handler Noel Kelly have entered horses at Inchydoney tomorrow, a potential 1,000km round trip to aid his title hopes.

While many of the season’s prizes now have their destinations decided, there is still plenty to play for at this weekend’s season finale.