Stars of the 2013-14 point-to-point season were celebrated at Cheltenham racecourse on Saturday (15 November) at the annual awards dinner.
Recently retired trainer Richard Barber was honoured for “outstanding service to point-to-pointing” by the Point-to-Point Authority (PPA).
Richard Fuller presents Will Biddick with The Leading Gentleman Rider. Pic Dan Abraham – racingfotos.com
Somerset-based rider Will Biddick was crowned men’s champion for the third year running, racking up 36 wins, while Bridget Andrews was champion lady rider with 26 wins.
David Simpson presents Bridget Andrews with Champiom Lady Rider. Pic Dan Abraham – racingfotos.com
Sam Waley-Cohen was named champion hunter chase rider (six wins) and Henry Daly took the trainer’s equivalent (five wins).
Tempelpirate, trained by Tim Underwood, took champion pointer for the most wins in a season, and the maiden mare champion title went to Splendid Blue, owned and trained by Jo Boswell.
Gareth Connolly presents Tim Underwood with The Connelly’s Red Mills Trophy for Leading Horse of the Year – racingfotos.com
Alan Hill took leading trainer with more than eight horses (27 winners) while Rose Loxton, who helped Megan Nicholls to the novice women riders’ title (17 wins in her first season), took the trainer with less than eight horses titles (also 17 wins).
Richard Fuller presents Megan Nicholls with Female Novice Rider. Pic Dan Abraham – racingfotos.com
Sean Bowen — who is now a conditional jockey —was leading novice rider with 10 wins. David Brace picked up the leading owner award (18 wins).
Richard Fuller presents Sean Bowen with Leading Novice Rider. Pic Dan Abraham – racingfotos.com
Steven Astaire was awarded the Cynthia Higgon point-to-point secretaries association award — given for outstanding service to point-to-point administration.
Cynthia Higgon presents Steven Astaire with The Cynthia Higgon Point-To-Point Secretaries Award – racingfotos.com
The Sir Michael Connell award — presented in recognition of an individual who has contributed to the sport in a regulatory capacity of as a race-day official — went to Richard Russell.
Lady Connell presents Richard Russell with The Sir Michael Connell award. Pic Dan Abraham – racingfotos.com
“There is so much enthusiasm and goodwill surrounding pointing as we countdown to the new season,” said the PPA’s Clare Hazell.
“Saturday’s fantastic awards dinner has set things up nicely and soon all the talking will give way to some real competitive action.
“Out congratulations go to the worthy winners and those that ran them close last season, and special thanks are due to the evening’s sponsors: Connolly’s Red Mills, Fullers Brewery, AGA, The Jockey Club and The Point-to-Point Racing Company.”
For more on pointing, and an exclusive interview with trainer Jack Barber, don’t miss the H&H point-to-point special, out Thursday 27 November 2014.
View more pictures from the awards:
Clare Hazel presents Sam Walet-Cohen with The leading Hunter Chase Rider of the Year – racingfotos.com
Richard Russell presents Henry Daly with The Greenall Russell Trophy leading hunter chase trainer – racingfotos.com
Robert Waley-Cohen presents Jo Boswell with The Jockey Club maiden mares’ Series for Splendid Blue – racingfotos.com
Gareth Connolly presents Alan Hill with The Connelly’s Red Mills Trainers’ Championship – racingfotos.com
Gareth Connolly presents Rose Loxton with The Connelly’s Red Mills Trainers’Championship – racingfotos.com
