- Monday, 08 August 2022 12:21
- Written by David Pipe
Above: Sir Geoff Hurst takes a penalty during his visit to Pond House
(Photograph courtesy of Alain Lockyer)
A week without jumps racing and I have to admit, I am having withdrawal symptoms! The break in the summer programme is great for the jockeys, who can enjoy a well-earned break, but I will be pleased to get back to it this weekend when the jumps racing resumes at Market Rasen and Perth on Saturday. The yard had been in great form and I hope to pick up where we left off.
We brought in a few more horses from their summer holidays last week and it is starting to look very busy around the yard as we continue preparations for the season ahead. I shouldn’t bemoan the weather, but we are going to be needing plenty more rain before we see the majority of those. Following the driest July on record (we had 9mm at Pond House, seven of which came on 1st July!), August has started in much the same vein, with only a drizzling of rain around the yard, which didn’t even register on the rain gauge. There is plenty of time for the wet stuff though and looking back through our records, it usually evens itself out over the course of the year and I get the feeling that when the rain finally arrives, it won’t stop!
The Week Ahead
Jumping resumes at Market Rasen and Perth this Saturday and we have entries at both meetings. We have put Duesenberg and Nibras Gold in the novices’ hurdle at Market Rasen and Kolisi in the 2m2½f handicap hurdle, whilst up at Perth, we have given admirable mare, Lady Reset, an entry in the valuable two mile handicap hurdle. A versatile type, she also has entries on the level at Newbury the same afternoon.
Sir Geoff Hurst Visit
We were joined by a footballing legend last week when Sir Geoff Hurst came to Pond House on Tuesday for a promotional visit organised by Fergus and Judith Wilson. Sir Geoff was England's World Cup hero from 1966 - scoring a hat-trick as England beat West Germany 4-2 in the final at Wembley. After finding his way near to the yard, he was given a Royal Mail escort by our regular postie, Sean Maunder (who himself, worked at the stable many years ago).
It was a real honour and a privilege to meet him - Sir Geoff was a lovely man, who posed happily for photographs with the Wilson’s horses, members of the team and our visitors and was especially good with the children who wanted to meet a World Cup hero. Indeed, they even managed to persuade him to take a few penalties against them (as you can see from the picture above), now that’s not something many people can claim to have done and they will be able to recount that tale for years to come. It was a very enjoyable morning and it even attracted coverage in the local press with a full page of coverage in their newspaper.
National Racehorse Week
Don’t forget that National Racehorse Week is now little over a month away and we still have a few places left ahead of our open morning at the stables on Saturday 17th September. If you have ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a successful training establishment, now is your chance to find out. You will be able to meet the horses and team, witness gallops and swimming demonstrations and take a look around our first class facilities and see for yourself the care and attention they receive.
Places are limited and by booking only via the National Racehorse Week website, so be quick to secure your spot by clicking on the following link: https://nationalracehorseweek.uk/yard/david-pipe/
Passing of Kathy Rollason
Finally, I am greatly saddened to report the passing of Kathy Rollason last Thursday evening at the age of 65, following a short battle with illness. Kathy, pictured below, joined our team in 2017 as the housekeeper in our hostel, helping new starters settle in to their accommodation and providing sustenance to all the staff with her legendary breakfasts. Kathy was always cheerful and jolly and had time for anyone. She was never short of a laugh, a joke or a story and was a tremendously popular character who will be very much missed by everyone at Pond House. Our thoughts and heartfelt best wishes are with her partner Scott at this tremendously sad time.
