Wales Farmer July 2012 EQUESTRIAN 29 Mathiasleads the field
■ Jockey enjoys superb season as he celebrates 22 wins in the west
JOCKEY John Mathias is enjoying asuperb season and at the Banwen Miners Point to Point, the penulti- mate meeting of the west Wales season, he extend- ed his tally with another three winners to make it 22 for the season. All three of Mathias’ win-
ners came courtesyofSouth Pembrokeshire
qualified
horses,starting offwith The Vicar in the confined race,a horseMathias trains himself. Making every yard of the running, the partnership drewclear from twoout to win by nine lengths from Alun Johns and Udeman. Aboard David Llewellyn’s
The Old Pretender in the men’s open, Mathias was happytotakealeadfromhis rivals until the 14th fence, where the nine-year-old was asked to go about his job and win by three lengths,despite Gareth Ball and Treasury Counsel’s best efforts chas- ing them all the waytothe line.
The third and final legof
the treble came on his father’s homebred Lydstep Point.
Making his racecourse
debut at the ageoffivethe future looks very bright for this son of BeatAll who fenced so well, galloping all the waytothe line in the
maiden race. The Smith-Maxwell family
made the journey down from Worcestershire awinning one,astheir Double Mead under Alex Dunn, who also trains the horse,justified favouritism in the ladies’ open, coming home unchal- lenged. Twomore ladyriders took
riding honours during the daywith Rachel King having adream ride aboard favourite Chosen Milan in the restricted race forowners John De Lisle Wells and David Morgan. Trained at Clarbeston
Road by Robert Luke,plans forthe five year-old mare could include ahunter chase. Hannah Lewis and the Ledbury-qualified
Busy
Times teamed up in the inter- mediate race.With astarting price of 9-2, they were the biggest priced winners of the day. It wascertainlyaday for
the favourites and the open- ing hunt members’ race was no exception with Diddle’em and Connor Flint justifying their odds-on price of 1-12 with avery cosywin adis- tance clear from their only other rival. June 9th sees the conclu-
sion of the west Wales season with the Pembrokeshire meeting at Trecoed, near Letterston.
ABOVE: The Old Pretender (near side) and John Mathias on the way to winning the men’s open. BELOW: Connor Flint jumping the last on Diddle’em on the way to winning the members’ race.
Harry carries torch for Olympic future
APEMBROKESHIRE teenager, tipped as an Olympic star of the future, was chosen to carry the Olympic torch through the streets of Newport. Junior event rider Harry Humfrey (left) of Nevern has represented Britain at the FEI European championships, and has gained several top ten placings at national events. The former pupil at Ysgol Bro Gwaun, Fishguard, is now studying for his A-levels at Millfield School, Somerset, where he gained a scholarship place last year, and had to take time out from exam revision to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime event. Harry is part of the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes programme, which, in partnership with SportsAid, supports future stars of Team GB and ParalympicsGB. He was selected because of his commitment and dedication to the sport of riding and inspiring his peers by giving riding lessons to people in his local community. Harry said: “I’m really chuffed, it’s just amazing to be chosen. Iamso proud to have been nominated and chosen to be an Olympic torchbearer out of 80,000 people!” The 17-year-old added that he hoped to compete in the Olympics games in the future. “I think it’s every sportsman’s ultimate goal is to take part. That’s what everyone hopes for.”
PICTURES: Alun Sedgmore/Sporting Prints.
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