Point-to-pointing in Wales has been recognised for the first time at the Racehorse Owners’ Association-sponsored Welsh Horseracing Awards.
Last week’s ceremony at The Vale Resort in Glamorgan paid tribute to equine and human talent across Wales including owners, trainers, jockeys, stable staff and breeders. It also recognised the contribution point-to-pointing makes to Flat and Jump racing, and acknowledged that a number of Welsh licensed trainers – Peter Bowen, Evan Williams and Tim Vaughan to name but three – and many professional jockeys have learned early lessons on the point-to-point circuit. In very recent years Sean and James Bowen, James Tudor, Lorcan Williams and Connor Brace have all passed through changing tents in Wales on their way to success under Rules.
Ellie Williams was presented with an award for being the leading female rider from last season, while Osian Radford took the men’s award.
Ellie Williams (centre) is joined by Osian Radford (right) and William Tudor (second left) on the stage
William Tudor stepped in to collect the leading point-to-point owner award on behalf of Luke Price, while there was a special recognition award for trainer/rider Bradley Gibbs for his success in last season’s St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase with Premier Magic, and also for that horse’s subsequent victory in the Ineos Grenadier final (pictured heading up the run-in top of page) at Cheltenham’s evening hunters’ chase meeting.
Former point-to-point rider David Pritchard, whose sister Charlie was a national novice champion before becoming a professional jockey in France, also gained a special recognition award for his success in last season’s Welsh National on the former point-to-pointer The Two Amigos.
David Pritchard (right) and Bradley Gibbs gained special recognition awards