NORTH WEST AREA
NEWS
North West Area end of season Point-to-Point dinner and
dance
12th June 2010
Hill Valley Hotel, Whitchurch
7:30 for 8:00pm. Awards and dinner followed by dancing untill 1:00am! (tickets £35)
Ring Victoria Stubbs for details, 07813912313
2010 North West Area Championships
LEADING HORSE
1ST RICHARD HEWITT’S LE SEYCHELLOIS - 31PTS
2ND RICHARD FRENCH’S ENTER PARADISE - 30PTS
3RD MRS DOROTHY COPE, MISS DIANE COPE & MISS SUE SHARRATT’S SCOTMAIL TOO - 19PTS
LEADING GENTLEMAN RIDER
1ST RICHARD BURTON - 65PTS
2ND WILL KINSEY - 47PTS
3RD JOE PROCTOR - 27PTS
LEADING LADY RIDER
IST MISS SUE SHARRATT - 22PTS (4 WINS)
2ND MISS SAM DRAKE - 22PTS (3 WINS)
3RD MISS IMMY ROBINSON - 11PTS
LEADING NOVICE HORSE
1ST MR RICHARD FRENCH’S ENTER PARADISE - 18PTS
2ND DH MR DON EDWARD’S MY FLORA - 10PTS
2ND DH MRS JESSICA SCOTT’S GOLDEN HARVEY - 10PTS
LEADING NOVICE RIDER
1ST JOE PROCTOR - 27PTS
2ND MISS SAM DRAKE - 22PTS
3RD BEN FURNIVAL - 12PTS
LEADING FAMILY HORSE
1ST MISS SAM DRAKE’S QUEEN OF DIAMONDS - 8PTS (2 WINS)
2ND MRS PAT BEASLEY & MR GEORGE HIBBERT’S WHISTLING STRAITS - 8PTS (1 WIN)
3RD DH MR DAVID O’BRIEN’S BIG JOHN MACARTHY - 6PTS
3RD DH MR DAVID PEARSON’S THE CLIENT - 6PTS
3RD DH MISS SAM DRAKE’S KEEVERFIELD - 6PTS
LEADING EYTON HORSE
IST MRs DOROTHY COPE, MISS DIANE COPE & MISS SUE SHARRATT’S SCOTMAIL TOO - 8PTS
2ND DH MR ROY SWINBURN & MS LOUISE POWIS’S SHALES BIG WOOD - 6PTS
2ND DH MRS JESSICA SCOTT’S GOLDEN HARVEY - 6PTS
2ND DH MR DEREK MALAM’S VICARIO - 6PTS
2ND DH MRS BELINDA CLARKE’S BELLIGERENT
LEADING VETERAN RIDER
1ST MISS SUE SHARRATT - 22PTS
2ND MR DAVID O’BRIEN - 7PTS
The awards presentation to the above winners, will be taking place at the Prize Giving Dinner on Saturday June 12th 2010 at the Hill Valley Golf Club, Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13 4JH. Tickets are still available for this popular event at just £35.00 per person, these are available from Victoria Stubbs on 07813 912313 or from Nick Bostock on 01630-656461
On behalf of our area chairman George Barlow and area secretary Nick Bostock and myself, we would like to thank everyone in the media for your continuing support of the North Western Area Point To Point racing each season, it is much appreciated and valued.
Flagg Races – galloping on in 1927
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.
While going through some old boxes in the attic, High Peak Hunt former Joint Master Henry Stephenson found a photograph album containing black and white photographs dating back to the 1920s and 30s.
“In those days health and safety was unheard of” says Henry, “riders only wore bowlers or peaked caps, not the crash hats and back protectors of today”
The first photograph shows Flagg Moor farm in the background, and horses are jumping the same walls that they still jump today.
Henry maintains that “the walls were bigger too”. The walls remain the same on the traditional “take your own line” however on the course, the top “copers” are removed in line with Jockey Club rules.
