DOUBLES for Michael O'Connor and Richard Harding, and splendid individual performances from Damian Murphy, Ciaran Fennessy, Maxine O'Sullivan and Colman Sweeney, were the highlights of a magnificent days racing at the Avondhu point-to-point races, held over one of the finest tracks in the country, owned jointly by P Moore and W Dawson, at Knockanard, Fermoy on Sunday last.

The appeal of point-topoint racing to legions of Munster people, was never more evident then on Sunday, where thousands of patrons attended, in gloriour weather conditions, which was a hugh boost to the outstanding success, of the fixture.

Castltownroche amateur Richard Harding is performing at the top of his game, and demonstrated this by bagging a quick fire double in the opening two divisions of the 5-year old geldings maiden for Mallow trainer Liam Burke.

On 4/ 1 chance Novedechy, in the first division, he was engaged in a thrilling duel, just holding on from the fast finishing Barnahely Beau to win by a neck. He then adopted admirable front running tactics in Division 2 on 3/1f The Great I Am, which impressed in winning by a length and a half, and provided Richard with his 10th win of the season, and his 132nd career, point success in all.

Liscarroll, Mallow amateur Michael O'Connor, the 2009 southern champion, continued his excellent season with another double, bringing his season total to 18 winners.

He was aboard Witness Belle, in the mares winners of two, and made most of the running, to romp home by 8 lengths, after giving a splendid display of jumping, for Killeagh trainer John Leahy, and his brother owner, Andy, who will next prepare her for mares chasing events on the track.

O'Connor went on, to team up with former top amature rider, P J Colville from Fethard, Co Tipperary, on 4/1 chance Mill Hill Suzi, which he produced before the last, to win comfortably by three lengths.

Caslelyons amateur Colman Sweeney, was seen to good effect, on Turtle Gale, which made all the running, to easily win the confined, by 10 lenghths, for Ballyduff trainer Pat O'Connor, and Rathcormac owner/breeder, Eileen and Thomas O'Connor.

Eighteen-year old UCC first year, science student, Maxine O'Sullivan, from Lombardstown Mallow, produced a masterful, splendid, front running drive, on the former high class chaser, Juveigneur, which showed his class, to win the Novice riders open Lightweight, from The Half Way Bar, and will now be prepared, for the Foxhunters at Cheltenham next Month.

The All For Fun syndicate, whose members are Joe Buckley Mallow, Eugene O'Sullivan, Dromina, along with Ken Murray and Thomas Singleton from Cork city, and the trainer Eugene O'Sullivan, own this high class 12-year old.

Twenty-year old Ciaran Fennessy, from Fermoy, continues to impress, and was seen at his very best on Moon Shadow Ashlie, which he produced at the second last, to impressively win, the 7/ 8-year old mares maiden, by three lengths, for his ninth win of the season, and his 32nd career success in addition to three track wins.

The biggest reception of the day was reserved for octogenarian Paddy Parker from nearby Castlelyons, who commenced working with trainer Jimmy Mangan's late father Paddy in 1949.

Mangan trained the winner Stash The Cash, who under a power-packed drive from Dromtariffe, Mallow rider Damien Murphy, who arrived to challenge at the last, and get up to win by a length from Farrell's Fancy in a thrilling finish to the 6/7 year old geldings maiden. Mr Parker spoke to The

Corkman and recalled: "It is 76 years, since I first came here to Knockenard races, it was a real sport long ago, and it was better over the banks at that time, it was a local holiday then, and a big day out for the locals.

" The first day I came here to Knockenard races, I first of all, had to plant a half acre of potatoes, with my father, and then walk 4 miles to the races, I owned South Of The Border, which won for me some years back, but now this is the only one I own, I am delighted to have won."

This was winner 252 of his career, of the former 2005 Southern Champion Damian Murphy, the winning rider.

- Pat Griffin