Winning Post

Back in the saddle

Hi, back again, ready for the new season.. The summer, generally a time for sorting out, mending, cleaning and painting sort of passed in a blur of wet weather and school holidays. The stables got painted but the rugs didn't get washed! We didn't go away on holiday but did manage to catch up with some good friends and the house was often full. So now it's September and time to start the long road to getting Storm to racing fitness. This season we have a new inmate in the stables - Ravara Super Ted who has come over from Ireland in the hopes he will be a super speedy racing pony for Pippa. He hasn't raced before but has spent his life as a show hunter pony. He looks like a TB in miniature (137cm) so it will be interesting to see how we get on. Pippa has been getting to know him during the summer and has been taking him to all the local shows where he has been performing in whp and sj classes. We haven't competed much in proper showing as he was pretty skinny when he arrived and nowhere near what is expected to be showing condition. We have him in partnership with Alan and Jane Walter, Alan having found him in Ireland, so hopefull we will have some fun. We still have Champagne Charlie as Pippa is devoted to him and is very keen to hunt him a lot this autumn. He will also carry on doing pony club activities but we will have to find another lovely home for him in the Spring as Pippa will be too tall for him by then I am sure. Storm has just started his roadwork and already I am envious of anyone who has a horse walker. I think two weeks of living in the field but having a spell on a horse walker each day before he was actually in proper riding out work would make him less like a whale with no steering! He being ridden out of the field and will remain like that as long as possible, coming in twice a day to be fed. Straw this year is likely to be very expensive and dusty due to the very late harvest after such a wet summer so we will probably have to investigate other types of bedding. We are combining here as I write - Sept 19! The point to point season starts in November this year - 30th at Blackforest Lodge - but Storm won't be ready until January. FIngers crossed that his back injury has completely stabilised during the summer and that he will be back to his usual consistent self at the races.

Pony club's offer great variety

The Pony Club is a marvellous organisation, giving children the chance to try all sorts of different sports. This Spring, as well as pony racing, Pippa has been able to train for mounted games, enjoy bi-weekly showjumping lessons, team showjumping, dressage (with Clissy Bleekman) and polocrosse - all through our local pony club (Dartmoor). There are mounted rallies after school at this time of year as well as club nights and,for the really sporty there are tetrathlons to test you (running, riding, shooting, swimming) . It was our first venture into polocrosse and the second rally was held on Saturday which included some match practice. It is a fast and furious mixture of polo and lacrosse on horseback, with a bit of rugby thrown in! Local pony clubs for East Devon are Axe Vale and East Devon - got to www.pcuk.org and go to branches for contact details.

They think it' s all over

The point to point season comes to an end at the Torrington Farmers' point to point at Umberleigh on Saturday. The meeting is a great social occasion with racegoers attending from all over the country. The day concludes with the Devon and Cornwall pony race finals, which should be really great fun, followed by a barbecue and a live band. Lots of people camp there for the night. Most of the horses who have run pointing this season have been roughed off and are out in the field, while their owners either have a rest or start work on three and four year old horses. We had a disappointing end to the year as Storm appeared to have lost all his form in the final two outings. However, we have since found out that he pulled a muscle in his back when we ran at Exeter on ground which I was worried about being too firm. He wasn't ever lame but with hindsight his back did change shape a bit as the season went on and the racing saddle pinched his backbone at Flete, where he ran terribly, and then worse at Bratton, where he did ok but never looked his normal self. He will be sorted out by physio Clare MacDonald and then hopefully a spell at grass will sort him out ready for next September.

Pony racing takes off

It has been great to see that pony racing's popularity is growing all the time and the Dulverton West races on Saturday were oversubscribed - the first time that has happened in the Devon and Cornwall Area. The points competition has spurred on the riders and some of them have turned out for every fixture which is the idea behind it. Chloe Grove has been at or near the top of the 138s finishes each week and Bryony Frost has been nigh on unbeatable in the 148s and the pair of them are in the running for the points championship, Bryony just shading the lead. There is another trophy being presented at Umberleigh for the rider who the organisers of each meeting feel has gained the most fromt the season's racing, which means that even if a pony is not the fastest, the right attitude from the rider could still see them take centre stage at the presentations.