The second photo shows Henrys’ father, Capt. Francis Stephenson unsaddling after winning the 1927 members race. “In those days the ladies had a separate race, and it was a real local event” In fact two sets of brothers, the Stephensons and the Barlows were competing against each other.
The horse, Lucy, was owned and ridden Capt. Francis Stephenson had bought as a youngster, and was 13yrs old when she won the Members Race. It was her second Members race, her first win. She remained Capt Stephensons' hunter, going out with the High Peak Hunt regularly.
Capt Stephensons’ wife, Joanie, also a keen hunt follower, always rode side saddle, coming second in the Ladies race in 1933.
Paul Dunn, the current Clerk of the course for Flagg Races commented “ The rules of racing have hardly changed in almost 120 years, the weights are the same, the rules of eligibility are the same, indeed, much of the course is still the same”
Closer inspection of the photographs, reveal that the finishing line – the large white board with a black line painted on vertically is also the same ! “That board is so heavy, it takes 6 men to lift it out, and into position, it was built to last” commented Site Manager Nigel Clayton. “If only the shed that houses all the other stuff was !”
One of the reasons racing is so successful is down to the great natural viewing. “The hillside has provided natures grandstand, for the public to watch the days 7 races” notes Paul.
Flagg Races is held at Flagg Moor, 5 miles south of Buxton on Easter Tuesday, the 6th of April 2010, and the first of seven races gets underway at 12.30pm beginning with the famous stone wall race. This year, there will be an additional two pony races.
The Members race at 1pm will be the traditional race, over the Derbyshire Stone walls. This unique race is the only one of its kind in the whole country to be run under the auspices of the Jockey Club
Stable Tour
ARTHUR SHONE VISITS ASHTON TRAINER, WILL KINSEY
Peel Hall is set in some two hundred and fifty acres of scenic countryside in Ashton, Cheshire and is home to point-to-point trainer and rider Will Kinsey. The facilities at the yard are very impressive; there is an two furlong all weather gallop and an abundance of grass gallops. Will's father, Richard, has left 12 metres from the inside of a number of the fields for the horses to work on and all twenty boxes are full.
The day to day running of the yard is very much a family business. Will is best described as an “all round sportsman” as he still plays football for the Liverpool Ramblers, who he informs me is the oldest amateur football club. He rode his first winner for Wolverhampton trainer Paul Jones on Master Jock in 2000 and with some 30 winners already under belt, he is very much enjoying the training side as well as riding winners, in fact, he started the new season off by riding a double at the Northern Area Club meeting at Alnwick aboard My Final Bid in the Maiden and Lord Who in the Mens Open.
There was a time when Will's mother Julie, the former master of the Cheshire Forest, used to train the family’s own pointers as a hobby, the best of which was Fibreguide Tech. However, all that changed when she handed over the reins to her son in 2006 and he has expanded the yard to include a number of outside owners.
After twelve months of training and riding between the flags, Will decided to work as assistant trainer at Cholmondley to Donald McCain and still rode between the flags; he describes this experience as invaluable and a great learning curve. Last season he once again took over the training from his mother and Flashy Boy, ridden by his sister, Hannah Burton, provided the icing on the cake when crowned the champion pointer in the North West area.
The trainer will be getting the leg up next season on Flashy Boy, as his sister, who is married to the former national champion and current area champion, Richard Burton, is expecting her first child.
Father Richard has a permit licence to train under rules and was very instrumental in expanding the family’s equestrian business, which is proving to be successful as they buy young horses and bring them on to sell at the sales later. They also graze horses for Goldford Stud, which is owned by Bangor and Chester director Richard Aston
Will feels that in the not too distant future he would like to take out a full trainers licence under rules; he has passed all the exams and in his own words, it is just a case of getting the timing right. However, he is now firmly focused on the new 2010 point to point season and his comments on his charges at Peel Hall are well worth noting.
