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By Chris Pitt
Paddy Kenneally was born in Ireland on March 25, 1932, and served his apprenticeship with P. P. Hogan.
He rode over jumps in Britain between 1954/55 and 1957/58. He was based throughout his time in England with Earl Jones all his winners were trained by him.
Prior to his arrival in Britain, Paddy had ridden one winner in Ireland, on Auburn Hall over hurdles at Mallow for legendary trainer P. P. Hogan on April 12, 1952.
He journeyed to England in 1954 in search of better opportunities and joined Jones, who then trained at Guiting Power, near Cheltenham.Paddy rode two winners from 31 mounts in the 1954/55 season, the first on Cillas Cottage at Taunton, the second on Boyne Battle at Towcester.
The following season, 1955/56, he rode six winners over fences, five of these coming on Cillas Cottage (right) within the space of four months between the start of the season and Christmas.
The bay son of Cillas out of Myross Cottage came close to racking up six wins on the trot, being denied only by a third last fence fall at Cheltenham in November when well clear.
Paddy’s younger brother Con Kenneally followed him over, joining Earl Jones in 1955. His career as a jockey was cut tragically short when, on just his third ride, he broke his back on a chaser named Florio at Chepstow on April 3, 1956, having finished fourth on that horse over course and distance the previous month.
In 1996, to mark the 40th anniversary of his life-changing fall which had confined him to a wheelchair, Con was invited by Chepstow’s management to present the trophy to the winning connections of the day’s feature race.
Paddy rode just one winner in 1956/57, Golden Proof, at Hereford’s Whit Monday meeting. It was the tenth of his career, which saw his claim cut from 7lb to 5lb.
He relinquished his licence the following season.
During his retirement, Paddy remained in the vicinity of Cheltenham, living in Tewkesbury, although he also spent some time in Spain. Incidentally, he was not related to Johnny Kenneally, rider of the 1964 Grand National runner-up Purple Silk.
Paddy Kenneally’s ten winners were in chronological order:
1. Auburn Hall, Mallow, April 12, 1952
2. Cillas Cottage, Taunton, October 9, 1964
3. Boyne Battle, Towcester, April 9, 1955
4. Cillas Cottage, Devon & Exeter, August 25, 1955
5. Cillas Cottage, Devon & Exeter, September 9, 1955
6. Cillas Cottage, Ludlow, September 29, 1955
7. Cillas Cottage, Taunton, October 8, 1955
8. Boyne Battle, Cheltenham, October 12, 1955
9. Cillas Cottage, Chepstow, December 26, 1955
10. Golden Proof, Hereford, June 10, 1957
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