With 48 points Paddy Mangan is the winner of the inaugural John T Purcell Memorial Trophy for leading Claiming Professional National Hunt Jockey at Clonmel in 2011.
Kindly sponsored by Clonmel native but Parisian based John Purcell O’Dwyer, Paddy was also presented with a cheque for €1,000 today (Dec 8th).
Byran Cooper had led the competition from the very start and despite losing his right to claim midway through the year he was still two points in front of Paddy going into the second last race on the last day racing in Clonmel for 2011. The rules of the competition state that if a jockey loses his claim during the year they will retain the points won to that date but cannot add to same.
However Bryan could only watch in dismay as Quarryvale, ridden by Paddy for his trainer father Jimmy Mangan, led most of the way and then fought out the finish of the 6th race with eventual winner Senior Again. Paddy gained six points for coming second and this was enough for him to clinch the title.
