For some races the horses have to pass the winning post four times!
Mark Cornford
The mention of Plumpton generally brings a smile to people’s faces, with a comment about it being a great name and, if the person concerned is, let’s say, of a more mature nature, is inevitably followed by a rendition of Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb ...
John Richards reports on a little course with a big heart and award winning Groundstaff
T 100
rumpton was the name of a popular children’s TV show back in the sixties, and the toy town had an array of splendid buildings including the town hall,
a clock tower, a variety of shops and a fire station. Impressive though it may have all been, one facility Trumpton didn’t have, however, was a picturesque and award winning racecourse. Which is what the real-life tiny village of Plumpton, in the midst of the beautiful East Sussex countryside, now has. Plumpton Racecourse has recently
picked up one of the horse racing industry’s most prestigious accolades - the 2009 Neil Wyatt Racecourse Groundstaff of the Year Award 2009, Best Jumps Racecourse, beating off competition from some of Britain’s more illustrious and better known national
Short hunt venues.
Considering the size of the course, this achievement is all the more impressive. Plumpton has the second smallest racing track in the country at just nine furlongs in circumference. For some races the horses have to pass the winning post four times!
The course is also located some distance from any significant sized town, with only one way in and one way out - a mile long country lane. A single sign at the end of the lane, plus a regular flow of horse boxes, are the only indications that a race meeting might be taking place. So, how has this small, but beautifully formed racecourse managed to reach such dizzying heights?
On meeting the course’s Head
Groundsman and Clerk of the Course, Mark Cornford, the question becomes
almost academic. It is difficult to imagine meeting anyone with as much enthusiasm and commitment to his work. Just coming up to thirty years service at Plumpton, Mark’s first reaction when asked about the award is to praise his staff.
“I’m so proud at what they’ve achieved.
We’ve only got a four man team, and that includes myself, my nephew, Mac Cornford as assistant head groundsman, who tackles most of the tractor and quad bike driving operations, John Tampsett is our fence man and Alan Greening looks after our lawns. I should also add that Alan’s DIY talents are legendary. And then we have Ray Nye, our regular part- time painter, who keeps the interior and exterior décor up to scratch whilst always finding the time to lend us that extra pair of hands when needed.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132