Brilliant for Mary King

How fantastic for Sidmouth's Mary King to be part of the GB Olympic team for the fifth time. She has worked so hard to get to the top of the sport and has stayed there throughout raising a family which is truly amazing. In Imperial Cavalier and Call Again Cavalier she has two horses who must be the envy of event riders across the world. She has maintained contact with the Axe Vale Pony Club and I know that all the members will be rooting for her all the way.

End is nigh - June 14 rapidly approaches!

I can't believe that the final point to point of the season is now less than a month away. It has been a long season but Storm is still in work in case there is a sudden dowmpour of rain somewhere. We were intending to run at Bratton on Saturday, but kept him in the trailer as we felt the ground was just too firm. He has run well on good to firm but it was more firm than good as amazingly Bratton did not have the rain we enjoyed at the end of last week. I am hoping that the weather is good at Umberleigh though as it is the pony race finals and I would love it if all the runners were from the Devon and Cornwall area. It is a great time to catch up with all your mates before we all disperse for the summer. Why not go along. Torrington Farmers' point to point at Umberleigh on June 14, first race 2pm.

If only horses could talk

If only horses could talk! We had a disastrous time at Flete Park on Saturday when Storm trailed round in the confined against four opponents and pulled up. He was spot on - or so I thought - fitness wise but, with hindsight, I guess he didnt run that well at the course last year. We had thought that was because last time there were only three in the race but maybe he just didn't like the course which is quite undulating and twisty. This time we opted for the Confined, a penalty, and blinkers as only two had declared for the men''s open and we wanted to avoid another small field. Anyhow all our thinking was pointless as Storm couldnt have run worse if he had tried. As he was sent off favourite we also had to be interviewed by the stewards to explain why he had run so badly. If only we knew! I also think he hated the blinkers and he won't have those again. At least he came home safe and sound. Poor Jackie Du Plessis had the joy of Kingsmill Lake's fab win and the distress of losing Miss Ziggerson, a homebred mare, who collapsed after finishing third in our race. And we didnt have far to go home - three miles, 10 minutes! I see today that Rockwithacaveman powered home in the Cotley open yesterday and SueTrump's McSolo won at Vauterhill. With Holnicote also on at the weekend I guess any of those tracks would have been better for us than Flete but I was already committed to the pony racing there and was keen to run at the weekend. The day had started well as the pony racing was again a success and also at last for Pippa who was third in the 138s on her pony Charlie. she gave him a great ride and made a lot of ground on the inside, her efforts earning her the 'best ride' prize -which wasn't picked by me I would hasten to add. She is full of enthusiasm for the next outing on May 17 at Bratton Down. Charlie looks pretty fierce sometimes in the paddock but has an exceptional temperament and, despite being revved up on racehorse food, completed a double clear in team showjumping on Sunday, their team coming fifth at the Dartmoor Pc event.

Great to watch ponies

The Dartmoor Point-to-Point held at Flete Park hosted pony racing for the first time and, thanks to the Dartmoor Pony Club holding a racing rally during the Easter holidays, there were plenty of local runners, many of them racing for the first time. The 138 race saw runners bunched tightly throughout, but Hugo Hunt (Babe), the only one of the eight runners not eligible for the Devon and Cornwall points trophy, managed to slip two lengths clear of Chloe Grove on Summertime Blaze close home. Third was Victoria Sleep a further two lengths back on Diptford Melika. Fourth placed Hannah Welch on Super Ted was the best local rider and also won a prize, judged over both races, for having given her pony the best ride. Bryony Frost has had a great season in the 148s on Jack Sparrow and is clear at the top of the points leaderboard but Josephine Gordon pushed her all the way this time, riding Winnie II. The pair were locked in battle from the start, but Bryony managed to get home by six lengths drawing away on the final bend. Bronwen Buttery in third on Red Bull was best local, and fourth, fifth and sixth places were all taken by first time riders from the Dartmoor PC - Imogen Moody, Charlotte Brooks and Alistair Littlewood and racegoers hope to see them all back in action again soon. It was a brave decision by the committee to try pony racing at Fleet as it has such undulating terrain, but the course really made the riders think how to ride their race and they were helped by a great course walk from former national champion point to point rider Leslie Jefford. They will have another chance on May 3 when the Modbury Harriers host pony racing at their point to point, when it may be that the 148s start their race at the foot of the hill. Results: 138s: 1, Babe, Hugo Hunt' 2, Summertime Blaze, Chloe Grove 3,Diptford Melika, Victoria Sleep 4, Super Ted Hannah Welch. Eight ran, 2l, 2l, 1.32. 148: 1, Jack Sparrow Bryony Frost 2, Winnie II, Josephine Gordon 3, Red Bull, Bronwen Buttery 4, Talponciu Perfect Print Imogen Moody. Six ran, 6l, 25l, 1.40

