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Tomorrow Richard Burton who has ridden more point-to-point winners than anyone else in GB will have an opportunity to make more history – he needs just two more to make his total 400 – a fantastic achievement. Sadly I won’t be there as I will be at another meeting – should he not make it I will be there at the Easter Monday and Tuesday meetings so on a personal note I’m hoping he rides one winner tomorrow and then I will (hopefully) be there to witness history in the making!
Good Luck to Burty tomorrow – would be good if he can do it at Flagg on Sunday where he’s the leading active jockey
Too used to the Saturday/Sunday nature of pointing TP – spot on though Flagg is always Easter Tuesday
Richard rode his 399th pointing winner at Sandon today so the scene is set for the 400th at Eyton on Monday – very fitting as it is his family’s local course …
He did it! Win number 400 on Cedrus Libani for the Rucker family. He then rode Mr Wickham for number 401!!!
Not only that, but the great man’s still well in contention for another Mens National Title. Standings following Wednesday evening’s meeting at Cothelstone;
Richard Burton 29
Phil York 29
Will Biddick 26
Richard Woollacott 19
John Mathias 18Hard to imagine Burty won’t have a pile of viable mounts at his disposal this weekend, probably at the Flint & Denbigh meeting at Bangor-on-Dee.
Bit more clear-cut in the Ladies’ standings, meanwhile;
Gina Andrews 22
Louise Allan 13
Sam Drake 12
Gemma Hutchinson 12
Bridget Andrews 10The first East Anglia Area Ladies title winner since Lucy Gibbon was in her pomp is mere weeks away, surely.
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.
Greatly deserved ladies title for Gina – she is a very worthy successor to Polly Gundry and Claire Allen. The East seems to be dominated by the ladies at the moment with Louise Allan and Bridget also to the fore.
Also think Gemma Hutchinson is a very reliable and competent jockey, considering she only really rides the family horses.
Burty of course is different gravy – long may he continue!
Absolutely agree that Gina Andrews is a very good jock, but think her younger sister Bridget is very good as well. Both of them have a very natural riding style and seem to be good judges of horses, pace and position.
richardAlso think Gemma Hutchinson is a very reliable and competent jockey, considering she only really rides the family horses.
Alas, we’ve seen the last of her in the saddle. There was neither a Confined nor a Ladies Open (the two sorts of races she’s farmed in the Midlands Area in recent times) at Garthorpe this afternoon, and the intended Midlands finale, the Harborough Racing Club meeting at Dingley next Sunday, is already off due to no more watering being available there.
Gemma was in attendance at Garthorpe this afternoon, however, receiving an Area title award and also a farewell presentation. By day a primary school teacher, she is shortly to marry fellow rider Tim Lane and move with him to Wales.
Having seen her in "civvies" rather than behind a helmet and goggles for the first time today, all I can say to Tim is – lucky git.
Burty of course is different gravy – long may he continue!
Indeed he will, if today’s hat-trick at Bangor-on-Dee is any guide! He had to make the final North West Area weekend of the season count, didn’t he, as he will have to rely on his main suppliers of winners, such as Sheila Crow and the Ruckers, sending their horses to parts of the country less travelled (if travelled at all) if he is to add to that tally hereafter.
That Mrs Crow sent some runners to Aspatria the other week, enabling Burty to ride in the Northern Area for the very first time in his long career, does at least offer some hope on that score. It wouldn’t surprise to see him turning out at Hexham next Sunday as well as the more expected Chaddesley Corbett a day later, therefore.
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.
Happy retirement to Gemma Hutchinson – didn’t see her yesterday Jeremy (gutted about this) but I’m sure there’ll be plenty more good female jockeys coming through – Gaby Hill did well on Ocean Du Moulin early on the card and I’ve been impressed by what I’ve seen of her thus far.
Happy retirement to Gemma Hutchinson – didn’t see her yesterday Jeremy (gutted about this)
Ach, you weren’t in the bar at the time with our fellow Jumping For Funners, were you? Unfortunate!
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
– Proverbs 20:1
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.
I was assessing the form for the next race and finding out the results from The Curragh at about the only place you can get a mobile phone reception at Garthorpe (yep, the bar)
Sad to hear Gemma is retiring and best of luck to her in the future.
On the subject of good lady jockeys, I’m also a massive fan of Jane Williams who is a great judge of pace – see her ride on Billyvoddan the other day. Would love to see Jane challenge for the title.
Gemma Hutchinson erratum for you, GD – two of hers are entered in the ladies’ hunter chase at Stratford on Friday night, so maybe there’s one ride left in her at least.
I’m happy to kidnap to order, incidentally.
Jane Williams, meanwhile – yes, another very much above average talent (including under Rules every so often – rememebr her collecting a couple of races with Point for Bill Jenks a few years back), and criminally underused outside of the North Western and West Midlands Areas. A pity.
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.
Not historical, but still well worth telegraphing for them as missed it in favour of some trifling affair in Berkshire, but Richard Burton did indeed collect his fourth National Mens title at Umberleigh last Saturday. A blank day for both him and nearest pursuer Phil York left the final scores at 37 and 34 winners respectively.
A fine, fine effort, and testimony to Burton’s standing within the sport is just how many trainers from well outside his usual North West Area base have been only too delighted to offer him outside rides as the title chase became more intense in recent weeks – Robert Scrine gave him a winner at Trecoed three weeks back, and Myfanwy Miles even made the indefatigable Lady Myfanwy available for him at the weekend.
The competition will be as strong as ever next season, but it wouldn’t surprise at all to see this legend of the sport giving it another right good go in defence of his crown. Well played, sir.
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.
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