10 March 2010 Scene & Heard: Tanatside - Eyton-on-Severn
by Carolyn Tanner
WILLIE WONG (left): the first leg of a Kinsey double
photo: Sweet Photography
Will Kinsey took the riding honours with a double on horses from his own yard. The first leg came in the Restricted courtesy of Willie Wong, who was originally owned by a partnership consisting of Will himself, Richard Johnson, Richard Burton and David Greenway.
"He struck into himself and had a year off," explained Will, who got him "fairly cheap" for that reason. "He was wrong in his back last year, but he's got a tremendous engine. He tries really hard, but he's only got one way of going," he laughed.
The owners Will now has on side are solicitor Philip Woods, who is based in Singapore - "He was in England when I sold him the share!" Will pointed out - Anne Cardwell and Vicki Walker, whose son Daniel had bought her a share for a 70th birthday present.
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The second Kinsey winner was another former invalid, his mother's Heezbehindyou, in the 3m Maiden Division Two. Heezbehindyou has had suspensory and tendon problems, and has undergone a soft palate operation. Described by Will's sister Hannah Burton as "mother's pet," the chestnut used to have the habit of dropping a shoulder at home. "He had Will off several times," Hannah laughed, "but every time he would land on his feet and not realise quite how he'd got there!"
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Will's brother-in-law Richard Burton maintained his lead at the head of the men's championship table with a Hunt race victory on Jo Priest's History Master. Jo went to the start, as she always does, in order to try to persuade History Master to jump off. "He's very naughty," she explained, "and you have to rattle something behind him to get him to go. At home it's like riding a roller-coaster," she added.
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There was an upset in the Men's Open when the odds-on Vicario was overturned by Belinda Clarke's Belligerent, who was competing in that company for the first time. Surprisingly for such a big horse (17.2), Belligerent loves the fast ground which he encountered here. "He's got lots of ability but he doesn't always use it," opined rider Adam Wadlow. The victory was some recompense for owner and jockey, who must have been hopeful of a success at Llanfrynach the previous day until The Howardian blundered Adam out of the saddle when travelling sweetly.
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"Let's have a photo - it may be the last one," was the poignant comment from Diana Williams after her daughter Jane had won the Ladies' Open on Step And Run. The 14-year-old, who was hanging in the closing stages, finished lame, but happily looked to come sound soon after, and two days later was able to be ridden again.
24 hours prior to the race, Step And Run was following hounds. "Little Brown Bear was going to be my hunter but he fractured a pedal bone at the start of the season, so I've hunted Step And Run every Wednesday and Saturday since then," said Jane.
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Despite losing an iron two out and not getting it back until after the line, Lara Mahon rode a very cool race to take the Dodson & Horrell Novice Riders' contest on another 14-year-old, Chicuelo, who is on loan from Maxine Filby. Lara, 20, who is doing an Equine Studies honours degree at Moreton Morrell College, will share the rides on Chicuelo with her twin sister Ella. Their elder brother Ryan also kept the family flag flying over the weekend with a double at Charlton Horethorne.
Under the supervision of a steward, Lara's father Gabe, who trains Chicuelo, had to carry her saddle to the scales. Lara herself, who was using a 10lb saddle, weighs just 7st 11lbs, which meant that three-and-a-half stone of lead was required. "I've put on weight since last year, though," she announced. "I was only 7st 5lbs then!"
It will not be long before another Mahon joins the fray, as younger brother Leo is 16 this month.
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"Look how fat he is!" exclaimed Gordy Edwards of his charge Gunner Be Bee after the seven-year-old had won the first of the 2m4f Maidens in the hands of Donald McCain's assistant Gillon Crow. Gunner Be Bee was bred by Gordy's wife Sarah, who in November had ridden him to success in a qualifier for a national dressage championship. "I bought him as a family fun horse," said John Wilson, one of the meeting's acting stewards, in whose colours he now runs. "Naomi [his daughter] can have a go at eventing him and I can hunt him. That's still the plan."
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"Our place is becoming like a hotel, full of our own family." Gordy Edwards gives wife Sarah a reason for needing to sell some of her home-breds.
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Division Two went to a limping Paul Tolman on the Steve Flook-trained debutant Mi Man Sam, who quickened impressively on the long run-in, the last fence having been dolled off due to low sun. Paul's discomfort was caused when another Flook newcomer, Knar Burn in the first division, tried to run out and fired him out of the saddle. "I'd have been all right if I'd landed on an ordinary fence, but I hit the friggin' ditch board!" he complained.
Mi Man Sam was bought as a foal by Elaine Gore, who sold him to Steve in the autumn. The trainer kept a leg and now owns him in partnership with John Priday, Tom Jones and Keith Morgan. "He's got a lot of natural speed," said Steve of the chestnut, "but we'll have to see whether he can stay three miles."
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"Keith's a very good electrician, and he did all the wiring on my new house. I'm hopeful now that he won't send me a bill." Steve Flook, obviously optimistic that a quarter-share of the prize money is fair exchange!
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Lord Bellamy, who was bought as a foal in Ireland, took the 3m Maiden Division One for owner Martin Wilesmith and his jockey son Mark. Martin was quick to hand the credit for the success to his daughter Emma, who broke in Lord Bellamy, and his wife Doreen. "They do all the work," he stressed.
"He's a bit of a handful," admitted Mark. "He's his own worst enemy - he's been very wayward and has taken a long time to settle."
Mark's wife Claudia was not present, having taken two of their charges to Tweseldown and thus being one of the many who had a fruitless journey. "She's sitting in the box park having a picnic," smiled Mark.
