GOLDEN VALLEY
BREDWARDINE Saturday
14th May 2005
by Stella Havard
The hard work put in by the
Golden Valley hunt supporters was repaid when the crowds flocked to
their point-to-point at Bredwardine.
The dismal weather forecast
proved to be completely wrong as the sun shone for the eight races
during the afternoon, and it was certainly a bright day for many
locals.
Dorstone owner Neil Price
celebrated his first ever winner when Fencethegap (Rob Hodges)
sprinted clear of Highbridge (Patrick Crozier) and Epic Duel (P
Haynes) to land the competitive Hunt race. The gelding is trained
by Neil’s girlfriend, Jane Lloyd, and was also the first
winner she has sent out from her small stable.
Herefordshire-based pilot, Dave
Mansell partnered a memorable double with Somerset raider Lucky Wyn
and Arrow’s Gold, the latter a welcome change of luck for the
hard-working Ivington trainer, Mark Doyle.
Talented rider, Nick Oliver is
never one to sing his own praises, but his prowess in the saddle is
unmistakable, and his unexpected winner on the Caroline
Walker-trained Spicey Case sealed the Welsh Border Area
Championship for him. It also took him to jointly head the table
for the Mark Richards Trophy, which was later presented in the late
rider’s memory by his father, David Richards. Mark, a leading
amateur rider in the 1980’s, was tragically killed during
military training manoeuvres at a very tender age, and left a great
gap in the lives of all who knew him.
Emma James also signed off a
successful Welsh Border season with an emotional victory on Ron
Miel, a first winner for owner Rose Senter, trained by her son
Paul. Emma now retains her Leading Lady Rider trophy.
The Brightwells Confined
Championship Race was almost a fairy tale outcome for the 16-year
old Go Go Gallant, who lived up to his name under Helen Grundy, and
made every yard of the running to just be pipped by Totland Bay
(Tim Weston), who is nine years his junior.
The brilliant day was shadowed
by rider Tim Lane taking a crashing fall at the last fence with
Dazzling Jim. The horse galloped away unscathed, but Tim was
airlifted to Hereford Hospital with suspected spinal injuries. A CT
scan later revealed three cracked vertebrae.
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