The Shillelagh and District Hunt held their first point to point of the new year at Fairwood Park, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, last Sunday 16/01/2011. The sun shone from a steel blue sky, it was chilly but there was no wind. With a lot of rain having fallen the night before the course surprisingly was in good condition, soft but drying throughout the day, Fairwood because of its location on a hillside drains very well.
With six races on the card, a couple divided due to large entries, proceedings got under way at noon. By that stage a sizable crowd had turned up no doubt swelled by the fine weather and they were treated to some excellent racing. As always there was great colour which contributed to the spectacle and of course the beautiful surroundings set in the heart of south county Wicklow.
The Shillelagh and District Hunt, celebrating its centenary of point to pointing this year, shares ownership of Fairwood Park with the Rothwell family (well known in racing circles) and the Tinahely show committee. In the recent past forward thinking people in the area purchased land to serve the community not once but twice. Tinahely not only has a showgrounds (Fairwood Park) that holds arguably the biggest one day agricultural event in Ireland, The Tinahely Show, in nearby Coolboy are the grounds of the The Tinahely Riding Club, home to a full cross country course and show jumping arena complete with flood lights.
On the day hunt members and friends man key positions from race commentator to starter to the foot soldiers stationed at each jump who help fallen riders and make sure that the obstacles are in perfect nick before each race. Also important are the bookies, one of whom travelled down from Belfast, and the catering vans (quarter pounders with cheese and chips laden with salt and vinegar) mmmm, sure you’d have to wouldn’t you.
The races went off without a hitch. Local favourite Loggan Lass, a six times winner on the course, trained by dairy farmer John Walsh and ridden by his son Aaron unfortunately ran in fifth in the first, the disappointment sweetened by a third place later in the day. Being close to the track it was interesting to hear the jockeys interacting with the race officials, the different points of view prefaced with language sometimes quite industrial, or should I say agricultural? All in the spirit, taken and received with good heart.
At days end the large crowd, participants, and organisers, headed for the exits happy in the knowledge that they had experienced a well run uniquely Irish event. The day was kind and the racing exciting. There is something about the sounds and smells of live horse racing, you do not need to have a great knowledge of horses to enjoy it. As for the amateur ethos, yes there is an innocence to it, but when the tapes go up and those hooves thunder, it becomes a serious business. Great fun though…
