Greatwood's record breaking day at Newbury Racecourse raised more than £135,000

Written by Tony Millett on 08 March 2016.

Mike O’Kane presenting mementoes to winning connections of Gala Ball, who won The Ladbrokes Supporting Greatwood Handicap Hurdle RaceGreatwood Charity, held its annual race day at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday (March 5) with a lunch attended by 350 guests.   This year's major fundraising effort was bigger and better than ever with a phenomenal amount of money being raised.

In excess of £135,000 - net of costs - was raised which equates to a quarter of Greatwood’s total annual running costs.

"This", one of the organisers told Marlborough News Online, "is an astonishing amount of money, which will have a hugely positive impact on the charity."

Greatwood Charity, based at Clench Common, just south of Marlborough, looks after retired racehorses and uses them to help children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  It is an accredited alternative provider of SEND programmes and provider of ‘Positive Activities for Young People’ with the Wiltshire Council.
 
Greatwood’s Managing Director & co-founder, Helen Yeadon, called the day - the ninth to be held at Newbury - a resounding success:  "I would like to thank our sponsors:  Betfair, Betway, Ladbrokes, StanJames.com, Moore of Devizes Ltd, BetVictor, Bloor Homes, Haygrove and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for their immense support of the day."

Tanya Stevenson of Channel 4 Racing - but shouldn't she be on the telly?"The silent and main auction contributes to a large proportion of our fundraising efforts and I must thank all those who contributed and placed bids but also to our Patron, Jenny McCririck, who worked tirelessly procuring so many of the wonderful prizes."
 
And Helen Yeadon added: "A special note of thanks must go to Mike O’Kane from Ladbrokes who presented Greatwood with a cheque for £50,000 - a staggeringly generous donation for which the charity is enormously thankful."
 
"Finally a big thank you to the intrepid riders in the charity race, for training so hard and raising a huge amount of money in the process - along with the Stewards, Richard Osgood The Clerk of the Course, Sarah Oliver of the Amateur Jockeys Association."

"We are hugely grateful to the Chairman, the Directors and all of the staff at Newbury Racecourse for helping to make the day such a triumph.”

Mike O’Kane presenting mementoes to winning connections of Gala Ball, who won The Ladbrokes Supporting Greatwood Handicap Hurdle Race

Some of the Greatwood team surviving a very cold and wet day's racing

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Haddon Training wins the Apprenticeship 4 England Training Provider of the year Small Prime Award 2015

Written by Tony Millett on 10 March 2015.

Marlborough-based Haddon Training were announced winners at the Apprenticeship 4 England Training Provider of the Year Awards 2015 last week. The awards were presented at the Apprenticeship 4 England gala dinner at the Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, London.

Haddon Training were shortlisted to the final four in the Prime Small 275-500 apprentices in learning category in January, with the winner to be announced at the awards ceremony. This is the first awards of its kind that Haddon Training has entered and the result has been welcomed by Haddon staff as both rewarding and gratifying.

Apprenticeships enable members of staff at equestrian yards and stables to work full time and gain a nationally recognised qualification.  
Since 1997, managing director Chris Hewlett has been the driving force behind Haddon Training, striving to raise the standards of training and good practice throughout the equine industry: “I am delighted that Haddon Training has been recognised for this national award. Making the finals recognises the hard work and dedication of every member staff within the company. We are proud to be at the forefront of raising the standards and profile of the equine industry within the education sector.”

The Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony was described by a member of the Haddon team as "Fantastic, with first class entertainment throughout the evening."

Haddon Training is a Grade One ‘Outstanding’ Training Provider which supports qualifications in Horse Care, Animal Care and Business. Haddon Training work with over 400 employers all over England and Wales supporting them to deliver high quality training to their staff.

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High value burglary at eventing yard near Marlborough

Written by Tony Millett on 21 January 2016.

On the night of 30-31 December thieves broke into a tack room at an eventing yard at Foxhill near Marlborough - they stole ten specialist saddles, a large amount of other tack and veterinary supplies.

