Sun shines on action-packed Bedale meet

As always the venue was Hornby Castle, near Bedale, held by kind permission of Mr and Mrs R E H Clutterbuck.

The opening race commenced with a field of 14 going to post for the Confined Hunts race. With three left to jump, the favourite Sams Way pulled clear, but as they lined up for the final two fences Buddy Girie, ridden by Philip Cornforth, made the race on.

Both horses jumped the last virtually in unison, with Buddy Girie inching slightly ahead of Sams Way to win with Sweeping Storm finishing in third place.

The Bedale and West of Yore Hunts race followed and it was Urban Hymn, ridden by Nigel Tutty, which led this field of seven. The field remained closely grouped with Trooper Collins and Sajomi Rona pulling clear matching stride for stride.

Urban Hymn was asked to quicken, but sadly he took a crashing fall which left Sajomi Rona and Trooper Collins to battle out the finish. Grant Tuer on Trooper Collins proved the stronger to win by two lengths, while Scenic Storm ran on for third.

The Restricted got under way half an hour late with Middleton winner Bexley starting out as favourite. As they made their way back into the open country the field was minus the favourite Bexley and, approaching the last, Bobby Buttons and Forty Shakes pulled well clear of the field. They jumped the last in style with both riders going head for head to the line. With only a neck to separate the pair, it was Chris Dawson in first place with Forty Shakes. Bobby Buttons was second and Floritchell some distance behind in third.

The Ladies Open saw eight horses going to post. At fence four Wilfie made a mistake and the old man of the field, 15-year-old Silver Groom, whipped them in. With all still standing and a final circuit in front, Silver Groom began to make head way under Jackie Coward. At the last the old warrior and San Francisco jumped clear and as they thundered to the line it was to be the veteran's day yet again. How the crowds cheered and clapped him home to a delighted owner, Miss K Barron.

The Men's Open saw two fallers quickly removed from the scene at the opening fences, this left 12 remaining. Backsheesh, out for the first time this season, proved he was fit enough and gave his jockey Grant Tuer his double for the day. Second was Diamond Monroe and Torn Silk took the honours for third, ridden by Clive Mulhall.

Division one of the Maidens had all the horses closely grouped for much of the race. On the run in Black Rainbow, ridden by Tina Jackson, proved the stronger and finished four and a half lengths clear of Kappillan with Kismet only half a length down in third.

The last race of the day, division two of the Maiden, saw another of the closest finishes with Tina Jackson looking for a quick double, this time partnering Red Rose Dixie. It was going to be one for the judge as Jo Foster on Oso Tilley and Clive Mulhall cleared the last, but it was Jo who proved to be the strongest finisher to give owner Mr J Endersby from the Pendle a win. Tanjo Bojangles finished second with Freya Hartley in third.

Mister Bromley leads the way in Middleton opener

ON A hazy, warm Sunday afternoon in early April huge crowds flocked to Whitwell on the Hill, the venue for the Middleton Hunt point to point since 1929 by kind permission of D R Brotherton.

The first of eight races commenced with the Browns of York and Helmsley Guy Cunnard Middleton and Sinnington Members race, with six horses going to post. The two market favourites, Mister Bromley and Kings Boy, pulled clear from the fast-finishing Duchess Account. At the line it was local horse Mister Bromley, ridden by Serena Brotherton, winning yet again by two lengths.

The second race, the Rosettes Direct Confined Hunts race, had six runners. Texas Ranger pulled up before the final bend, leaving the improving Wilfie Wild and odds-on favourite Legendary Line to battle out the finish. However, Serena Brotherton was not going to see a quick double as Lynne Ward quickened away from the final fence for the pair to land the spoils with a win for her father, Alan Jackson. Over The Beck continued to battle on and finished a distant third.

The third race provided an even market in the Betfair Restricted with double the number of entries than the previous two. Dayenoo, one of the fancied horses, fell at the first fence, leaving the race to the Staintondale winner Skew Whip. He continued on his winning trail for owner Mr R G Brader, winning from Oaklands Luis and Magic Route.

The Grimethorpe Gold Cup Mixed Open saw nine horses going to post with a gruelling four miles, one furlong and 24 fences in front of them. Much of the race was led by Wings Of Hope and, with four horses contesting the lead over the final two fences, it was odds-on favourite Shackleton who pulled away to win by three lengths from Victoria's Boy and Wings of Hope in third.

There were four open maiden races run over different trips, with each split into two divisions and all well-contested. The McClarron Insurance saw Mr Tee Pee, ridden by Ben Woodhouse and unraced over jumps, winning from Clever Nora and Born Special. As division two started it became apparent that this was going to be a two-horse race between Bexley, winning by 20 lengths, and odds-on favourite Black Leopard. A quartet of horses battled out the Kerr McGee-sponsored maiden, with Duggleby producing the double for Lord Daresbury, pulling ahead of Ask Bobby. The final race of the day, the Grainfarmers plc, saw the closest finish of the day with Shirostran winning by a head over Polyarnoe and Northern Rambler running on for third.

The leading lady title went to Serena Brotherton and Oliver Greenall took the leading gentleman's award.

