NORTH CORNWALL
WADEBRIDGE 5th February
2005
by Lee Glanville
The Caroline Keevil
trained Deep Pockets looks destined for great things after winning
one of the most competitive Restricted races seen at the North
Cornwall Foxhounds point to point.
Jamie Snowden piloted the
Fourstars Allstars six year old to victory over Richard
Barber’s Frontenac (Rachel Green) and the Ollie Jackson
trained Moonshine Surprise (Leslie Jefford) who was handily placed
throughout. Both first and third had already won this season.
Racegoers were treated to the
best of Cornwall’s spring weather and some exciting finishes.
Punters, though, were disgruntled after a shambolic start to the
men’s open saw the favourite, Lord of the Mist, also trained
by Richard Barber, and ridden by Harry Fry, take no part in the
race which was won easily by Angie Malde’s Polar Champ (Guy
Weatherley).
Reigning national champion lady
rider Polly Gundry was on board the Newton family’s Bally
Blue to win an exciting ladies’ open. Multiple winner of
2004, Sandy Duff (Mary McCarthy), was in the lead down the hill on
the final circuit but the headstrong chestnut ran off the course as
it turned to the right, leaving Tony’s Time (Charlotte
Stucley) in the lead. Bally Blue, trained in Sidbury by Monique
Pike, skipped past Tony’s Time on the final corner to romp
home.
Three horses crossed the line
split by half a length and half a length in the Confined.
Bruthuinne, trained by his owner, South Devon farrier John Berwick,
and ridden by Derek McKenna got the nod ahead of the Linda
Blackford trained Canada (R Ross) with Monty’s Lass (Neil
Harris) in third.
Members of the North Cornwall
Pony Club were out in force to cheer on Ella Kennan to a first ride
victory in the opening members’ race. Ella was lucky enough
to be riding It’s Not Simple, a class mare, now 13, who has
acted as schoolmistress many times before. Hot favourite was
Cornish favourite Kestick (Tabitha Cave) who underestimated
It’s Not Simple and was caught flat footed on the climb to
the line, beaten by half a length. Liz Hancock, District
Commissioner of the North Cornwall branch of the Pony Club was on
hand to support not only Ella, but fellow members Laura Warren, who
also made her debut, and Joe Tickle. Liz is a long-time point to
point supporter as her husband, Richard, used to ride pointing and
was in his 39th year of helping out at the North Cornwall
meeting.
Area leading lady rider Lucy
Gardner too k Division Two of the maiden on Harry The Horse but
second place So Long (Neil Harris) trained on Exmoor by Jeremy and
Camilla Scott, finished with a wet sail and will soon be in the
winners’ enclosure.
Division One of the maiden was
split on declaration, Part one going to Calinash (Rachel Green)
bought cheaply from Ascot Sales by Richard Barber.
The 11 year old gelding had no
previous form but won easily. Part Two went to Heard family’s
Nditllir who was ridden confidently by Liam Heard.
Please note: the Mid Devon
Foxhounds meeting at Blackforest Lodge takes place on February 26,
not Feb 12 as originally scheduled. Entries close on Feb 19.
Results Members: 1, It’s
Not Simple, Miss E Kennan; 2, Kestick, Miss T Cave; 3, Robson, W
Biddick. Four ran, 1/2l, dist, 6.56.
Men’s open: 1, Polar
Champ, G Weatherley; 2, Dale Creek, R Woollacott; 3, Friar Waddon,
C Heard. Seven ran, dist, 3l, 6.12.
Ladies Open: 1, Bally blue, Miss
P Gundry; 2, Tony’s Time, Miss C Stucley; 3, Let’s Fly,
Miss M Hand. Nine ran, 2l, 5l, 6.11.
Restricted: 1, Deep Pockets, J
Snowden; 2, Frontenac, Miss R Green; 3, Moonshine Surprise, L
Jefford. 12 ran, 1/2l, 1/2l, 6.15. Confined: 1, Bruthuinne, D
McKenna; 2, Canada, R Ross; 3, Monty’s Lass, N Harris. Eight
ran, 1/2l, 1/2l, 6.18.
Exeter Racecourse Intermediate:
1, Stone Valley, D Edwards; 2, Sea Snipe, Miss T Cave; 3, Urban
Hunter, D Alers Hankey. Seven ran, 2l, 1l, 6.25.
Maiden Division One part one: 1,
Calinash, Miss R Green; 2, Jemanette, M Dennis; 3, Countryside
Counts, Miss L Gardner. Eight ran, 6l, 1l, 6.33. Part
two: 1, Nditlir, L Heard; 2,
Joli Christmas, W White; 3, Off The Hook, I Hambley. Seven ran, nk,
5l, 6.46. Division Three: 1, Harry The Horse, Miss L Gardner; 2, So
Long, N Harris; 3, Mitchell St Express, D Alers Hankey. 13 ran,
1/2l, 6l, 6.20.
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