ALPHA VICTOR 5yo Gelding
“David Wesley Yates, who owns Monet’s Garden, has a quarter share in this horse. He is in full work, going really well on the gallops and will act on any ground. He's a nice horse to have in the yard.”
ECHO INDIA 6yo Gelding
“Peter Monteith recommended him to us and we liked him as soon as we saw him. He is working really well at home and is my “dark horse” selection from the yard. He is everyone's favourite at home. He won his Maiden in Ireland well and looks more than capable of winning a Restricted; wants good ground.”
FLASHY BOY 11yo Gelding
“He did the yard proud last season winning the champion horse award in the area. He gallops all day and stays really well, the softer the ground the better. I am looking forward to riding him this season as he has always been Hannah's horse in Ladies Opens.”
GLENAROUSKE 10yo Gelding
“He missed last season through injury; we bought him from Jimmy Mangan in Ireland. He had useful form in Ireland between the flags and I could not believe it when we were beaten by my brother in law on Darnil at Whittington; the judge gave it to Burtie by a head and I was astonished as I thought we had won, but that’s racing! He's working well at home and wants good ground.”
SATCH 4yo Gelding
“He is a nice young horse by Shahrastani, who we bought as a two year old. He has been schooling well at home and we'll run him in a 4yo Maiden. I think he will probably want a bit of cut in the ground.”
STRIKE FAST 5yo Gelding
“I think a lot of him; he is a nice type by Portrait Gallery and was placed in his Maiden in Ireland at Dromahane. He's been working nicely at home and will need a bit of cut in the ground. “
THE DISCO KID 6yo Gelding
“He used to be trained in Ireland by Thomas Cooper and is a half brother to the useful Sweet Citizen. He should win a Maiden and is also for sale.”
WILLIE WONG 8yo Gelding
“He'll start off in points before going hunter chasing. He ran a cracking race at Worcester in a bumper when losing out very narrowly in a photo. He's working well and will want good ground.”
WOULD WOULDN’T 10yo Gelding
“He clearly has ability as he proved when dead heating in a hunter chase at Huntingdon. However he can be a bit quirky as he proved when he refused to race at Tabley. The plan is to start him off in points and see how he goes, then hopefully run him later on back in hunter chases. He acts on most ground.”
Stable Tour
ARTHUR SHONE VISITS TOP POINT-TO-POINT TRAINER SHEILA CROW AT HADNALL IN SHROPSHIRE
Sheila Crow became the toast of the North West Area last season, following the success of Cappa Bleu with her stable jockey Richard Burton in the plate in the Foxhunters at the Cheltenham Festival. In doing so she became the first trainer from the area to train the winner of Cheltenham Foxhunters and to put the icing on the cake, Cappa Bleu is owned by William and Angela Rucker, who are very loyal owners in the yard. I asked Sheila what would be her goal now that she has won the Foxhunters at the Cheltenham, she replied, “You know, I would really like to win the race again!”
The area and former national champion rider Richard Burton will continue to ride the bulk of the stables horses. Jamie Jenkinson, who is in his second year with the yard, will continue to have rides. Sheila's grand-daughter Alice Walker will continue to ride Little Big Horse in Ladies Openss; she emulated her mother Lucy, the National champion rider of 1989, and her grandmother, by riding her first winner at 16. Hopes are high that Alice’s sister, Sophie, will continue the family tradition as she will be 16 in January. Crow will have about 20 horses in training for the new season from her Hadnall yard and her comments are well worth noting. Her son Alistair has taken over the dark horse selection from his late father Edward, his comments will be listed on Rash Call.
COCKPIT LANE 7yo Gelding
“He is a nice horse by Flemensfirth; it will be a case of seeing how he goes, after all, he won a very good Maiden in Ireland. I'm hoping he will win his points and then go hunter chasing later on in the season. He'll probably go on most ground with the exception of extremes.”
ENTER PARADISE 6yo Gelding
“He is by Moscow Society and is a lovely stamp of a horse. I expect him to win his Maiden then progress through his points. He will need good ground.”
