NORTH WEST AREA
NEWS
Britain ’s last ‘traditional’ point-to-point gears up to racing
High Peak at Flagg Moor
Easter Tuesday 25th March 2008
Runners and riders for Flagg Races, will be racing again over the challenging terrain at one of the most historical events on the racing calendar. The members race at Flagg is now the last race of its kind held anywhere in the UK under the auspices of the Jockey Club. While there are six races over conventional steeplechase fences, the members race is run over Derbyshire stone walls.
This years successful “Take Your Own Line” section saw members of the High Peak Hunt jumping over the stone walls, onto the main course on Flagg Moor, 5 miles south of Buxton. Starting at 1pm, this rare event reflected the early days of horse racing when riders rode from one point to another with no defined course. This involved jumping walls, banks, ditches and any other obstacle in order to take the most direct route. Next year, the route will feature only three marker flags so navigation could be as important a factor as raw speed, agility and courage.
Pip Clayton on Christopher Robin, runner up in 2007
“Horse and rider need to be more cunning and master tacticians to succeed at Flagg” explains Sue Rodman, former Secretary of the Point-to-point and a past winner of the Member’s Race. “By taking your own line it is likely that all competitors will be going a different way so there is no one to judge speed or position against. You only know if you’re in the running when you have jumped the next to last wall, and even then you still have 200m to the winning post and it’s all uphill. That’s a very long way on a horse after 4miles!”
Anthony Hopkins, the Chairman of Flagg Races, who has competed in no less than five Member’s Races (falling off on one memorable occasion) and having won the veteran cup, The Croxden Cup in 2007 is going for the double in 2008
The remaining 6 races are all run under strict Jockey Club rules over a defined course of 18 steeple chase fences which have to be a minimum of 4’3” high. The geography of the racecourse is perfect for spectators with hilltop parking and spectator areas affording perfect viewing and picnic opportunities.
The 2007 Best turned Out Racegoers won a weekend trip to the Cotswolds, and similar prizes are up for grabs again in 2008.
Best Turned Out Racegoer Judge Melanie Needham with one young winner and her Daughter Lily
Held after the 3 rd race, in the winners’ enclosure, the 2008 judge, Mel Needham, will again be looking for classic colours, with traditional materials and stylish accessories. Snuggly scarves and cosy gloves to keep out the elements.
Your outfit needs to be warm enough to be outside all day, but stylish enough to still look good. Well turned out racegoers will receive an invitation to participate from “spotters” who will be mingling with the crowd.
The successful new format in the traffic flow system eliminated queues on the Main Ashbourne – Buxton A515 road, allowing quicker entry and exit to the course, and will be in operation again for Flagg Races 2008 to recognise the ever-increasing popularity of this annual event.
Car parking will be free and racecourse entrance is £10 per adult, children under 16 are free. Pre-booked reserved car parking is available close to the racecourse but numbers are restricted. If you are interested in reserving a space please contact Paul Dunn on 01629 640133. Any other event enquiries should be directed to the Secretary on 01629 636812.
“Last year, many thousands of enthusiastic spectators enjoyed the thrilling spectacle of thoroughbreds racing across spectacular open countryside” said Rachel McQueen, Secretary of Flagg Races Management Committee. “The whole event is a fantastic family day out with food outlets around the course, trade stands selling a variety of wares, a licensed bar and bookmakers for those who fancy a punt.”
Flagg Races is held at Flagg Moor, 5 miles south of Buxton on Easter Tuesday, the 25th of March 2008, and the first of seven races gets underway at 1.00pm beginning with the famous stone wall race. Horses are paraded in the paddock at 12.30pm allowing the jockeys’ time to get their mounts down to the starting line well to the north west of the steeplechase course for the start of this historic race.
The normal racing course is left-handed and covers approximately 3 miles and 4 furlongs which is 2 circuits of the 9 fence course. There is an uphill finish which, combined with the distance, requires plenty of stamina. The event attracts leading horses and jockeys not just from neighbouring counties but from as far as the Borders in the North down to Gloucestershire and the South Midlands.
The first point-to-point races were held on Flagg Moor in 1892 and apart from the war years and 2001 to 2003, the point-to-point has been held there on Easter Tuesday ever since.
One piece of Flagg history saw the Maiden Race Cup disappear after it was won in 1975. Years later the cup was unearthed by a demolition company’s excavator and after some renovation, was returned to the Flagg Races suite of Prizes. “Bill the Digger driver found it whilst levelling a house in Clay Cross “ explained Anthony Hopkins “and contacted me directly. Having collected the cup from Bill I saw it was suffering from years of neglect and I can assure you it took a great deal of silver polish to get it back to its former glory”
10 HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM THE NORTH WESTERN AREA
by Arthur Shone
CHRISTY BEAMISH (11yo Gelding)
“I can honestly say that I have never seen this horse in such good shape this early on before. We are really expecting a good season with him. The plan is to run him in a couple of Ladies Openss with Sue Sharratt before going hunter chasing with him. He was unlucky to come up against Katarino in the Liverpool Foxhunters, hopefully Liverpool will be the aim again.
Trainer Sue Taylor (comments by the former trainer\Sue’s partner, Paul Jones)
FALCON LAKE (6yo Gelding )
“He won a competitive Maiden at Clonakitty in Ireland, where he beat the useful Carrig Eden by 3 lengths. He is a really good mover and handles good quick ground, I have no hesitation in nominating Falcon Lake as one of my dark horses for the new season.”
