Many thanks to Caroline for this report from Sunday’s event. Ed
Understandably there were a few enquiries from the public at the start of the day as to whether or not the event would be going ahead.
Luckily we were in a position to proceed, but we wondered if anybody would turn out to watch in such squally conditions. However we were pleasantly surprised with a determined number of spectators who divided their time between watching the races and then retreating to the sanctuary of the refreshment tent in the intervals.
Happily we also had a stalwart bunch of competitors and all but one that entered, turned out to compete on the day.
Hunt Ride and Hound Parade
The event started with the Hunt Ride and Hound Parade and about 17 mounted field followed Charlie Watts and the hounds. Unfortunately one pony found the whole thing VERY exciting and thought he would show everybody what a splendid turn of speed he had.
Unfortunately his rider was not convinced that such speed was necessary and on the sharp bend prior to the first hedge they parted company, albeit briefly. Pony and rider reunited, the field continued with some jumping the hedge.
After a couple of laps the riders peeled off and Charlie Watts the Huntsman brought the hounds into the Parade Ring and gave a demonstration of some of the horn calls used to control the hounds when they are out trail hunting.
Let the races commence
The first race was the Puffing Billy which only had two entries. However, as one of our commentators, Howard Johnson would say, you only need two horses to have a race. The two competitors, Jess Gainer and Maddison Peries had travelled from the mainland for the day and kept close together throughout.
Maddison with Top of the Morning made a slightly early challenge towards the end of the race, so there was not enough left in the bag as they say to clinch the class. The result was that Cherry was able to pull away late on to earn the Isle of Wight Steam Railway Trophy which was presented by Peter Vail, of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
Puffed Out Billy
The Puffed Out Billy attracted a field of eight competitors. This class usually has a mixed variety of horse and pony and it was not long before they were strung out with the lighter, faster horses and ponies pulling away from those more heavily built. However the more cobby types never give in and it was nice to see them all completing the race.
The class was won by Gabrielle Turner with Hollywood Icon in a fairly easy manner. Simon Read presented the Fairfields Farm Riding Trophy in somewhat jubilant manner as I understand that Gabrielle keeps her horse at his yard. He has wanted to present the trophy to somebody at his yard for some considerable time.
Only one Scurry class
The Ashey Scurry is usually been divided into two sections, run separately, but this year the numbers were down so the two sections were run as one class. There was a bit of a delay while we extracted the two junior riders from the lorry park before the race got under way. Who could blame them for not wanting to venture out?
We had been expecting a field of seven as one horse was reportedly lame, but the entry in doubt, Rambo Diablo and Rachel Brimstone were able to start.
The field of eight set off and the whole way around the two laps Shaun Graham on Top Shot and Laura Selby on Monsigneur Fred vying for the lead. It looked at times as if Laura and Monsigneur Fred were having frank discussions about the speed at which they were travelling and she did well to keep him anchored.
There was a bit of a gap to third and the rest of the field for quite a time. After the second time at the first hedge Karen Begley and Signs of Love kicked down a gear and gave chase to catch the leaders.
All completed the race and the result was that Shaun Graham and Top Shot from Oxfordshire took the Claire Hicks Memorial Trophy with Laura Selby on Monsigneur Fred second and Karen Begley and Signs of Love third. The Junior Section was won by Holly Norris and Thornton Lily. They also took the Trumor Feeds Shield for being the highest placed pony under 14.2 hh.
The Grand National
The Biles and Co Grand National presented a field of six, with Theo Seely and Golden Child flying the flag as the only local entrant. Once again the team chasers “Bitless not Brainless” came to Ashey from the mainland.
They ride in headcollars and all dress in pink colours and compete in Team Chases all over the country. At the same time they also raise a considerable sum of money in aid of breast cancer having lost one of their team to this disease.
As usual the first hedge on the course claimed a couple of victims. Poor Andrew Daniels and Ludicrus where “closed in” as he put it and so his horse could not see the fence and consequently did not take off properly. He pecked and put Andrew on the floor.
Ludicrus then made his way back to the lorry park. After this hedge there is a fairly sharp turn and Topenhall managed to unseat his rider, Shaun Graham. Topenhall then decided that taking the train home might be an option and Catherine Turner, one of the horse catchers chased after him until nearly into Havenstreet where they met the train.
Luckily the Steam Railway are used to horses on the line and stopped so Catherine was able to retrieve the horse and bring him back none the worse for wear.
In the meantime Theo Seely in his first National was keeping pace with Haddon Frost on Templer. However on the second circuit he made a rider error at the Open Ditch which enabled Haddon to pull away with a lead that Golden Child was unable to dent. Phil Headon from Cornwall and Hook kept plugging away and in the end three finished, with Haddon Frost on Templer taking the Blackgang Chine Cup, with Theo Seely and Golden Child second and Phil Headon and Hook third. Theo Seely and Golden Child won the Diamond Isle Sculptured Glass Trophy for being the highest placed Island horse.
You have to feel sorry for Andrew, having come ninth in the Golden Button and sixteenth in the Melton Cup Ride (both attract large fields of riders and have huge fences) he is remembered here for taking the David Biles Memorial Commentators’ Cup for the best fall.
A full list of the results is on the IW Scurry Website
Image: © With kind permission of John Woracker 2015
