POINT-TO-POINT RACING - IS IT IN THE BLOOD?
FAMILY PROFILE - NUMBER 1
The Guilding's and the Sheppard's

One of the most endearing aspects of Point-to-Point Racing is the fact that some families have been associated with the sport for several generations.

The West Midlands Area is blessed with several of these "Pointing Dynasties" who have helped create its long and colourful history. One of the most widely recognised and respected is the Guilding family from Forthampton, near Tewkesbury.

Neither of Roger Guilding's parents rode in Point-to-Points, but he became involved in the sport as an 18-year-old in 1951 and it only required 2 races before he rode his first winner in April of that year, at the now defunct Bushley Park course.

He continued riding for another 19 years, and was able to accumulate a total of 135 winners before his retirement in 1970. His last wins coming on Bill Ridley and Sunarise at Upleadon which was a month before his family's home bred Touch of Tammy had to be put down after severing a tendon at the same venue.

Roger rode several top class horses during his career but it is not surprising that he should nominate Touch of Tammy and the prolific Point-to-Point winner Sunarise as the two best horses he was associated with.

Given the high profile both these horses attained within the sport, readers will be interested to learn that the 1969 Horse and Hound Cup, which he won on Touch of Tammy was the only big race trophy to pass into his hands.

Sunarise won 32 Point-to-Points and 3 Hunter Chases but Roger was beaten twice on that horse in the Lady Dudley Cup, the first time by Tailorman in 1967 and the second time by Frozen Dawn in 1971. This was the closest the Gloucestershire jockey came to winning that event.

Roger's sister Diana was also a useful rider between the flags during this same period. Two of the best horses she rode were the Ledbury qualified Useful Gift and the grey Heated Moment. Her battles with Pat Tollitt (nee Rushton) and Scarlett Knipe (nee Rimell) were a feature of Ladies Races in the area during that time.

Roger still regularly attends Point-to-Points in the West Midlands and adjacent areas in his duties as Course Inspector and to support his daughter Nicky who has sent out a plethora of winners from her yard in the shadows of the Malvern Hills.

Rogers youngest daughter and Nicky's sister Sue Bird is also involved in the Hunt Racing scene heading several Bean Club syndicates which has tasted success with Lets Twist Again, Sir Gandouge, Cowanstown Prince, Lost in the Snow and Aztec Rules.

Nicky rode her first winner as a 27-year-old on Deer Fencer at Barbury Castle in 1994 and when she was asked how many rides she had before she entered the winners enclosure she replied "too many". Her answer to the question had she ridden any doubles and trebles was "you must be joking". Although she was never able to match her father's attributes in the saddle when she gave up riding in 1996 she had 6 successes to her name.

Like her father, Nicky nominates Upton-upon-Severn as her favourite course and agrees with his assessment that "you have to be on the best horse to win" at this popular riverside venue.

Her retirement from race riding came soon after her marriage to Matthew Sheppard who is now a successful trainer under National Hunt Rules. Matthew's father Peter and sister Toni both rode winners between the flags and the former is still carrying out the Clerk of the Course duties at Llanfrynach.

Matt was 21-years-old when he rode his first winner in the Brecon Members on Light Snack in 1986, although this was some five years after his first ride. It is hard to believe that Matthew only had 11 successes in Point-to-Points but these included two doubles at Upton-upon-Severn and he too nominates Ryalls Court as his favourite course. Matt also spent three years with Arthur Moore in Ireland where he gained another winner between the flags at Roscommon.

He had 4 Hunter Chase victories to his credit with Deep Prospect and Master Eryl providing him with all those wins so it is little wonder that he nominates these two as the best horses he has ridden. He guided Deep Prospect to victory in the 1988 John Corbett Cup at Stratford when pupil assistance to owner trainer Mercy Rimell. With all her vast experience in both Point-to-Points and under National Hunt Rules she must have had great confidence with his ability in the saddle.

Matt and Nicky then began training Point-to-Pointers but Matt has now progressed to training under N.H. Rules while Nicky remains in charge of the Pointers. It is estimated that Nicky sent out the winners of 30 races when she was at Forthampton while the total exceeds 100 since the move to Home Farm at Eastnor.

Although Nicky states that "she appreciates any horse that wins", she has been particularly successful with Peter Corbetts Upton Adventure and the pinnacle of her career thus far has to be her feat in sending out the mare to win 8 races during 2004 to pick up the Horse and Hound Trophy for the Leading Horse of the season as well as the T.B.A./Panacur Leading Mares Award.

Looking to the future, it will be eight years before he is eligible to ride in Point-to-Points but the Sheppard's 8-year-old son Stan is already showing signs of following in his parents footsteps.

Note: -
During the compilation of this report (October 2005) PointingWM was informed that Roger Guilding was at home recovering from heart bypass surgery.
We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him on the Point-to-Point Course at the start of the new season.