SIX-TIME regional champion rider Derek O’Connor had no luck as the northern point-to-point season came to a close with the East Antrim meeting at Loughanmore last Saturday. However, he had an enjoyable afternoon the previous day as ride judge for the racehorse to riding horse class at Balmoral Show where Waterford trainer and former amateur John Queally assessed conformation.

Sponsored by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the class attracted 15 entries of which 11 met their engagement in the main arena, although that number was then reduced to nine as two of the horses left the class. The chief steward was none other than ITBA council member and Northern Region representative Denis Macauley who was acting in place of the much-missed Terence McKeag to whom we send our best wishes for a speedy recovery from surgery.