O'Ryan, Bobby

Robert Joseph O'Ryan was born in Tipperary, Ireland, on June 12, 1917 and rode his first winner - Irish Blarney - at Rathkeale in Ireland in 1939.Moving to England, he rode a total of 170 winners, including eight on Acthon Major on which he finished third in the 1950 Grand National. 

His son Thomas rode with success on the Flat before becoming a journalist.

Bobby's best wins included Distel in the 1946 Champion Hurdle, Dunshaughlin in the 1946 National Hunt Chase, and Q.E.D. in the 1951 Lancashire Chase.

Bobby died of a stroke on 30 June, 1996, aged 79.

Article by Chas Hammond