Champions Crowned as the 2025-26 National Point-to-Point Season Concludes
The curtain came down on another memorable National Point-to-Point season this week, with champions crowned across the three major Connolly’s RED MILLS-supported championships following a dramatic finale.
The battle for honours went right to the wire, with titles decided on the final day after a season packed with competitive racing, standout performances and remarkable consistency from horses, trainers and riders alike.
Newman Secures Third Consecutive Trainers’ Crown
Runner-up in the riders’ standings, Josh Newman enjoyed another exceptional campaign, riding 46 winners during the season. More significantly, he secured the Foran Equine Trainers’ Championship for yards with over 15 horses for the third consecutive year, also training 46 winners in the process.
Reflecting on another standout season, Newman said:
“We have had a great season, I am incredibly proud of our team and the horses. It is wonderful to reward the owners for their support and obviously the staff deserve the credit too.
“To win three titles on the bounce is a great achievement and it is great to keep improving season on season. We are the ones to be shot at now and have to keep up momentum year on year to improve the horses and keep the owners supporting us.”
Newman’s continued success highlights the strength and consistency of his operation, with the Dorset-based yard once again setting the standard throughout the campaign.
Lavorante Claims Connolly’s RED MILLS Champion Horse Title
The Connolly’s RED MILLS Champion Horse competition proved one of the closest contests of the season, with Lavorante ultimately emerging victorious after a dramatic final-day showdown with Clonogoose.
Careful planning behind the scenes ensured Lavorante secured the points needed to clinch the title, capping an outstanding campaign for the talented performer.
Trained by Luke Price and owned by Price alongside his cousin David Van-Pouke, Lavorante completed a remarkable season with seven wins and four second-place finishes from just 11 runs, underlining his incredible consistency throughout the year.
Breakthrough Season for Luke Price
The season also marked a major milestone for Luke Price, who claimed his first trainers’ championship by winning the Foran Equine title for yards with six to 14 horses.
Price ended the campaign with 24 winners and was quick to praise the small but dedicated team behind the operation.
“It has been a brilliant season,” he said. “We started much earlier than normal, had a few get injured but it has all come good.
“We have no staff, it is just Evie and I doing all the work. It is really tough for us to get owners because we are based in South Wales and there is so little Welsh racing now.
“Mike and Alison Owen are very supportive owners and we are also so lucky to have James King on the team. He is a big cog in the wheel. Monday was brilliant to have a treble and for Lavorante to secure Connolly’s Red Mills Champion Horse.”
Price’s achievement is a testament to the hard work and determination of smaller point-to-point yards competing at the highest level of the sport.
Carr, Day & Martin Best Turned Out Awards
Alongside the championship competitions, Carr, Day & Martin also continued their support of British point-to-pointing through the Best Turned Out Awards, presented across all 15 GB Pointing Bonus races during the season.
The awards recognised the hard work and dedication of owners, trainers and stable staff in producing horses to the highest standards on raceday, celebrating the professionalism and pride that remains such an important part of the sport.
A Season to Remember
As another National Point-to-Point season draws to a close, the championship winners reflect the depth of talent and dedication that exists throughout the sport; from established championship-winning operations to smaller family-run yards punching above their weight.
GB Pointing is extremely grateful for the continued support of Connolly’s RED MILLS, Carr, Day & Martin and Foran Equine throughout the 2025-26 season and looks forward to continuing these strong partnerships into the 2026-27 campaign.
