Northamptonshire-based Jill Field – (left) from Pattishall – and Jenny Haycock – (right) from Syresham – are two of the unsung heroes of the South Midlands pointing scene. Key members of the declarations team, their smiling faces are well-known to owners, trainers, jockeys and officials alike although – as Jenny laments – “We see very little racing – maybe a bit of the last!” Jake Exelby Zoomed with the two of them recently to find out more about their role… and the key challenges it entails.
What is your point-to-pointing background?
Jill: My grandfather, Jack Harris, was a leading rider in the 1940s and 1950s and his sister was Jimmy Tarry’s mother, so Jimmy is my second cousin. I rode my grandad’s pointers at home, but never wanted to race-ride, although I hunted and team chased, as well as running a hunting yard for 15 years. I’ve always spent my weekends watching racing. I’m also Treasurer of the Grafton, which I’ve been doing for seven years or so.
Jenny: I’ve always been into racing – I was a member at Towcester and have been involved with hunting most of my life. I used to ride myself and have always gone pointing. And I was Meeting Secretary for the Farmers Bloodhounds for about ten years. Stupidly, I said yes when asked – it was hard work at times and everything was my fault… I never got a “well done”!
How did you get involved with the declarations team?
Jill: I’ve been doing it for six years – Jenny roped me in! We met through hunting and have known each other over 15 years, though it feels like forever!
Jenny: I’m not quite sure. I was talking to Dale and Malcolm Dickins, who were in charge of it, and they asked if I’d be interested. I’ve done the weighing in and out of the jockeys, the medical records, been a paddock steward – as well as declarations.
What do the declarations team have to do – before racing and on the day?
Jenny: We arrive about two hours before the first race, having entered the declarations on our laptop beforehand – we have to get there early as declarations now close an hour before the race. We enter any alterations – like jockey and colour changes on the laptop and print out a sheet for each race to give out to participants and officials. We try to make it run smoothly, but it doesn’t always happen!
Jill: There’s a lot of paperwork and not everyone always knows which race they’re in! We get a lot of comments about the printed sheets (which not all areas produce) – anything to make peoples’ lives easier, as we’re all under pressure.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Jill: Nobody has any airs and graces – we’re all there for the love of racing. People are really friendly and we’ve built relationships with owners, trainers and jockeys alike and have a massive giggle with them.
Jenny: I’ve got to meet nice people. And I enjoy solving the challenges! I miss David Sunderland though (former valet, who died in December 2019). He’s no longer around to sing that stupid song, “There may be trouble ahead…” He was such a character.
David Sunderland and Jenny
What challenges do you face?
Jenny: We didn’t have a printer last year, so had to do a lot of printing at home before going racing. Changes of colours can be an issue too.
Jill: When there’s a race divided on the day, so we now insist that a steward does the split. And we can get hassle from owners and trainers, especially if we don’t know which jockey is riding their horse.
Who are the main characters you meet in the weighing room?
Jill: Tom Ellis is lovely. He always comes and thanks us. And his Mum bakes us cakes and his Dad gives us gin! Zac Baker’s also very friendly. He stops to chat, makes us laugh and earns his box of chocolates at the end of the season!
Tom Ellis (right) - lovely
Jenny: Jane and Martin Wanless. We’ve got quite friendly with them and they invite us back to their lorry – not that we ever have time to join them! And Claire Hart and her Mum Helen are always lovely.
What have been your favourite courses?
Jill: Mollington, as they always look after us (which has nothing to do with the gin Tony Ellis give us!) It’s also a really hard course for horses up the hill and I’ve seen some exciting finishes there.
Mollington - favourite course
Jenny: My favourite was the old course at Pattishall – a fantastic track. I also liked Little Horwood and the Heythrop point-to-point when it was held at Fox Farm.
Do you have any particular funny memories?
Jill: At the Anglo-Irish meeting a few years ago, it was a very hot day, so they’d taken the sides of the marquees down. I was going back to my car and a certain jockey – who I won’t name – was stark naked throwing buckets of water over himself.
Anglo-Irish meeting - hot day
Jenny: I’ve seen way too much in the mens changing room!
How have lockdown and COVID had an effect on your role?
Jenny: The loss of the changing rooms meant there was less atmosphere, although I quite liked working in a trailer last season – we didn’t get pestered all the time! It can be off-putting when you’re trying to concentrate and you’re surrounded by people. Plus, we had a telly so could watch the racing!
Jill: The sport would have been lost without Peter Wright – he put his heart and soul into it. When he’s in the South Midlands, he always comes to see us, asks our advice and listens to what we have to say.
Peter Wright - heart and soul
What do you enjoy most about pointing?
Jenny: I love the atmosphere – it’s completely different to National Hunt. My grand-daughter and her boyfriend came to Kingston Blount for the first time last year and absolutely loved it. They were having conversations about horses with people they’d never met before.
Jill: It’s great that the numbers don’t seem to have dropped after COVID and that everybody still seems to want to race. I love the trainers and their horses that keep us going and I think the secretaries do an amazing job – it’s a thankless task and not one I’d want!
Do you have any hobbies outside racing?
Jenny: Going greyhound racing at Oxford and watching Northampton Saints play rugby.
Jill: Going to the speedway to see the Coventry Bees!
Where is your dream holiday destination?
Jill: Anywhere I can lie down somewhere hot and do nothing.
Jenny: I don’t do holidays!