The Rural Crime Team describe this as a 'high value' theft and have issued a list of the stolen articles.  Anyone trying to sell these items should be reported at once to  Wiltshire Police via the 101 telephone number or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Each Childeric saddle has a plaque rear of seat reading "Svennerstal" and each Voltaire saddle has plaque reading "LS" followed by a single number ( 1 to 4.)

The Swedish rider Ludwig Svennerstal is based at Sir Mark Todd's Badgerstown yard.  At 21, he was the youngest rider to take part in the 2012 London Olympics.  Two of Ludwig Svennerstal's top horses have qualified for this year's Rio Olympics.  

List of stolen property:
 2 clippers - 2 Big tubs leg clay from TRM - a magnetic rug - 15 bridles (3 from PS of Sweden, 8 from Otto Schumacher, 1 from Dy’on, 3 unknown brand) - 6 breastplates -
4 martingales - 4 10ml catrophen - 1 litre regumate - a first aid bag - 3 boxes of vetwrap.
 
List of Saddles stolen -
Butet:
1. XC - Seat:P17.5 - FLAP:3 - Colour:Gold - Serial No. 415 11 - Blocks:4 - Panel:EF
 2. DR - Seat:D17.5 - Flap:3 - Colour:Black - Serial No. 388 11 - Blocks:2J - Panel:F
 
Voltaire Saddles:
1. Palm Beach 18 AN 3AA Black All buffalo RBQ grained M/M Px Pro BB05 C fill D10 - Serial number 1988.15
2. Adelaide 17.5 AN 3A Black All calfskin 3M Px Pro BB - Serial number [1989.15]
3. Adelaide 17.5 AN 3A Black All calfskin 3M Px Fin BB C10 horse with deep back - Serial number 1990.15
4. Palm Beach 18 AN 2AA Chocolate All buffalo RBQ grained L/M Px Fin BB10 C15 horse with deep back D15 - Serial number 2000.15
 
Childeric saddles;
1. Luc Childeric CFAP 18 Black - Serial number 1132.12
2. Luc Childeric CFAP Master 18" - Serial number 12.677
3. Not Known
4. Not Known.

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It’s Royal Ascot : if you fancy a flutter here are SAM HOSKINS’ FIVE TO FOLLOW - a winner each day?

Written by Sam Hoskins on 12 June 2015.

Sam Hoskins Sam Hoskins is racing manager of the Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds syndicate.  Here he shares with Marlborough News Online his ‘Five to Follow’ for Royal Ascot - a horse for each day of this prestigious meeting (June 16-20) which this year has attracted a truly international entry.  As ever, watch what the coming rain might do to their chances:
 
MAKE BELIEVE, St James’ Palace Stakes (Group 1), Tuesday. 4-1.
The St James’ Palace Stakes promises to be one of the races of the meeting with the dual Guineas-winning Gleneagles taking on the Andre Fabre pair of Territories, who was second to the former in the English 1,000 Guineas, and Make Believe, who won the French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamps a week later. With Gleneagles having had two hard races, I am inclined to side with Make Believe who was so impressive at Longchamps and who would not be running unless his masterful trainer thought he would go very close indeed.
 
CANNOCK CHASE, Prince Of Wales’ Stakes (Group 1), Wednesday. 12-1.
Cannock Chase goes into Royal Ascot this year as almost a slightly forgotten horse, but I still haven’t quite erased the memory of his superb Tercentenary Stakes (Group 3) win over this trip at this same meeting last year. He has had two relative warm-up runs in unsuitable conditions and they will have put him bang on for this whilst making him an interesting each-way betting proposition at the same time. He could very easily go an easier route than this but Sir Michael Stoute clearly thinks he is up to ruffling the feathers of the likes of market leaders Free Eagle and The Grey Gatsby.
 
FORGOTTEN RULES, Ascot Gold Cup (Group 1), Thursday, 11-4.
The Ascot Gold Cup is hotting up well with many eventualities possible in advance of this centrepiece race of the whole meeting. The most fascinating variable to consider for this race is that of the ground because if ever the ground ended up on the soft side of good, then it would heavily favour the Dermot Weld-trained Forgotten Rules, who is unbeaten in four starts including a Punchestown bumper on his debut last spring (!) and the Marco Botti-trained mudlark Tac De Boistron. Whilst the likes of Mizzou and Vent De Force represent the improving four-year-old generation form, I can’t help but think they will have their work cut out to beat Forgotten Rules, who has the world at his feet and will be very hard to beat as long as the ground is no faster than good.
 
