THE recent and untimely passing of JJ Harty has robbed the sporting world of a friend and talent that won’t be easily replaced. He was for many years the able and hardworking chairman of the Cork Waterford Point-To-Point Association. Chairman of his local pack, the Cloyne Harriers, and more recently chairman of the Irish Masters of Harriers Association, to these and his many other roles, JJ brought diplomacy and enthusiasm tempered with a huge amount of sound common sense. Never unstinting with his time, his support and advice was always available to those who sought it.

Having qualified as an agricultural scientist around 1970, JJ held many posts in the advisory service before taking a master’s degree in agriculture and becoming principal of Clonakilty Agricultural College, a position he held until retirement. He became chairman of the International Farm Management Association and organised and chaired their international conference held in Cork which was attended by delegates from over 20 countries.

JJ hunted for many years with the Cloyne Harriers and was instrumental in reviving their point-to-point after an absence of many years.

Having enjoyed considerable success in the show ring with home-bred horses, he entered the world of National Hunt breeding in 1988 with the purchses of Loughderra. She went on to breed many winners including Loughaderra Dame, a filly by King’s Theatre.

This started a lifelong love affair with the turf and his most recent filly, Loughaderra Flame, was syndicated to close friends for the ‘Home Before Dark Syndicate’, carrying JJ’s racing colours of maroon with a black hoop and black sleeves. Ttrained by WJ Burke and ridden by JJ Burke and Rachel Blackmore, she was placed on the track and in point-to-points.

It was fitting at his funeral that the guard of honour was led by family friend and champion jockey Davy Russell, carrying JJ’s maroon and black colours.

As he was laid to rest in Cloyne Cemetery, ‘Going Home’ was sounded by close friend Philip Desmond, former huntsman of the Cloyne and joint-master of the West Waterford.

To his wife Margaret, his daughter Muriel and sons Eddie and Roger, we offer our sincere sympathy. Men of the calibre of JJ Harty do not often pass this way.

D.P.