Trainer Sheila Crow (comments by Edward Crow)
BANBURY BABE (6yo Mare)
“A nice progressive mare, who won well at Garnons last season. We are hoping that she will improve further this season, she is working really well at home.”
Trainer Lisa Willis
MIZEN HEAD (6yo Gelding)
“He is a lovely stamp of a horse and was second in his point to point in Ireland. I am pleased with his work at home on the gallops and I think he will be a nice prospect for the new season ahead.”
Trainer Caroline Robinson
THE TALKING BISHOP (6yo Gelding)
“He showed quite a lot of promise on his two runs last season and he is working really well at home on the gallops. He will be one of our first runners as he has a liking for fast ground. It would not surprise me if he went through the season unbeaten. It will take a good one to beat him.”
Trainer Sheila Crow (comments by Edward Crow)
GLENVIOT (6yo Mare)
“She is a half sister to Border Fusion, last season’s Bangor Final winner. Her jumping was a bit sketchy so she went to Brian Baugh under rules and he ran her in a bumper at Bangor on the same day that I won on Border Fusion. She finished a close 5 th. Dominic Elsworth who rode her in the race was very enthusiastic when I spoke to him afterwards. She is schooling really nicely at home and is a very worthy dark horse from the yard.”
Trainer Gary Hanmer
BANGKOK BOB (8yo Gelding)
“He is still a Maiden, but he won’t be for long. He should have won at Sandon last season, but he made a mistake at the third last when going easily, he wasn’t beaten far which made it all the more frustrating. He is a nice horse who will win his fair share of races this season.”
Trainer Gary Hanmer
GLENAROUSKE (8yo Gelding)
“He is a tall rangy horse and I like him a lot. He came to me in the summer from Jimmy Mangan in Ireland. He was off for a year with a cracked rib after another horse kicked him in the field. He has taken time to settle as he was quite stressed out when he first came to the yard. My sister Gillian bought him for therapy, as she has not been too well, but she is getting better now. He is a real exciting prospect for the new season.”
Trainer Julie Kinsey
FLASHY BOY (9yo Gelding)
“A good servant in the yard. He is not the fastest or the biggest horses that we have, but he so tough. He is best suited by stiff tracks on soft ground, the more testing the conditions the better he likes it. He will run mainly in Ladies Opens with Hannah (Kinsey), he is really well in himself and he will run in January probably at Barbury Castle.
Trained by Julie Kinsey
RUNAWAY BISHOP (13yo Gelding)
“He has plenty of ability as he has won 7 chases under rules. He will run mainly in Ladies Open’s where Hannah Kinsey will ride him. Hopefully I can find a little hunter chase for him, he handles soft ground, but I feel he is better suited by decent going.
Trained by John Swindells
Please note that every horse comes with comments from the trainer or their representative
*** Willie Wong and The Accordion Man both won last season, which meant that in 10 seasons between the flags Edward Crow had selected 15 winners from just 16 dark horse selections, a very remarkable strike rate. This seasons dark horse selections from Edward Crow are The Talking Bishop & Falcon Lake.
THE NORTH WESTERN AREA START THEIR NEW 2007-8 POINT-TO-POINT SEASON WITH GEORGE BARLOW AS THEIR NEW CHAIRMAN
by Arthur Shone
The North Western area held a ballot over the summer months for a new chairman following the retirement of Roger Everall, who had done the area proud for over a decade. He had been vice chairman prior to that when the then chairman Sandy Templeton’s health was failing. George Barlow won the vote by a short head from Neale Dalton.
George Barlow comes into office with a wealth of experience in all aspects of our sport. Speaking prior to the start of our season (which kicks off in this neck of the woods on Sunday January 20 th at Weston Park with the Albrighton fixture), he said, “I am very honoured to have been elected chairman of the North West Area and I look forward to the future with confidence. I have been involved in racing for the last fifty years. During this time I have gained experience in many aspects of the sport, including riding, permit training and stewarding under rules and in point to points.”
“Regarding North West point to point courses, I am very pleased to report that both courses at Eyton on Severn and Weston Park have been busy with their ground, as they have both done remedial work, including sub soiling which should reduce compaction.”
“Our area secretary, Nick Bostock, reports that the North West Club meeting at Tabley on Sunday May 18 th, 2008 has been awarded the Dobson & Horrell PPORA Club Members race for the novice riders championship final. This entitles the first three riders past the post to score points for the Harley Racing National Riders championship.”
“I look forward to hearing further proposals from Robert Waley-Cohen (chairman of the point-to-point board) based on Richard Russell’s review for the promotion of the sport, which should be available for the end of the year to be implemented for the 2008-2009 season.”
“To conclude I would like to congratulate Charlie Huxley on winning the Bollinger series in the summer, my interest here is that I rode against his grandfather Roy Edwards many years ago.”
Racing will come under starters orders in the North Western Area on Sunday January 20 th 2008 at Weston Park with the Albrighton meeting. The feature race , the Scally Muire worth a monkey in prize money, will be run as a Ladies’ Open at the North Staffs meeting at Sandon on Easter Saturday March 22 nd 2008. The curtain comes down on the season in the North West area on Sunday May 18 th, with the Point-To-Point Club meeting at Tabley. On the previous day, May 17 th, the North Western Area Point-To-Point Championship Final will be run at Bangor on Dee. There was a very fitting winner to the race last season when Border Fusion won the race for Nantwich bookmaker Gordon Crawford, who sadly died within a few weeks of winning the race. Crawford was instrumental in founding this race and he used to do an ante post book on the riders and horses for the area, he will be sadly missed.