ERVEDYA, Coronation Stakes (Group 1), Friday, 7-2.
Ever since the Aga Khan’s Aliysa was disqualified in the 1989 Epsom Oaks, his distinguished green colours with the red epaulettes have become a rarity on British racecourses. However, when they do turn up, they invariably go very close and I suspect this will be the case for his superstar three-year-old filly Ervedya, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget in Pau. She was scintillating in the French 1,000 Guineas last month and I think she can reverse Marcel Boussac form with the likely favourite Found.
 
POSTPONED, Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2), Saturday, 4-1.
Trainer Luca Cumani has a strong hand at Royal Ascot this year and I suspect he will hit the target at least twice - one of whom could be Postponed (don’t ask me who the other will be though!)  Postponed was highly progressive at three-years-old last year and has run two decent races so far this term - coming third in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh last time behind the wonderful Al Kazeem over 10 furlongs which is shorter than ideal. He steps up to 12 furlongs here and with his newfound positive tactics, he might just lead them a merry dance and finish off a good week for his smooth Italian handler.
 
Our Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds (KVT) syndicates are represented on Thursday at Royal Ascot with MAXWELL in the King George V Handicap for Andover-based Ralph Beckett. Maxwelll has won his two starts to date including an impressive victory at Salisbury last time.

He promises to be suited by the step up in trip in the King George V handicap and whilst the form of his Salisbury race hasn’t worked out great, he could give us something to shout about granted a good draw and some luck in running!

One of our other stars, TULLIUS, bypasses Ascot for a tilt at the Coral Eclipse (Group 1) on Saturday, July 4 at Sandown. However, he needs some softer ground to increase his chances..

For more information on our syndicates, visit the KVT website or email Sam on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Haddon Training sponsors awards for grooms – Nikki Newman is runner up

Written by Tony Millett on 22 January 2015.

David Grant with Nikki NewmanNikki Newman, who lives in Marlborough, did not even realise she had been nominated until she got the email telling her she had been judged as runner up for Haddon Training British Grooms Award.  Nikki is a freelance groom and was nominated in secret by the employers she works for.

The Marlborough based company Haddon Training were sponsoring the awards for the first time and were delighted by the number of nominations they received.  The awards have not been run for the past six years due to the lack of a sponsor.

Haddon Training provide work-based training and apprenticeships - especially got the equestrian industry.  They are an OFSTED 'outstanding provider'.

The awards are open to grooms working in all parts of the equestrian industry.  They were presented by Haddon Training’s chief operating officer David Grant at the annual British Breeders awards dinner.

The overall winner was Caroline Heard who works for a hunting yard in winter and in summer as a showing groom and producer.

David Grant with Caroline Heard

David Grant with Jessica Errington

Jessica Errington won the award for grooms who were part of the British team at the 2014 Alltech World Equestrian Games in France.  

She was looking after British eventing team member Harry Meade’s mount Wild Lone who collapsed and died immediately after completing a clear round in the cross country.  Meade said the tricky conditions on the course were not the cause of Wild Lone’s death.

Nominating Jessica, Meade said she had dedicated her life to looking after Wild Lone and had handled an extremely difficult situation with huge dignity.  Wild Lone was a thirteen year-old gelding and the World Games were his sixth four star eventing competition.

As a freelance groom Nikki Newman shows great versatility in handling a point-to-pointer one day, an eventer on another day, a dressage horse the next day and a mountain and moorland show pony after that.  The nomination pointed out that she gave each kind of horse attention and care of the highest standard.

Commenting on her award, Nikki said: “It’s not that I have done anything different to any other groom in the country.  Everyone is at home in the rain, dealing with muddy fields and the cold weather, it doesn’t matter if you are an apprentice or a head groom, everyone is doing the job.  But it’s great that grooms in general are being recognised.”

www.haddontraining.co.uk

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Hennessy Heaven! Newbury Festival fan Sasha Thorbek-Hooper explains why it’s the must-go sports event, how to enjoy it - and the Gold Cup runners

Written by Sasha Thorbek-Hooper on 24 November 2014.

