Pat Tollit, who won the women riders’ title six times and was the first woman to reach a century of point-to-point victories, died on Sunday afternoon at the age of 90.
Born and bred in Worcestershire, Tollit was the daughter of a leading figure in the sport and her love of it was passed down to her children and grandchildren. Her final runner as an owner, Hidden Charmer, finished fourth at Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday – she passed away a few hours later.
Tollit’s father, Major Harold Rushton, an amateur rider and Master of the Worcestershire Hunt, owned a number of prolific winners either side of WWII, none better than O’Dell who won 40 races including Aintree’s Foxhunters’ Chase on two occasions – the race was run over the full Grand National trip at that time. Ebony Knight, Signet Ring, Ragman II and Monks Choice were other good horses owned by Major Rushton, who won the national men’s championship on more than one occasion before the war, albeit a dozen or so winners was good enough to take the title. His wife Ruth also took part in point-to-points riding side-saddle.
Her husband was secretary or joint-secretary of the Worcestershire Hunt’s point-to-point from 1931 to 1967 during which time he rode 87 winners. He died in 1968 having handed the role of entries secretary for the Worcestershire meeting to Pat who performed the task for a further 18 years before her daughter Christine picked up the mantle in 1986.
Pat, who had one sibling, Diana, had emerged on the point-to-point scene in 1948, when, at the age of 16, she rode her first winner on Merry Knight in her father’s colours. Three years later she won her first national championship with nine winners – all gained on one horse, Lucky Dip – and, having married John Tollit from whom she was later divorced, she won the title again in 1960, ‘62, ’64, ‘65 and ’72. She had dominated the women’s title race through the 1960s, but her final title was shared with Sue Aston after both women rode 15 winners. A broken rib prevented Tollit from riding in the final weeks of the season and Aston drew level.
Pat Tollit in point-to-point action during the 1960s
By that time Tollit had become the first woman to reach a century of wins when scoring on Uncle Coke at the Ludlow meeting in 1965, and, seven years later, the first to 150 victories by virtue of a win on Pensham at the Oakley meeting. Pensham, who was owned by Tollit’s mother, won 11 races that season and took the leading horse title which today is sponsored by Connolly’s Red Mills. While Pensham was the best horse with which Tollit was associated she also won 24 races on Episil and 20 on Lucky Dip. Gansey and No Duda were among other good horses she rode.
Bearing in mind that women were not allowed to ride under Rules and so could not compete in hunters’ chases, and that for much of her time in the saddle women were restricted to taking part in ladies’ races her score of 171 point-to-point winners was a remarkable achievement, not least when you consider she missed a season with a broken leg and took time out of the sport to become a mother to daughters Katherine, Christine and Angela.
They all became involved in point-to-pointing as riders, owners and trainers and their children have followed suit. Katherine’s daughter Alex Dunn is a former amateur rider and now a licensed trainer while her brother John Smith-Maxwell rode at Sunday’s Chaddesley Corbett meeting, where his father, Philip, was in charge of the equine ambulance.
Christine’s daughters Phine and Abigail were regular competitors on the West Midlands point-to-point circuit, while Angela Rucker became the most successful rider among Tollit’s children and with her husband William has become a well-known owner of horses trained by Evan Williams. The Ruckers’ daughter Emily also rode winners on the point-to-point circuit.
Pat Tollit entered a care home in April and attended her final point-to-point the following month at Chaddesley Corbett.
She was predeceased by her ex-husband two years ago but is survived by her three daughters, by nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Her daughter Katherine said yesterday: She loved point-to-pointing more than anything and was always happy to talk about horses. It was a long life and a good life.”