Hunter chasing

After lots of juggling with holiday from work we decided to have a crack at the novices hunter chase at Exeter. Big mistake and am wishing we hadn't. Turned out to be very fast 5.48 round Exeter very nearly three miles and Storm, although he ran very well for the most part, just couldnt go with them as the quickened again in the closing stages. He jumped well and over the final ditch his pilot Tim Dennis thought he would win. He had a great ride but you can't get away from feeling a bit disappointed.I had thought he may be lucky enough to be placed, but it was a hot race, and everyone thought the same! It isn't the same atmosphere as point to pointing either, there isn't much time for socialising when you are doing your own horse as children can't go into the stables so there was a lot of running backwards and forwards, and Pippa spent her time between granny, grandma and our friend Jennie Salter! The best thing was the hot water on sprinkler system for washing the horses off, I could do with one of those at home!

Storm wins!

Well at long last Lisheen Storm won! I drove down to Great Trethew on Saturday afternoon to walk the course as we had such a lot of rain. IT was blowing a hooley (the loos had blown over) and I thought that if we had the heavy rain forecast over night that it couldn't possibly be on. It was wet, wet and wet. When I got home we had such a downpour that the yard looked like a swimming pool! Anyway the next morning we rang Talking Point for the promised update but it wasn't updated by 8.30am. I had to ride out before leaving for the races so in the end rang the secretary to see if they were going ahead. Lawrence was flat out with the cows calving and sheep lambing so I had take the horse down on my own,hoping that Lawrence would get there in time for the race. So I hurriedly packed up all the kit and the horse and drove off never imagining that when I arrived you would be able to walk around even without wellies!! Yes, the ground was still soft but nothing like it had been the night before. Storm had been so well during the week that I told Tim Dennis that the horse had to run whatever! So I didn't even look at the declarations and didn't know what opposition we had until we got into the paddock. Anyway, Storm settled well and then just kept galloping ( I only know because I watched the DVD, I couldn't watch much of it at the time). Everything else ended up struggling and he looked as happy as larry as he galloped all the way to the line. Tim was happy - three winners since he got back after being concussed at the last meeting at Great Trethew - Storm was happy - no Rockwithacaveman to battle with - and we were happy! The only disappointments was that there was no photographer taking the presentation pics and, as my mum is not able to go the races right now, we weren't able to order a pic of 'the moment' for her, and no jockey's memento, just a bottle of sparkling wine which was a shame for Tim (the fizzy stuff didn't last long!). A big thank you is due to Steve Carter who comes and leads up Storm for us which makes a big difference to me on the day. Being an owner/trainer means you get to do all the work all the time so it's nice not to have to lead up. We thought it would be a hat-trick of wins as our great friends Alan and Jane Walter had two horses running, Fleur De Nikos in the ladies and Emergence in the Intermediate. Both mares looked fantastic but Fleur I think must be jinxed. She was beaten in a two runner race (always very difficult to ride in) and then got disqualified as her jockey - Jenny Carr - had missed a marker. Emergence ran extremely well for a youngster on only her third run over fences and was second.

Busy time for pony racers

A busy time for pony racers is approaching. The Eggesford are holding pony races at Upcott Cross on April 12 and then there are meetings every two weeks for the rest of the season. If you are going to a point to point try and get there a bit earlier to cheer on the junior jockeys, they will really appreciate your support. There will be pony racing at the Dartmoor, Axe Vale, Modbury Harriers, Dulverton West, South Tetcott and Torrington Farmers point to points, all before racing bar the Torrington.