I know that Christmas is just round the corner when I turn the page in my diary and see the ‘Newbury Hennessy 3-Day Winter Festival’ marked heavily in bold. It’s always a huge highlight of my year, and not just because I am fanatical about jump racing, but because it is such a great social event in the local calendar.

A combination of the best horses in England, France and Ireland competing at the highest, nerve jangling level, all set in glorious surroundings, coupled with fantastic racecourse facilities and all harmoniously gelled together, thanks to the awesome atmosphere created by the 50,000+ crowd that’s sure to be there over the three days.

Steeped in history, Hennessy are the longest standing commercial sponsors of any race in the British Isles and past winners have included some of the equine greats:
•    the awe inspiring Arkle, winner of the race twice in ’64 and ’65 (as well as winning The Cheltenham Gold Cup three years consecutively and notching up a total of 27 race wins from his 35 starts)
•     the 18 hand giant – Mill House in ’63
•     Burrough Hill Lad (’84) trained by the legendary Jenny Pitman, the first woman ever to train a Grand National winner.
•    2007 and 2009 saw the nation’s darling, Denman carve a niche in Hennessy history by becoming only the third dual winner of the Berkshire track’s most prized race.

The race has had its fair share of grey winners in recent times too: One Man (’94); the equally loved Suny Bay (’97); Teeton Mill (’98); and What’s Up Boys in 2001.

I have watched the last 16 runnings of the Hennessy Gold Cup from the steppings of the Hampshire Stand, and my favourite year without doubt was in 2005 when the Nicky Henderson trained, Trabolgan defied a top weight of 11st 12lbs to hold off French raider L'Ami by two-and-a-half lengths.

What made the win so special was that his jockey, Mick Fitzgerald, had only just returned from a broken neck earlier that very week. Standing in front of the winning post, with tears pouring down my face it was a fairy tale race that raised the roof.

In a bitter sweet twist, the horse that Mick beat that year was the very horse that ended his riding career three years later when Fitzy took a crashing fall from L’Ami at the second fence of the 2008 Grand National.

As a seasoned Hennessy racegoer here are my top tips on how to get the most out of your day:

•    DRESS WARM: Hennessy Day is notoriously cold so first and foremost make sure you are comfortable. You don’t have to forego fashion - a stylish, winter coat over the top of something practical is the way to go. Leather boots or funky wellies will ensure that your feet will stay warm and dry too.

•    ARRIVE EARLY: Avoid the traffic, panic and last minute travel-related arguments with family and friends by getting to the track in plenty of time. The gates open early, so make a day of it by taking a picnic or having brunch at the course. You don’t have to come by car: there is an on-course train station, therefore making the fight over the designated driver a non-starter!

•    BUY A RACECARD: Well worth the few quid it will cost you. The racecard not only gives you a list of the ‘runners and riders’ (including a guide on how to understand the technicalities of each race), but it is filled with loads of useful information to make your day more enjoyable and stress-free.

•    SET A BUDGET: If you fancy a flutter, give yourself a budget for how much you want to bet on each race and don’t go over it. Put your betting money in your right pocket and your (hopeful) winnings in your left one - but don’t be tempted to dip into during the day. Hopefully by the end of the day you’ll be up and go home with an even bigger smile on your face.

•    RENDEZVOUS POINT:  If you are going in a crowd no doubt you’ll get split up at some point during the day. Mobile phone networks get jammed up, so decide on a rendezvous point just in case. This is especially important if you have children with you.

Runners for the 58^th Hennessy Gold Cup (Saturday, November 29) at November 24:

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It’s Barbury week: Jonelle Price back at third place in world eventing rankings : five Brits in top twenty

Written by Tony Millett on 06 July 2015.

Jonelle Price With the Barbury International Horse Trials starting later this week, there is special interest in the International Equestrian Federation's new set of worldwide rankings for eventing riders.  This list covers the twelve months up to June 30 - and Mildenhall's New Zealand rider Jonelle Price is back as number three in the world.