FRESH FRUIT 6yo Mare
“She is a really good, improving mare who won her Maiden last season. She will go on any ground with the exception of heavy.”
GO FOR BUST 11yo Gelding
“He will run in Men’s Opens to start will and then we will hopefully campaign him in hunter later in the season; he's best on good ground.”
HOP OFF THE ROCK 7yo Gelding
“He is a big horse and was not quite right last season. He had one or two problems that we have now sorted out. I expect him to win his Maiden and progress nicely through the season; he will prefer soft ground.”
LITTLE BIG HORSE 14yo Gelding
“He gave my granddaughter Alice her first winner on her very first ride at Bangor last season at 16, which made me very proud; she also won on him again at the same course. He will be Alice’s ride again in Ladies’ Opens this season. He is a great horse to have in the yard; he might be getting on a bit now, but he has lost none of his passion for racing. He needs a bit of cut in the ground and should win his fair share of races this season.”
LILLY DE ROME 7yo Mare
“I'm certain that she will progress through the points this season; she is working really well at home on the gallops and hopefully she will have a good season.”
MY FLORA 6yo Mare
“She is a lovely mare, who will win her Maiden for sure. She will progress this season and is definitely one to note from our yard; she needs a bit of cut in the ground.”
RASH CALL 6yo Gelding (Comments by Alistair Crow)
“He is owned by William and Angela Rucker, which in the same ownership as Cappa Bleu, who my mother trained to win the Cheltenham Foxhunters at the Festival last season. Rash Call won his Maiden in Ireland very easily and is clearly a very progressive sort; he is working very well at home and is the obvious choice for my dark horse selection.”
SWEDEN 6yo Gelding
“He's really working well at home and will run in points to start with. I will aim him at the John Corbett Cup at Stratford, a race I have won previously with Lord Harry. He does not have any ground preference as he goes on anything.”
UNOWWHATIMEAN 12yo Gelding
“A nice edition to the yard; he has good form under rules and when he won at Market Rasen, he beat the Queen’s horse, Barber Shop. I will start him off in points and then go hunter chasing with him, he will go on any ground, there is no preference for him.”
2010 Ten to follow in the North West area
by Arthur Shone
One of the ten to follow from the area last season was the Sheila Crow trained Cappa Bleu, the winner of the Cheltenham Foxhunters at the Festival, which was nominated by Alistair Crow, who has taken over the dark horse selections from the yard following the death of his father Edward. His late father had a remarkable strike rate with 15 winners from just 18 selections. This season features some familiar names and some dark horses from around the yards in the North Western area. Each horse is comes with comments from their respective trainers, with the exception of Rash Call, which is listed by Alistair Crow.
CONICAVAL 5yo Mare
Trained by Kelda Wood
“She won over hurdles as a three year old in France, where she was rated a 112. With the 7lbs that she gets as a 5yo and with the mares allowance she will run with a stone off her back for the start of the new season which is a big plus. She has raced on soft ground mainly in France, but my gut feeling is that she is a better horse on good ground.”
ECHO INDIA 6yo Gelding
Trained by Will Kinsey
“I have no hesitation in nominating him as the dark horse to follow from the yard, he was recommended to us by Peter Monteith. He is everyone’s favourite in the yard and was impressive when winning his Maiden in Ireland. An exciting prospect for the season who wants good ground.”
FAIRYMOUNT 5yo Gelding
Trained by Gary Hanmer
“He has only had two runs in Ireland and was sixth of twelve in his last race is very testing ground; considering the conditions he ran a good race there. He will be a much better horse on good ground and he has really strengthened up and is going really well at home.”
GLIDEWELL 8yo Gelding
Trained by Neale Dalton
“He won his Restricted well at Eyton last season and hopefully he will progress through his points. I will probably run him next in an Intermediate to start off with and he fairly straight and working well at home. He will be out early and needs good ground.”
