25 February 2008 South East Hunts Club - Charing
Bee An Bee: before running out
It was a day of mixed fortunes for David Robinson and his son Stuart at the South East Hunts Club meeting at Charing on Sunday (24th Feb).
After watching Robinson Junior and Turnstile comfortably justify favouritism in the Mens' Open, 66-year-old David set off on the odds-on Bee An Bee in a bid to repeat their popular win at Godstone two weeks ago. But coming down the steep Charing hill on the first circuit Bee An Bee ran out at the eighth fence and put David through the wing.
There were a few anxious moments, but the intrepid David eventually returned to the weighing room complaining of nothing more than a stiff neck. Ironically the race, which was won by Isle of Wight raider Saffron Hill (Richard Bandey), was sponsored by a hospital, especially as David has now been stood down for concussion.
The day began with an impressive win for Like Minded, trained by Don Cantillon in Suffolk and ridden by Alex Merriam. The Restricted went to the Tork family's Beareen Lad (Gordon Gallagher).
Best finish of the day came in the Ladies' Open with Soldershire (Hannah Grissell) clearing the last in front of Heaven Is Above (Rilly Goschen), but both were pegged back on the run-in by Emily Harbour on Danaeve and Millenium Way (Caroline Taylor).
Stuart Robinson completed his double when the well-fancied Parzando scored in the Maiden. Touching down in second over the final fence, the pair overhauled Millview in a driving finish, with Some Story a distance back in third.
The area's next meeting is at Godstone on Sunday March 2nd. With an abundance of entries and good ground expected, another exciting day's racing is expected. Pony racing starts at 11.00am and admission is £20 per car, £10 for single occupants and £5 for pedestrians. The course is just two miles from Junction 6 of the M25.
