Image © Healy Racing
Derek O’Connor continued his dominance in the western region, as he was crowned champion in his home province for a record extending 15th time, following the conclusion of Sunday’s card at Loughrea.
Derek O’Connor continued his dominance in the western region, as he was crowned champion in his home province for a record extending 15th time, following the conclusion of Sunday’s card at Loughrea.
The Galway native saw out the season in the west with a winner, as he combined with his neighbour John Staunton to land the Jim Derwin Equestrian five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard the previous weekend’s Bartlemy runner-up Shah.
That ten-length victory brought O’Connor’s tally in the region to 13 winners from 36 rides in what is the smallest of the four regions.
O’Connor’s dominance was evident in the nine-winner advantage that he enjoyed over the chasing quartet of Nicole Lockhead Anderson, Pa King, Eoin Mahon and Rob James, who all tied for second position on four winners.
Since first lifting the western trophy in 2009, O’Connor has been the all-conquering force in the region, claiming that prize in 11 consecutive seasons, until a brief changing of the guard which began in the 2020 Covid-shortened campaign when James was champion.
James was again champion in 2021, when sharing the prize with Barry O’Neill and James Kenny in another interrupted campaign before Pa King was champion in 2022.
That absence of the O’Connor name from the western roll of honour proved to be short lived as he was back on top when sharing the 2023 title with King, whilst it was the recently turned professional, Alan O’Sullivan, who shared the spoils with him in 2024, before O’Connor ruled supreme once again in 2025.
Having wrapped up the western title, O’Connor will hope to add the national championship, alongside the southern and senior titles when the point-to-point season comes to an end next weekend in Ballingarry and Tattersalls.
With Barry O’Neill only securing one winner at Ballindenisk on Sunday, O’Connor’s six-winner advantage at the top of the overall leaderboard remains intact, whilst his seven-winner lead over John Barry in the South also remains unchanged.
Derek will be presented with his trophy at the 45th annual point-to-point awards, hosted by the QR Association, which takes place at Whites Hotel, Wexford, on Saturday, June 13th. Tickets can be purchased here.