She had been at three last year, but dropped to fifth in the FEI's previous list.  In June she came a tantalising second in the Luhmuhlen four star on Fairie Dianimo

Jonelle's husband Tim has dipped in the rankings from nine to sixteenth place - and that despite his brilliant performance coming a close second on Wesko at this spring's prestigious Rolex Kentucky competition.

The Prices are great fans of the Barbury International Horse Trials - not least because they are based so close by.  And they have put their names to Barbury's fundraising for the Prospect Hospice.

The top two places in the new rankings see Germany's Michael Jung and Britain's William Fox-Pitt change places with Jung now top of the list.

Lockeridge-based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson is at five - down one rung.  And another locally-based New Zealander, Sir Mark Todd is back in the top twenty at 17 - up from 42nd position.

There are now five British eventers in the FEI's top twenty - with two of them joining William Fox-Pitt in the top ten.  Oliver Townend is at eighth - from seventh.  Nicola Wilson stays at tenth place - with a good performance at Kentucky behind her.  

Pippa Funnell has come back into the top twenty with a startling jump to fifteenth position from 31st.  And Gemma Tattersall is at 19 - up from 21.  

Many of these big eventing names will be competing at this week's Barbury International Horse Trials.

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Four years after his first contact with horses, James Paget rides his first race

Written by Tony Millett on 28 July 2016.

James Paget second left in cerise and white stripesThis story is about the Greatwood way to beat the odds when they are stacked against a young man:  a normal race-day at the Les Landes racecourse in Jersey reveals a very abnormal story of ambition and perseverance - the story of James Paget.

The 4.15pm flat race on Sunday, July 24 was the Animal Health Trust Celebration Mile (Handicap). James Paget is aboard the Jersey-trained twelve-year-old Fast Freddie - one of a field of ten.  It was an action-packed race complete with the spectacular unseating of Michelle Hooper and a stewards' enquiry.  

James and Fast Freddie, in third and fourth place for much of the race, finished a good sixth. A remarkable achievement for a young man whose first encounter with a horse was a little under four years earlier.

You can watch a recording of the whole race on You Tube.

James attended Greatwood’s Get Going programme during the summer of 2012. He came to the charity from the Amber Foundation (a residential charity that offers a fresh start to homeless unemployed young adults and helps them gain employment and accommodation) via the Princes Trust.
 
James at Greatwood "I was living in a hostel when I met someone that had been to the Northern Racing College (NRC) when my ears pricked up and I thought that may be something I would like to do.  Also when I got talking about racing one of the members of staff at the hostel informed me that he used to be a jockey.  Through the Princes Trust I went to Greatwood where they gave me the opportunity to apply to come to the NRC on their 12 week residential foundation course.”

After successfully completing Greatwood's Get Going programme and gaining an accredited qualification in Basic Care of Horses, James was then given a place at the NRC.

“My first week was really interesting and I liked the fact that they had you doing everything from mucking out to riding within the first week.  I’m not so keen on the mucking out, but when I rode for the first time it makes the mucking out well worth it!"

"The first 6 weeks have gone so quickly I can’t believe it, I’m looking forward to the next 6 weeks of working hard and getting a placement with a racehorse trainer as I now know it is definitely what I want to do!"

Cheltenham Festival 2015 At the Northern Racing College, James excelled and loved riding out every day and caring for the horses.  The qualifications James gained at the Northern Racing College were sufficient to secure full time employment with dual-purpose racehorse trainer, Neil Mullholland, at his yard near Bath.

It was his work at Neil Mulholland's yard that gave James Paget the thrill of a lifetime: at the Cheltenham Festival last year he proudly led Barry Geraghty and The Druids Nephew into the winner’s enclosure at the home of steeple chasing - to the roar of a near capacity crowd - after the eight-year-old bay gelding’s gallant victory in the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase.

James Paget was sent on his way to a career with horse racing by Greatwood:  “Before I went to Greatwood I had never had any contact with horses, but as soon as I walked through the gates I knew that I wanted to work with horses for the rest of my life.”  The odds on his having a successful racing career just got shorter.

[Jersey photos courtesy www.kandidprints.com and Cheltenham photo courtesy GJMultimedia - their copyright]

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