- This topic has 29 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 18 years, 3 months ago by
.
- Posts
How do,
Could any of you living in or around that part of Sussex report back what the weather’s been doing this afternoon and evening, please?
I notice that the going report is soft, good to soft in places, but it’s not stopped raining here in Hertfordshire all evening and I am genuinely fearful of the entire British jumps program – already reduced by two – being wiped out come tomorrow afternoon.
Meh.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Jeremy, there’s been steady rain here in south London since about 4.00, sometimes pouring. I know I’m 50 miles from Fontwell, but I have an interest as I plan to go tomorrow, despite it being a Family Day and The Wurzels playing between races. The weather forecast is bad enough to make me fear they’ll have to call an inspection. News from proper local correspondents would be welcome.
Thanks for that, Ravel. I’ve got a vested interest in matters as well – I’m not going, but I am covering whatever survives of the British and Irish cards for a certain internet radio station tomorrow. I’ve already binned all my notes for Abbot and Carlisle and don’t really want to see any of the remaining three cards disappear!
I’ve been the kiss of death this winter – every time I’m on the air, all the jumps cards get rained or snowed off. Meh.
Fontwell’s website is maintaining an optimistic view of the weather, describing today as "dry" and tomorrow as "damp". Either that part of Sussex does exist in its own, more arrid, microclimate, or someone needs to buy the racecourse executive there a more accurate piece of seaweed.
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Oh ek,
Was going to go tomorrow, Wurzels, another b….. family day.
I take it they have upped the price again as it is a "Family Sunday". Is it £15?
£15 to see more bookie fodder. 3 class 5’s including a seller and conditional jockeys, 2 uncompetitive novice races and 2 fair handicaps. With screaming kids every time they pass the stands…Might pay £10 or £12 at a push. Nahhh not going to bother.
Scrooge
Value Is EverythingScrooge,
Regret to advise you it is a premium day tomorrow.
£22 Premier or £17 Grandstand
I love Fontwell but the combination of "Family Fun" and The Wurzels is just too much for me.
I have been trying to get hold of my sister who only lives 15 miles from the course as the crow flies – but she ain’t answering her phone.
South and south east rain all day tomorrow forecast.
In my opinion Fontwell are notoriously wrong with going reports.
If I remember rightly once went when they said it was good-soft.
Coming back the M27 was closed due to flooding. And Chichester under water for weeks.
Ginge
Value Is EverythingI’m afraid it’s £17 tomorrow, Ginger. Join the Racegoers Club for £20 a year, though, and you get £3 off most meetings, so if you go racing seven times a year it’s paid for itself.
A lot of rain forecast tonight and tomorrow
Scrooge,
Regret to advise you it is a premium day tomorrow.
£22 Premier or £17 Grandstand
I love Fontwell but the combination of "Family Fun" and The Wurzels is just too much for me.
I have been trying to get hold of my sister who only lives 15 miles from the course as the crow flies – but she ain’t answering her phone.
Oooo aaaaarrrrr,
I would need a lot of cider to make that paletable.
Your sister’s ‘ere Paul, she’s a fine looking woman, an’ I can’t wait to get my hands on her land!
Northern f…… Racing can stick their £17 up their hay stack.
Ginge
Value Is EverythingOh No!
Can I really remember those awful songs.
Depressing isn’t it.
Ginge
Value Is EverythingHere are some more reminders for you:-
I Am A Cider Drinker 2007
Combine Harvester, The
Blackbird, The
Drink Drink Yer Zider Up
When The Common Market Comes To Stanton Drew
Don’t Look Back In Anger
Ferry To Glastonbury
Farmer Bill’s Cowman
Pill Pill
Ooh Arr Just A Little Bit
Morning Glory
Somerset Jigolo
Drink Up Thy Zider
I Am A Cider Drinker (Paloma Blanca)
Rock Around The A38
I’ve Got Me Beedy Little Eye On Thee
Good Old Summerset
Why Does It Always Rain On Me
Tractor Song (The Pushbike Song), The
Shepton Mallet Matador, Theand not forgetting
I Want to Be An Eddie Stobart Driver
Pure class.
Now you have reminded us about all their classic titles, it sounds rather more appealing. "Why does it rain on me" could be quite appropriate, and when it comes to getting out of the car park so could "The tractor song."
Just to get back "on topic" – can’t have too much Saturday night fun – I have managed to get hold of my sister.
There is currently "light rain" but the forecast is to "lash down" later.
I’m afraid it’s £17 tomorrow, Ginger. Join the Racegoers Club for £20 a year, though, and you get £3 off most meetings, so if you go racing seven times a year it’s paid for itself.
Thanks Ravel but:
I am a member of the Racegoers Club, but I still ain’t paying £14 for that!Ginge
Value Is EverythingThe going is now officially heavy.
Predictably, Lingfield have called off tomorrow — I live about 10 miles up the road and there really doesn’t seem to have been that much overnight rain, certainly not a deluge. Seems it only takes a heavy shower for them to abandon.
Just going back to Ginger’s comment about the unreliability of the Fontwell going reports, the worst period for that was when a member of the Stickells clan was Clerk of the Course (a name, sadly, which is synonymous with incompetence). Since his departure the state of the course has improved markedly.
Heavy, but at this stage at least still going ahead!
The report is of just 10mm of rain having fallen overnight. I’m presuming Hitchin must have helped itself to some of Fontwell’s share, then, as it’s not let up for 18 hours or so here now!
Both Irish meetings have survived as well, so it’s not going to be quite so bleak a day for me as first thought, other than the fact I’m not especially hot on unpicking 30-runner Irish maiden hurdles….
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.