ICE TEA 10yo Gelding
Trained by Sian McCain
“He has good form under rules and has been bought by Derek Malam, who is a good supporter of the yard. The owner likes to have a runner in the Bangor Final, which will be his objective this season. He seems to have no ground preference as he has won on soft and firm going.”
MAD VICTOR 9yo Gelding
Trained by Sue Taylor
“As for the dark horse selection for the new season, I would recommend Mad Victor. He seems back to his best and he working brilliantly at home. He had a problem with shoeing his front hooves, but I have got around that. I am looking forward to the season with him, the best ground for him is good to good to soft.”
RASH CALL 6yo Gelding
Trained by Sheila Crow (comments by Alistair Crow)
“Like Cappa Bleu he is owned by William and Angela Rucker. He won his Maiden very easily in Ireland by 10 lengths. He is definitely my dark horse selection from the yard and will win his fair share of races this season, will go on any ground bar extremes.”
SHALES ARMY 6yo Gelding
Trained by Caroline Robinson
“He is has won both his Maiden and his Restricted races and is progressing well. He has strengthened up from last season and is working very well at home on the gallops. Hopefully he will progress through his points and will run in a novice hunter chase this season, he does not have any ground preference as he seems to act on any going.”
STRIKE FAST 5yo Gelding
Trained by Will Kinsey
“He is a nice stamp of a horse by Portrait Gallery and is still a Maiden. He ran well when placed in his Maiden at Dromohane in Ireland. He is working really well at home and will be one of our first runners of the season, he wants a bit of cut in the ground.”
UNOWATIMEEN 10yo Gelding
Trained by Sheila Crow
“He has decent form under rules. When he won at Market Rasen, he beat the Queen’s horse Barbers Shop. I will run him in point to points to start off with and then campaign him in hunter chases, the Bangor Final is a possibility. I don’t have any ground preference for him as I feel he would go on any.”
NORTH WESTERN AREA POINT-TO-POINT CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009
End of Season Results
LEADING HORSE
Sponsored by Nantwich Veterinary Group
1st Mrs TR Kinsey’s Flashy Boy (Ire) 30pts
2nd Mr David A Smith’s Good Time Willie (Ire) 27pts (4 wins)
3rd The Exors of the late Mr EH Crow’s Gunner Be Quick 27pts (3 wins)
LEADING GENTLEMAN RIDER
Sponsored by The Coniston Hotel
1st Richard Burton 93pts
2nd Tom Greenall 58pts
3rd Jonathon Jarratt 45pts
LEADING LADY RIDER
Sponsored by Richard & Carrie Ford Racing
1st Miss Sue Sharratt 26pts
2nd Miss Jo Foster 17pts
3rd Mrs Hannah Burton 14pts
LEADING NOVICE HORSE
Sponsored by Shade Oak Stud
1st Mr David A Smith’s Good Time Willie (Ire) 18pts
2nd Mr Peter & Mrs Irene Danby’s Nosey Gunner 11pts
3rd Mr David Rogers’ Fresh Fruit 9pts
LEADING NOVICE RIDER (MALE OR FEMALE)
Sponsored by The Garton Family
1st Miss Sam Drake 12pts
2nd Miss Alice Walker 8pts
3rd Miss Immy Robinson 7pts
LEADING FAMILY HORSE
Sponsored by Walter Heys Esq.
1st Mrs TR Kinsey’s Flashy Boy (Ire) 13pts
2nd Miss Sam Drake’s Knightsbridge King 8pts
3rd Mrs Caroline Robinson’s Reflected Glory (Ire) 6pts
LEADING EYTON HORSE
Sponsored by Richard French Esq.
1st Mr David A Smith’s Good Time Willie (Ire) 8pts
2nd = The Exors of the late Mr EH Crow’s Gunner Be Quick 6pts
Mr David Rogers’ Fresh Fruit 6pts
LEADING VETERAN RIDER (MALE OR FEMALE)
Sponsored by David Heys Esq.
1st Miss Sue Sharratt 26pts
2nd David O’Brien 1pt
