TOP RIDER FORCED TO QUIT Leading point-to-point rider Tim Mitchell has been forced to quit the saddle due to a recurring shoulder injury. Mitchell, 32, whose biggest win came when steering Fantus to victory in the Christies` Foxhunter Chase at the 1997 Cheltenham Festival for Richard Barber, is hoping to stay in racing. Explaining the reason for retiring, Mitchell said today: 'I broke my right collar bone in a bad fall at Larkhill last March and the sheer impact of the fall on the shoulder has caused a recurring problem. 'I still haven`t actually got full movement behind in the shoulder and I considered it was going to impair my strength in a finish and I just would not be able to do justice to the horses I would be riding. 'It`s been quite a quick decision as I`ve only really thought deeply about it in the past month but I`ve decided now and I had to tell Richard Barber and his owners as the point-to-point season gets going early next month. 'I feel very, very sad aboutit and in truth I`m absolutely gutted about retiring but there`s not a lot you can do. And deep down inside I didn`t want to be remembered for carrying on in the saddle when I should have stopped so that`s it.' Mitchell partnered 175 winners between the flags and 22 under Rules in his 15 years in the saddle and has been associated with the powerful Barber yard for the past five years. Barber will now rely upon the services of Anthony Honeyball and Polly Gundry following the news of Mitchell`s retirement.-PA
