Winning Post

Looking good for Axe Vale

The weather looks to be fine again for the Axe Vale point to point on Sunday, Apirl 26 - clerk of the course Chris Holmes has been watering the course since Monday and he and his team always do a good job. It doesn't seem to matter what the season does otherwise, they nearly always need to water at Stafford Cross!
 There is a full up entry for the pony races and the riders are really getting competitive now. There don't seem to be any riders based in East Devon, but lots in South Devon, north Devon and Dorset/Somerset. It would be good if some of the pony clubs could get their local trainers involved and hold a racing rally on their gallops. There is a pony club leaflet available for organisers on how to run a racing rally. I reckon the Modbury Harriers 138 race in 10 days time will be full up with local riders.
 Fingers crossed we will be running Ted on Sunday - he had a very busy Easter Holidays. He raced on Easter Saturday and Monday, had a day off on Tuesday and then played polocrosse on the Wednesday, had  pony club rally on the Thursday, showjumping training on Friday night and raced again on Saturday at Flete.
 He will be glad that Pippa went back to school on Monday, but that just means he gets ridden out when she gets home! When the PTP season ends he will have a crack at some Working Hunter classes at the local agricultural shows before going to camp and then being sold as Pippa is getting too tall for him.
Storm is entered at Axe Vale and I hope we can run there. He went well last time out, 2nd at Cherrybrook, but there hasn't been anywhere I could run him since due to pony racing commitments and a glut of open four mile races in the D and C area.
 I have hardly had chance to think about Rosie (Madam Rose) who is due to foal soon - on the day of the second Flete point to point. Her three year old was born on the morning of Axe Vale point to point so it would be funny if this one arrived on time. She is getting fatter each day.
 Axe Vale pony club have their big show coming up on May 25. You can download the schedule from www.devon24.co.uk/ponyracing