10 February 2009 Preview: Harkaway Club - Chaddesley Corbett
BURNTOAKBOY: has already qualified for the Foxhunters at Cheltenham and is entered in the Mens Open
Having been forced to postpone their meeting on two previous occasions the Harkaway Club fixture at Chaddesley Corbett has been re-scheduled for Sunday 15th February (11-30 am start).
All last weekends' meetings fell victim to the weather, so all their organisers will be hoping that conditions improve sufficiently to allow all these fixtures to go ahead.
The Mens Open could see the reappearance of Burntoakboy who is likely to carry local hopes at the Cheltenham Foxhunters in March. Dr Richard Newland's gelding qualified for the Festival with wins at Cottenham and Wadebridge prior to Christmas and he will have a relatively short journey to the course from his stables at Claines near Worcester.
Fergals Find, Lough Ennel, Mel in Blue, Oh So Lively and Worship the Stars will provide a true test of his ability, but he may be given most to do by We're Confused from Julie Houldey's all conquering yard at North Nibley.
Angela Rucker and Pirate Flagship finished runner up in the Ladies Open last year but they have the chance to go one better on Sunday afternoon. Sweet Citizen represents Diana William's successful yard at Enville, while Oh So Lively has to be given a chance based on his performance over this course last April.
It will be interesting to see how The Accordion Man fares in the Conditions race, which gets the meeting underway at 11-30. He failed to sparkle for the Evan Williams yard but may be more at home in this company and could prevail at the expense of Gothic Charm and Bob the Builder.
The emphasis is likely to be on stamina rather than speed and that could result in a few upsets - that is not likely in the Intermediate which should result in victory for Sweden.
The market is always the best guide to Maiden races at this stage of the season, but Cracking Cliche is given one more chance in the 5, 6 & 7yo year old Maiden although both Pillbox and Pingaro de la Vire are expected to run well.
Port Talbot was knocking on the door last season and with its downhill run to the finish, Chaddesley Corbett could prove his salvation and that may allow him to finally get his head in front in the final race on the card.
In these difficult economic times, the West Midlands Point-to-Point Secretaries Association is pleased to announce it has attracted a major sponsor for its prestigious Leading Rider Championships.
Halls, which has 10 offices in total (2 in Worcestershire and 8 in Shropshire) is one of the oldest and most respected independent firms of Estate Agents, Chartered Surveyors, Auctioneers and Valuers and has agreed to sponsor the Leading Gentleman and Lady Rider Awards for 2009.
The presentations will be made at the Areas Annual Dinner Dance and Presentation evening which takes place every September at Cheltenham Racecourse with riders able to accumulate points at each of the 13 meetings held in the area.
Previous winners of these championships have gone on to make a major impact on the sport with Eastnor based Julian Pritchard holding the record for riding the most number of winners in United Kingdom with 384 successes. The Ladies Title has been dominated by Alison Dare who was the leading rider in the country on 6 occasions between 1986 and 1996 and Polly Gundry who has matched those exploits and taken the National Title 6 times since 2000.
The sponsorship has been arranged with Robert Symonds (Chairman of the West Midlands Point-to-Point Secretaries Association) by Tim Gaston (Residential Partner) and Anthony Champion (Managing Partner) at the Worcester office and Roger Sadler and Daniel Lovatt who are both Rural Practice Chartered Surveyors and Auctioneers based in the Kidderminster office of Halls. All of them have vast experience in the sale, management and valuation of rural properties in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Areas.
