CONGRATULATIONS to Frankie Fitzsimons who recently retired as a point-to-point official after 25 years of service. To mark the occasion Frankie received a presentation at the recent East Down meeting on behalf of the directors of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee. Frankie remains a member of the INHSC and in this capacity will act as IHRB representative at point-to-points and as an acting steward on the racecourse.

It was appropriate that Tyrella was chosen as the place to honour Frankie as that is where he retired from race-riding on March 10th 1990 after winning the opening race on his own horse, Killinick Robyn.

The IHRB’s Denise O’Neill did a bit of research and tells us that Frankie’s first roles as a racing official were as a microchipper and stewards’ secretary. He then became a course inspector and always went above and beyond to assist committees to run their fixtures, whatever the weather. His love of the sport and determination to achieve meant he quickly rose to the top, where he focused on track inspections, acting as lead ‘stipe’ on any given day.

Frankie’s professionalism, integrity, drive and enthusiasm when carrying out his roles ensured that he was one of the most valued and respected point-to-point officials. These values, coupled with his great sense of humour, ensured a day working with him was never dull, with walks of the course filled with tales and laughs.

He has been unstinting in his support and mentoring of all new officials, but none more so than his team in the northern region. He has left the northern point-to-points in very safe hands.

Frankie has of course officiated at many tracks in the south – Carlow Farmers, Laois, Galway, Kinsale and Westmeath, to name but a few – and once they got over the language barrier, he won them all over!

It is safe to say that Frankie is respected and admired near and far and has always acted with the utmost of integrity, treating everyone fairly but firmly. Not much got past him, so much so that he earned the nickname ‘Days’ from the jockeys.