CHAMPAGNE MOMENT OF THE YEAR – THE TOP THREE
We’ve had a great response to this new award, with nearly 1,000 votes cast for the best performances of the 2023/2024 season.
The participants responsible for the three moments with the most votes have been invited to the National Dinner & Dance at Hatherley Manor in Gloucestershire on Saturday 29th June.
Our judging panel will deliberate the merits of the final candidates… and the winner will be announced on the night.
CHAMPAGNE MOMENT OF THE YEAR – THE TOP THREE
GEOFF AND HARVEY BARFOOT-SAUNT
Father and son riding in the same race
Didmarton on 9th March was not the first time 53-year-old Geoff and 16-year-old Harvey had ridden in the same race – that milestone occurred on Harvey’s 16th birthday last May – but it was the first time they’d taken on each other twice in the same afternoon. Father and sons riding together are rare enough but the pair have now gone head-to-head on several occasions.
BEN DURRELL
‘Losing his claim’ at 48 years old
48-year-old Ben has ridden two winners this season, taking his career total to six, meaning he can no longer claim 5lb when riding in Opens. Ben is the father of leading conditional Tristan, who also used to ride in pointing, and returned to the saddle – after a three year break – when his son turned professional, as he missed the buzz of pointing.
MARTIN MCINTYRE
100th P2P winner
Martin – known to many as ‘Fly’ – travelled to Lockinge from his Devon base on Easter Monday to ride two horses for Bea Coward – they both won, and Rocky Creed became his 100th winner between the flags, to go with 17 under rules. Martin has been riding in Britain since 2011 and has a season’s best of 23 – one of the top jockeys in the country, he often ‘flies’ beneath the radar.