Ronnie Beggan

Born in Dublin on June 17, 1962, Ronnie lost his right to claim when riding a double at Market Rasen on Sir Wimpy and Melton Ross on Saturday, May 12, 1984.

1984 was the year he came down at The Chair on Carl's Wager and, on Saturday, June 2, rode trainer Michael Dickinson's last ever National Hunt runner, Compton Lad.

On Tuesday, March 11, 1986, Ronnie won the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival. (£21,215) on Oregon Trail (14/1). Third came the soon to be famous Desert Orchid.

The combination won again at Cheltenham on December 6 when taking the Glen International Gold Cup.

Ronnie also won the 1988 Fulwell Chase at Kempton beating that good horse Ten of Spades. Other good races won included the 1985 Sun Alliance Hurdle (Asir), the 1984 Bula Hurdle (Browne's Gazette), the Chivas Regal Chase, the Ladbroke Hurdle, the 1989 Nottingham Champion novices' Chase on William Crump and the 1989 Peterborough Chase on Clever Polly.

He also rode Summer Colony to victory at Camden in America on the last day of the US season. Another great American win came on Saturday, November 16, 1991, when Ronnie won The Colonial Cup on the Jonathan Sheppard-trained Moonstruck.

R. J. Beggan - as he was listed on the racecard - had the remarkable record of riding at every course in the British Isles, including Ireland.

He thought that Browne's Gazette, Asir and Midnight Court were the best horses he rode.

Ronnie retired in 1994, and Towcester staged the Ronnie Beggan Handicap Hurdle on Monday, May 2. In that race, Ronnie rode the top weight, Royal Flamingo.

Ronnie returned to the saddle for a celebrity race at Newmarket, riding Overpower for M Tompkins in the Subaru Handicap.

He lived for a time at Hawthorne Way, Blakeney Fields, Great Shefford, Berks.

Ronnie enjoyed Squash, Rugby, Boxing and Polo.

Big winners:

1984: Bula Hurdle – Browne’s Gazette 

1985: Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle – Asir 

1985: Mecca Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle – Chrysaor 

1986: Arkle Trophy Chase – Oregon Trail 

1986: Glen International Gold Cup – Oregon Trail 

1991: Colonial Cup – Moonstruck