90 today, a Cork Olympian and a horse rider par excellence

The Munich Olympic Games of 1972 are unfortunately remembered by many because of terrorism and killing rather than any athletic prowess.

What is now generally referred to as ‘The Munich Massacre’ happened when members of the Palestinian ‘Black September’, a radical militant group, attacked the Israeli Olympic team, killing two and taking nine hostages - these were all killed subsequently after a rescue attempt failed.

That all happened more than half a century ago, and while it was played out in Europe, the whole episode had its roots in the Middle East.

That was 1972, this is 2024 - and yet that self same conflict still endures today.

A member of the Irish Equestrian team in Munich was Bill McLernon, and last week he spoke to me of what happened.

“The atmosphere in the Munich Olympic village was great, happy, friendly and relaxed. We (the Irish team) were staying not that far away from where the Israelis were actually staying in the Olympic Village.

“After the killings it was never the same. Security became so strict - you’d have to have a Pass to go anywhere and everywhere and the tension was just terrible.”

Getting picked for the Irish three- day eventing team for Munich was one of the highlights of McLernon’s career - one that spanned four decades. Even when his days ‘in the saddle’ were over, his connection with all aspects of the ‘sport of kings’ never dimmed or waned.

Born in Glenbrook, Passage West, McLernon was steeped in the love of bloodstock from the cradle. Along with his four siblings, Bill had pure ‘Equine DNA’ - his mother’s great, grand uncle was Cornelius O Callaghan who took part in the first ever Steeplechase between Doneraile and Buttevant back in 1854.

Bill’s own father was a showjumper and was chef d équipe for several Irish jumping and eventing teams.

Young McLernon was just 14 when he rode his first point-to-point winner in 1948. From then until his retirement in the early 1970, ‘Billy Mac’ rode more than 360 point-to- point race winners and 245 winners ‘inside the rails’ under the Rules of Racing.

From Passage, the Mclernon family moved to Spangle Hill on the Northside of Cork city and then to Rathcormac where the McLernons operated a salt packaging business.

Writing in 1972, Michael Fortune described Bill as “Ireland’s greatest ever amateur rider” - a claim that’s never been disputed.

All during the 1950s and ’60s, the Mclernon name was a household one in Munster for anyone with an interest in horse racing. On seven occasions, Bill won the point-to-point riders’ championship, and for good measure his brother Brian won this title in 1959.

When I first started going ‘to the races’ as a young fella - taking the Wednesdays off from school was mighty! - Billy McLernon and the late, great Connie Vaughan were the ‘main men’ on the point-to-point circuit.

Headlines on the Echo and Examiner and Echo like ‘Double for McLernon’ and ‘Another Three winners for McLernon’ were commonplace - we’d think there was something wrong if Billy Mac drew a blank in Bartlemy, Ballynoe, Ballindenisk, Killeagh, Pigeon Hill or Ballinrea.

He could have turned professional of course but never did so - he loved the game and as a sportsman and brilliant horseman, the sport was more important than the opportunity to cash in big time.

On five occasions, Bill rode in the English Grand National at Aintree -he once finished sixth on Baxter. His horsemanship led him all over the world to ride races in the USA, where he rode Angelic Caprice to win three races for Mrs Miles Valentine - that was in 1964.

He also rode races in France, Sweden and Holland, but often said he’d prefer a day’s hunting above anything else. His love of that and the open country was fostered when he was but a child and Bill can recall back over 70 years ago ‘hacking’ from Fair Hill down to Knockraha or Glanmire for a day after the hounds.

When he moved to Rathcormac, he followed the local Coolnakilla Harriers. In an old GAA Minute Book dated 1951, I found a reference that “Dan Dooley was asked to notify William and Brian McLernon to travel to Ballincurrig” - this was for a Hurling Tournament game against Killeagh - we lost by 5 1 to 1 1.

I questioned Billy about his hurling career a few years back and he replied: “I only played if they were really very badly stuck for players” - and back in the 1950s, getting 15 on the field was never easy! By all accounts, Brian was a handy hurler.

After being unplaced on Royal Flush for Ger Hogan in the Tetratema Cup at Gowran Park in 1972, Bill retired from the racing saddle. As his race riding career was drawing to a close, he got involved in three-day eventing - a growing equestrian sport in the early 1970s.

With showjumping, dressage and cross country riding, three-day eventing was a tough test for man and beast - Bill took to it like a duck to water. He represented Ireland for the first time in Burghley in England where he finished as the leading Irish rider, coming 13th out of a total of 45 participants.

He was initially on a panel before the Olympic team for Munich was finally picked. It was huge honour for the Rathcormac man to be selected to ride Wexford-owned Ballangarry in Germany.

The excitement of travelling to Munich and being part of the Irish Olympic team was amazing, but his medal hopes were dashed by an injury to Ballangarry which forced his retiral.

When Bill McLernon finally put away his saddle and left the bridle on the wall, he continued his connection with bloodstock and horses of all shapes and sizes. He became a three- day eventing course builder of renown. Later then, he joined the Turf Club as a Course Inspector, a position he held for close on 20 years.

So, from riding horses like All Shell and Uncle Tim, hunting around Bartlemy and Rathcormac, to the status of becoming an Olympian in Munich in 1972, Bill McLernon has truly ‘been there, done that, and worn the jersey’.

A true sportsman with a great attitude to life and living, the amiable and affable Corkman now lives near Dunboyne, Co Meath - close to plenty racecourses, sales rings, and the best of trainers.

Bill McLernon was born on Wednesday, August 1, in the year of our Lord, 1934. So he is 90 years of age today, and on behalf of all who ever met him, can I say ‘Happy birthday, Bill’ - truly a legend in your own lifetime.