16 April 2008 Pilots in Profile – Polly Gundry
With five Lady Riders' Championships already under her belt, Polly Gundry is displaying more determination than ever in her bid to retain the crown that she missed out on by a single winner last season.
So far this season Polly has ridden 26 Point-to-Point winners, taking her career tally to 236, and is eight clear of her nearest rival Rachael Green. In terms of keeping the winners flowing she has ridden in 118 races this term, more than any of her contemporaries, and can boast a 33% win and place strike rate.
With a yard brimming with talent, it looks a sure fire bet that the title is hers for the taking.
AGE 32.
MARITAL STATUS Living with partner.
PROFESSION Equine Nutritionist.
ARE YOU FROM A RACING BACKGROUND? Kind of! Both parents rode in Point-to-Points and Hunter Chases. They had one or two Point-to-Point horses at a time. Mother did a lot of eventing and rode at Badminton Horse Trials. Both parents live for their hunting, so very much a hunting background.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO RIDING? When I misbehaved as a child I was shut in the stable with my pony! I always loved hunting from a very early age and was first allowed to hunt off the leading rein at 4 years old. My first pony was one of my mother's first ponies as a child, Noah. He was very kind and loved his hunting. I did all the Pony Club activities that were available including Polo. Then went eventing before Pointing.
FIRST RIDE - WHEN, FOR WHOM, HORSE, COURSE, FATE? At Larkhill on March 14th 1992, on a horse called Schlemmer owned by Mike Goode who lives in the Berkeley country. We finished a steady 4th (I nearly fell off at the 10th fence but didn't!).
WHO ARE THE MAIN TRAINERS THAT YOU RIDE FOR? I ride for our own yard that Ed Walker and I run. I also ride for Ross Oliver, Clive and Eileen Bennett, Bradley Clarke, Sarah George, Caroline Hobbs, Sally and Stan Rawlins and Alison Dare. Quite a few people I ride for just have one or two horses.
WHERE ARE YOU BASED/LIVE? Ed and I live with my father and step-mum, Robin and Lesley Gundry at Dalwood. Our yard is a few miles away at Ottery St Mary in Devon.
WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE? Audi A3 (company car) but about to change it for an estate hopefully.
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT NIGHT IN & PERFECT NIGHT OUT Staying at home I would like to have all afternoon to prepare a nice meal for Ed and me and two friends. Then have champagne all evening along with 3 courses of, hopefully, good food, followed by plenty of good whisky!
Night out would either be going to the local pub for good food with all our lovely local friends we have met in there, or having all afternoon, again, to get dolled up to go to a good Hunt Ball and dance the night away (and not have to get up to do horses the next morning!).
IF YOU WERE SUSPENDED - WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH YOURSELF? Probably catch up on all the menial things like filing and ironing, both of which I quite enjoy but do not get time to do. Don't I sound sad?! I love being at home but I do have a full time job, so there is always masses to do.
WHO WOULD BE YOUR PERFECT TRAVELLING COMPANIONS TO THE RACES? My terrier, Weasel, my Dad and Len Vickery. A lot of rubbish will get spoken then!
WHAT CD'S ARE YOU PLAYING IN YOUR CAR AT PRESENT? A combination of disco music and Katie Melua.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST HEROES - IN AND OUT OF RACING? Mark Todd - eventing, for being able to be very good at dressage, brilliant at show-jumping, being the most natural horseman I've ever seen across country and therefore being able to successfully race-ride a few times. Mary King - eventing, for working so hard to be the best and staying at the top whilst having a family. Ruby Walsh, Chocolate Thornton, and John Daniell.
WHAT TURNS YOU ON/OFF - IN RACING & LIFE IN GENERAL? On: Nice, genuine people, who appreciate hard-working people, but want to have a lot of fun through life. It is life's journey that counts. Happy horses that try their best and learn from me being firm but praising them when they get it right. Off: Politics makes me mad, sad and turns me right off.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FUNNIEST INCIDENT AT THE RACES? About 10 years ago Polly Curling did not have a lot of room at the last fence and her horse went through the wing. Some thought Neil Harris had purposely made sure she did not have much room. Polly was on the scales weighing out for the next race in a seething temper when Neil was over-heard saying that "they just can't take being beaten". This made Polly flip; she threw her tack on the floor and marched towards Neil, who ran into the mens changing room for safety. Polly continued into the mens changing room so Neil escaped out of another exit closely pursued by Polly, both hurdled the rails into the paddock and out the other side. All the spectators either stood with their mouths wide open or laughed their heads off!
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING IN RACING - WHAT WOULD IT BE? In Ireland they have no rules about non-trying or schooling in public in Point-to-Pointing. That is what the sport should be like over here too - amateur riders, however good or bad, having a go without being scared that they will get hauled in by the stewards for not trying. Yes, they should be corrected if they are unfair to a horse, but not criticised for not trying. The Point-to-Pointing field should be for educating young horses in public and, if that means taking them slowly so that they learn and absorb what their job is about, they should be allowed too without penalty.
IF YOU HADN'T TAKEN UP RIDING - WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE? It would not involve working in an office every day, of that I am sure. Something outside and physical, maybe farming based, and most likely working with animals. I don't have any idea really. I thought I was intelligent enough to be an accountant or lawyer so studied maths and law at ‘A' level but I am not quick enough at reading and it would have involved an office!
WHAT IS THE DAFTEST THING A FELLOW RIDER, AN OWNER, OR TRAINER, HAS EVER SAID TO YOU? Quite recently, a rider told me that we were going too fast. As he was making the pace and I could not hold my horse, I really wondered how stupid he thought I was! I marvel at the daft things said by owners, trainers and riders but I quite often say some pretty daft things too without engaging my brain!
WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BEST AND WORST RIDES YOU HAVE GIVEN A HORSE? I can't remember very far back because I try to forget the bad rides I give horses once I have figured out what I did wrong so that I can do it right next time. In my opinion I gave Craigmor a moderate ride at Larkhill in January because I was so hell-bent on making sure he settled and jumped well that I could have been accused of schooling in public as I gave the rest of the field so much room over the first 3 fences. Long Night at Barbury Castle was a spare ride because Richard Woollacott had a sore shoulder from the week before. Although only 3rd I thought he ran a great race and well up to form.
DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS IN YOUR RIDING CAREER? No, I have a policy of ‘no regrets'. Only try to learn from my mistakes. Having said this I have been very lucky in my career, both work and riding.
NEXT WEEK: RYAN BLISS