Treat to watch open race at Kilworthy

Wet weather held up our plans to run Storm over Easter when we hoped we might find a race without the 'next up and coming star' in it. However, I was glad we didnt run at Kilworthy where the ground was holding and there was a bitter wind blowing straight down the course. I was glad I went to watch though as the mixed open attracted a quality field and it was a treat to see the area's best horses lock horns. Of course Rockwithacaveman (ridden and trained by the invincible Polly Gundry) won - on his first attempt at an open - but he had to battle at least a little bit with Jalon's Star who is suited by this course as the run in is towards the horseboxes. Dantes Back, a horse I have been wary of all season, faded badly in the closing stages but Sue Trump's McSolo who finished third put up a game performance and will win at this level. I heard great news from the meeting at Trebudannon on Monday when my friend Caroline Furse won the Restricted with Humblexpectations. Like me she trains the horse at home and does all the work - and I also hear her co-owners and family celebrated hard! The horse was ridden by Tim Dennis who had recorded a win at Kilworthy on Brook Castle - a horse he trains. It was his first ride back after being concussed at Great Trethew a month ago.

Another second for Storm!

Well, watch out for Rockwithacaveman, that's all I can say after watching him beat our Lisheen Storm at a very muddy Buckfastleigh meeting. We ran in the Confined instead of the Mixed open as that was the big prize money West Country Champion Chase, and in theory it should have been the easier race, but we ran into an even better horse in doing so! Well, hindsight is a great thing. However, Storm must be one of the most consistent horses on the circuit ( apart from Rockwithacaveman who was notching up his fourth win of the year) as he ran another great race only to find one better! At least his form stands up whichever way you examine it and, with hindsight again, he hated the ground which was getting tackier by the minute. Rockwithacaveman jumped the last like a very good horse indeed and stays forever - rumours were flying round on course that connections had turned down a massive sum of money for him already. Richard Woollacott deputised for our regular pilot Tim Dennis (who is still recovering from being concussed at Great Trethew), and did a great job on tricky ground. The mixed open by the way was won in bizarre style by Dare to Dream and Neil Harris after Jalon's Star (Ben Robarts) had done all the hard work, got in front and promptly stopped after the last fence. Harris had to ride like a cowboy to stop Dare To Dream joining in with Jalons Star! Polly Gundry was second on Balinova who will improve no end for the outing with the gutsy Concert Pianist third under Richard Woollacott.

Ottery's big day

The sporting world moves to Ottery, well, technically Fluxton, on Saturday for the East Devon Hunt point to point. It is a great chance to meet up with old friends and have fun watching the sport. There has been a huge entry of horses so there will be plenty of action to watch. First race is at 11.30am. If you haven't been to a point to point before why not give it a go. One word of warning - take clothes for every type of weather.

Behind the scenes at Buckfastleigh

I think the term 'always the bridesmaid" was coined especially for the Glanville family and our point to pointer Lisheen Storm! We got him last year and he has now been second SIX times, three of those times by half a length or less! He ran a blinder at Buckfastleigh on Sunday but lost out by a diminishing two lengths to the impressive Dantes Back - winner of the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate hunter chase final last year and second in the Hiscox Intermediate final at Cheltenham last May. 'Stormy' did wreak revenge on the Musical Mayhem Club's Concert Pianist so I can now talk to Stafford Sampson, Jeff Guyett et al once more and 'Stormy' felt very pleased with himself when I rode him out at first light this morning. Polly Gundry's horses are in fine fettle and the Ottery St Mary trained Rockwithacaveman - a David Johnson reject under rules - was hugely impressive in the Intermediate race. Sericina was also a stunning winner for trainer Chloe Roddick. Before the mare went to the sales she had stayed en route from France at Gordon Chambers' yard just a stone's throw from the course. "I wish we had kept her there!,” he joked. Our good friend Alan Walter had a right result in a division of the mare's maiden with Emergence. An agent bought it in France for Alan for first time ownership duo of David Lockwood and Mike Blackmore. Alan trained her having had an eye on this race since the schedule was published! Having had experience on the flat it was the mare's first run in Britain and her first run over fences, so a pretty impressive training performance all round! I wonder if David and Mike realise how lucky they are! NH jockey Liam Heard was on hand to witness Innocent Rebel, trained by Liam's dad Colin, win a fierce ladies' contest (ridden by Claire Allen) against Goblet of Fire (Chloe Roddick) and Let's Fly (Polly Gundry). Colin reckons the horse revels in the ladies' lighter weight, having partnered the horse himself before his retirement from racing. Next Sunday there is racing at Great Trethew near Liskeard (first race 11.30am)