Stainton event survives heavy rain

AN award should be given to clerk of the course John Mackley and his dedicated team of helpers as without these people the Cleveland point to point would not have taken place on Sunday, April 17 at Stainton.

With torrential rain prior to the meeting, the course was underwater, but they battled through the night to pump the water clear and thankfully succeeded. The ground was declared, not surprisingly, as soft, but to everyone's amazement the good covering of grass on the track stopped it from cutting up too badly. Sadly the same could not be said for the car parks, with cars and wagons having to be pulled in, let alone out again. Special thanks go to Mr and Mrs S Cunningham and Mr and Mrs D Scourfield for their kind permission to run the event on their land.

With seven races on the card, the members race kicked off the afternoon and with 19 fences in front of them the six runners set off on the short run in to the first. The pace was steady with Bracken Run leading The Viking, who was taking the shortest way, followed by their four rivals with Stepastray patiently ridden by Clive Mulhall.

On the second circuit of this tight track Bracken Run charted a wide course and two from home Stepastray was asked the question, challenging The Viking and pulling clear. At the line it was Stepastray who won by a clear six lengths from Nigel Tutty and The Viking with the long-time leader Bracken Run back in third.

The Restricted race saw an even betting market and, with the big field of 12 going a quicker pace, Milliners Guide took up the running from Lord Scroop and Gentleman Charles.

With an even tempo and all jumping well, it was a closely grouped field, but this soon changed on the final circuit with Queenies Girl and Paul Frank moving up to join the leaders.

Long-time leader Milliners Guide began to be pushed along under the whip and, with two left to jump, Queenies Girl looked the all-out winner until approaching the last she decided enough was enough and hit a brick wall.

Urged on by Frank she scrambled over the last only to feel the hot breath of Cmewin closing with each stride. As Frank tried to gather up his mount it was all too late and Cmewin, ridden by Mark Walford, strode out for the line to win by 15 lengths from the very tired Queenies Girl with Snizort continuing behind.

The intermediate race saw six runners going to post and, with the field in Indian file, they all made a steady gallop led by the favourite The Graduate.

With all jumping nicely, the placings remained the same for the second circuit with Don Rio being bustled along, but heavily backed All For Jake made a mistake and was pulled up before going out for the final circuit.

Eight lengths covered the remaining runners and it was Emma Brader and Duchess Account who inched closer. With three to jump it was down to a two-horse race with Duchess Account gaining the upper hand over The Graduate and Mr S Walker, winning by two lengths.

The men's open saw few runners with Maitre De Musique leading at a sedate pace from Who Dares Wins and Scotmail Lad taking a keen hold for Clive Mulhall, who was looking for a double. The field remained closely grouped with the tempo quickening and all began snapping at the leaders' heels. Bonito was the first to snap and it was Scotmail Lad slipstreaming his way through who hit the front heading for home. Again the last caught out the leader, who had to be gathered up quickly, but he just hung on at the line from the long-time leader Maitre De Musique and Mr M Tate, with Whitley Grange Boy taking third spot.

A poor field of three went to post for the ladies open, with none wishing to make the pace. Over The Beck made the best of it and led from odds-on favourite Mister Bromley with Londolozi Lad and Tina Jackson taking up the rear.

With all skipping over the fences nicely, Mister Bromley hunted up his rivals at a steady gallop and as the pace increased Serena Brotherton kept a tight hold of his head. With five to jump and only three lengths separating them, winner Mister Bromley made his move with Londolozi Lad in quick pursuit.

The last saw Tina Jackson take a crashing fall to allow Over The Beck to run on for second place. However, despite the beating she had just received, her mount was recaptured and she joined company again to finish third. This just goes to show how tough women jockeys are, especially Tina Jackson.

The maiden race for eight-year-olds and over had a field of eight with a few sticky jumpers at the first.

The second fence claimed Supreme Optomist and Richard Clark and it was An Cauifeach who led the field from the favourite Bromley Max, who was taken wide on the course.

With his lead depleting and the field closing, the order remained the same for much of the race and at the tenth An Cauifeach and Rosdari were in the air together, with Fear of God closing up.

Approaching the last it was Bromley Max and Fear of God and the pair battled out the finish with Bromley Max getting his neck in front to win by a length, Dracaena finishing third.

The last race, another maiden, had four runners with Clive Mulhall on Crayke Way looking for a treble and Mark Walford a double on Polyarnoe Bay. At an average pace the field was led by Polyarnoe Bay, closely followed by Knight Crossing and Whorl Hill with Crayke Way taking up the rear after some sketchy jumping.

With Knight Crossing the quicker jumper, the quartet made their way down the backside where Crayke Way, getting somewhat detached, called it a day. On the final circuit the lead remained the same until Polyarnoe Bay was asked to lengthen, moving clear with Whorl Hill hitting a brick wall and pulling up before the final bend. With the final fence approaching, a tired Polyarnoe Bay led and Knight Crossing plugged on for second, these being the only two finishers.

No doubt there would be a lot of tired horses going home that night, but again we must say a very big thank you to all those who made the day possible for the crowd to enjoy.

Published: 06/05/2005