DUEL - THE CHAMPION'S DEFENCE Richard Dunwoody hb 1994

DUEL - THE CHAMPION'S DEFENCE Richard Dunwoody with Sean Magee

Hardback with dust cover 152 pages, excellent condition. Colour photographs. Published by Partridge Press 1994.

The battle between Richard Dunwoody and Adrian Maguire for the jockeys' championship made the 1993-94 National Hunt season one of the most enthralling of recent years.
Dunwoody was the previous season's champion, with Martin Pipe's all-conquering stable looking certain to provide him with a never-flagging supply of winners.  Maguire was the young pretender, with the reputation of being the most talented young jockey since - Richard Dunwoody.
Maguire set the early pace and soon built up a substantial lead but, once the Pipe machine overcame a faltering start, Dunwoody closed the gap relentlessly.  For month upon month their rivalry lit up the jumping scene.  Then, a sensational barging match between the two in a minor race at Nottingham left the champion with a fourteen day suspension which ruled him out of the Cheltenham Festival and seemed to present the jockeys' title to his rival.
On his return from suspension Dunwoody immediately closed the gap, then dazzled the racing world with a masterful ride on Miinnehoma to win the Grand National.  Three weeks before the end of the season he finally overtook his opponent, only for Maguire to fight back and force the issue to the very last day.
A tale of a famous battle between two great jockeys at the top of their game and an insight into the dedication, courage and skill which have made Dunwoody a master of his craft.