TOMMY Kinane was “hard to beat” and “a tough competitor”, according to Frank Berry who paid tribute to the legacy left behind by the former jump jockey and trainer who died last Saturday, aged 90.

As a rider, Kinane is best remembered for winning the 1978 Champion Hurdle on Monksfield for trainer Des McDonogh. His riding career spanned 35 years and he also trained successfully before retiring to enjoy watching his son Michael become champion jockey 13 times and be recognised as one of the world’s most sought-after flat jockeys.

Frank Berry rode Sea Pigeon to finish second to Monksfield at Cheltenham and said: “Tommy was always hard to beat, a tough competitor but a nice man. He rode into his mid-40s and was still hard to beat then. He could do 9st 7lb and I remember he was always in demand for those light weights.

“What has been achieved by the whole Kinane family down through the years is unbelievable. Looking at all the kids at his funeral this week, there’s no doubt the Kinane name will be kept going for many more years to come.”

A proud Tipperary man, Kinane was raised in Knocknavilla, between Cashel and Dundrum. He was one of 14 children, from a family of stonemasons. He left school as a young boy to work as a labourer for a local farmer and began his apprenticeship as a stable hand with Tim Hyde at Camas Park Stud, where he remained for three years.

He emigrated to England in 1953 and worked as a freelance jockey – his first ride was at Wincanton in 1955 - while also working in construction in Heathrow. He met his future wife, Frances O’Brien, at a dance in Hammersmith. They married in 1956.

In 1957 Kinane gave up his £30 a week job in London to return home and become stable jockey to his brother Dan in Mullinahone for the princely sum of £2 a week.

He developed a reputation as being one of the hard men of the Irish racing circuit, taking no nonsense from anyone he felt impeded his chances of winning.

Kinane was in his mid-40s when he got his big opportunity on Monksfield and he was good enough to take it. The partnership went close to becoming Ireland’s first winners of the Triumph Hurdle in 1976 and finished second to Night Nurse in the 1977 Champion Hurdle.

Because of injury, Kinane briefly lost the ride on Monksfield the following season but got back on the horse for their big day at Cheltenham in March 1978.

Peter O’Sullevan described the finish thus: “It’s little Monksfield who takes it up, followed by his great rival Night Nurse and Sea Pigeon coming with a great run … it’s Monksfield from Sea Pigeon as they come to the last in the Champion Hurdle. Monksfield for Ireland, Sea Pigeon for England.

“Monksfield lands in the lead from Sea Pigeon … as they race into the closing stages, Monksfield is holding Sea Pigeon. Last year’s second is going to win the Champion Hurde, Sea Pigeon second and Night Nurse third.”

More injuries and strained relations between trainer and jockey led to Kinane being replaced by Dessie Hughes on Monksfield for the 1979 edition, when the Irish horse again got the better of Sea Pigeon.

Kinane retired from race-riding in 1980 and trained successfully until the mid 1990s. He and Frances remained familiar faces on the racing and social circuit. Sadly Frances passed away in 2005.

Their son Thomas gave the eulogy at this week’s funeral and recalled how Tommy and Frances loved to dance. “Dancing was his lifelong passion – he glided gracefully from Buenos Aires to Dubai.”

Tommy and Frances had seven children, many of whom inherited the racing bug from their father. “He would give us piggybacks, bareback, and you learned to sit tight,” Thomas revealed, adding that their father’s work ethic left a big impression on his family.

Symbols brought to the altar this week included a pack of Tayto, Emerald toffee sweets, a photograph of Monksfield, a set of racing silks and a large Tipperary flag. The congregation sang Slievenamon as Kinane’s remains left the church in Naas and were taken to Ardmayle Cemetery in Tipperary to be with Frances for eternity.

Tommy Kinane is survived by Thomas, Michael, Jayo, Suzanne, Kathryn, Paul and Janette; sister Nancy, sons-in-law Mark, Stephen and Mark, Suzanne’s partner Richard, daughters-in-law Bridget, Catherine, Antoinette and Amy, grandchildren Sineád, Bríd, Aisling, Niall, Thomas, Dean, Tom, Sarah, Heleena, Zoe, David and Sophie, great grandchildren M.J., Chloe, Jack, Alex, Molly and Mack.