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Is anyone else in the forum old enough to remember Neville Crump or can help me find a listing of the horses he trained ?
He was one of the first trainers I followed when I first started following the sport, but can only remember a few of his horses.
I seem to remember Colin Hawkins being his stable jockey
Hope someone here can help.
Thanks
JBNeville Crump and Colin Hawkins were one of the stables that I followed closely when I first followed racing in the late 70’s/early 80’s. They had most of their success with long distance chasers. From what I can remember Richdee was a talented hurdler (favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle) but didn’t transfer it to fences plus he never really performed around Cheltenham. I guess his claim to fame was finishing sixth in the Gold Cup behind Michael Dickinson’s famous five. Some of his other chasers were Canton, Salkeld (both won the Scottish National), Narvik (Welsh National?), Sparkie’s Choice and Even Melody.
If my memory isn’t letting me down I can remember a particularly profitable Boxing Day at Wetherby when Sparkie’s Choice won the Rowland Meyrick and For Good won the two and a half mile handicap chase.
Neville Crump and Colin Hawkins were one of the stables that I followed closely when I first followed racing in the late 70’s/early 80’s. They had most of their success with long distance chasers. From what I can remember Richdee was a talented hurdler (favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle) but didn’t transfer it to fences plus he never really performed around Cheltenham. I guess his claim to fame was finishing sixth in the Gold Cup behind Michael Dickinson’s famous five. Some of his other chasers were Canton, Salkeld (both won the Scottish National), Narvik (Welsh National?), Sparkie’s Choice and Even Melody.
If my memory isn’t letting me down I can remember a particularly profitable Boxing Day at Wetherby when Sparkie’s Choice won the Rowland Meyrick and For Good won the two and a half mile handicap chase.
Your memory is letting you down just a little; Boxing Day was a Sunday, the much maligned Richdee beat Sparkie’s Choice in a Crump 1-2 in the Rowland Meyrick and For Good won the 2 1/2 mile handicap hurdle, beating a young Cybrandian into third. Little Bay later won the Castleford Chase and the opening novice hurdle was won by a promising newcomer called Delius. Michael Dickinson trained him and eleven other winners around the country that day.
Thanks very much, those replies have brought back some good memories.
I was quite young then but remember always looking out for Crump/Hawkins horses and had a number of good winners following them.
Richdee was a particular favourite….
Thanks once again.- Total Posts 17716
I must be older than I thought, if I’m the only one to recall his 3 Grand National wins?
Link here, and it’s hilarious:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-neville-crump-1284314.html
I think I am right in saying race commentator John Penney was Neville Crump’s assistant Trainer in either the 50-51 or 51-52 season.
Craig.
A Biography is available:
Biography of Captain Neville Crump
by Tim Fitzgeorge-Parker
Published in October 1986, HutchinsonISBN 10: 0091661900
ISBN 13: 9780091661908This crops up on eBay now and again.
Of the horses mentioned, didn’t Even Melody race until a fairly ripe old age, 13 or 14?
As a youngster, I saw the Mackeson Gold Cup the year that it was run at Haydock. Cancello (I think) won. Also in the field were Bula and (again I think) Red Rum.
A Biography is available:
Biography of Captain Neville Crump
by Tim Fitzgeorge-Parker
Published in October 1986, HutchinsonISBN 10: 0091661900
ISBN 13: 9780091661908This crops up on eBay now and again.
Of the horses mentioned, didn’t Even Melody race until a fairly ripe old age, 13 or 14?
As a youngster, I saw the Mackeson Gold Cup the year that it was run at Haydock. Cancello (I think) won. Also in the field were Bula and (again I think) Red Rum.
The book is called Ever Loyal a copy of which is on the top of my bookshelf in the study where I am writing this. I did hear that he used to ride through Middleham blowing a hunting horn to waken those who were still in bed, on the principle that if he was up, then so should everybody else.
He had many runners at my early visits as a boy to Kelso and Carlisle and was much loved and admired as a handler of chasers. Didn’t appear to have much time for hurdles except as a means of educatiing his chasers – I think Tom Dreaper(trainer of Arkle and Flyingbolt) was a bit the same.
Neville Crump and Colin Hawkins were one of the stables that I followed closely when I first followed racing in the late 70’s/early 80’s. They had most of their success with long distance chasers. From what I can remember Richdee was a talented hurdler (favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle) but didn’t transfer it to fences plus he never really performed around Cheltenham. I guess his claim to fame was finishing sixth in the Gold Cup behind Michael Dickinson’s famous five. Some of his other chasers were Canton, Salkeld (both won the Scottish National), Narvik (Welsh National?), Sparkie’s Choice and Even Melody.
If my memory isn’t letting me down I can remember a particularly profitable Boxing Day at Wetherby when Sparkie’s Choice won the Rowland Meyrick and For Good won the two and a half mile handicap chase.
Your memory is letting you down just a little; Boxing Day was a Sunday, the much maligned Richdee beat Sparkie’s Choice in a Crump 1-2 in the Rowland Meyrick and For Good won the 2 1/2 mile handicap hurdle, beating a young Cybrandian into third. Little Bay later won the Castleford Chase and the opening novice hurdle was won by a promising newcomer called Delius. Michael Dickinson trained him and eleven other winners around the country that day.
Thanks for clearing that up Rory and apologies to Richdee for doing him a disservice.
Who can forget his Grand Nationals,sadly I am old enough to remember,especially Merryman 2 .
Rod
He wanted too train my grandfathers multiple winning Point To Pointer, Brass Tacks (national hunt flapping, though she did actaully double up as his hunter)but his fees were very exspensive so they didnt.
I read his auto biography years ago, he won the grand national with Shielas cottage in I think it was 1947.
Sure he trained one of my favourate if not favourate horses of all time IRISH TONY great chaser on the northern circuit… i was only about 7 or 8 but remember the excitment when looking at the Friday evening paper and seeing he would be running on the tv on saturday….sad????oh yes!!!!!
Cancello is the one I remember most.
I saw him lose a two-runner steeplechase by 12 lengths to Royal Frolic over 2m 150yds at Doncaster in January 1978.
Vague recollections of two Grand National runners for Crump in the seventies – Canharis and Collingwood. Thought Richdee started well over fences but didn`t really go on. The likes of Ice Plant and Flameproof used to crop up on ITV of a Saturday. Think Even Melody was still running as a 15 year old. Gather captain Crump would refuse to answer the phone when Emmerdale farm was on
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