WHAT’S HAPPENING A DAY AT THE RACES FOR FREDDIE


TheIsleofWightGrand National and Ashey Scurry is an annual eventfeaturing something for everybreed of horse and every person fromchildren rightuptothe seasoned jockey,writesJoMonck. Therehave been racesatAshey


since1883 and forthis year’s event the weather wasperfect,the ground wasgood and the sun wasout.I arrivedearlywith mycamerasatthe ready weighing up wherebestto photograph the first race inwhich averybrave young Oxfordshire lad aged seven called Freddie Fletcher wascoming all the way over to the Island and taking part, racing in the‘Puffing Billy’stakes on his ponyRock onTommy. Freddie wasaparticularly brave


competitor as six months prior to competing he had been desperately ill with alifethreatening infection and wasbeing treatedatthe John Radcliffehospital.The


one thing thatkeptFreddie going throughout his illness wasthe thoughtofhis ponyTommy. Freddie wascompeting in the


Freddie Fletcher


race to raise money forthe Oxford Children’s Hospital,which celebrates its 10th anniversarythis year,tosay abig thankyou forthe carethat they had givenhim.Freddie has already raised over £2000 through sheer guts and determination!


He andTommygot round beautifully,going at arateof knots,skimming over the jumps


and getting averyhealthy4th place. Laterthatday the last race took


place;The Isle ofWightGrand National.This race has some mega jumps in it which are


definitely not forthe fainthearted. Would Idothis course bareback and bitless? Not achance- not even with tack and superglue on the saddle -but this is whatone rider did to alsoraisemoneyfor Freddie Fletcher’s donation to the Oxford Children’s Hospital. Haddon Frost is aveteran


competitor at Ashey winning it in 2015 riding bitless on his horse Paul akaTemplar,and this year goingone stage further bitless and bareback.Haddonisthe son of


JimmyFrost who wonthe Aintree Grand National in 1989 on Little Polveir,definitely agreat talent running though thatfamily!There were certainlysome gasps from the spectators at the startand a fewpeopleblinking and saying‘has he really got no saddle?’Well,he


flew round making it look so easy and effortless,itwas incredible to watch gaining an amazing second placeand winning the Competitors Cupfor his amazing ride. Freddies Charityishttps://


www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/freddie-fletcher


DRESSAGE GOES GLOBAL AT BOLESWORTH


Haddon Frost


LEND A HAND AT FILLONGLEY


Fillongley Shownear Coventry celebrates its 93rdyear on Sunday13th August 2017. Howeverasyears cometo pass it gets harder and harder to find help forthis type of event. Fillongley Showisanannual show having all sorts of attractions with families in mind; Tractors, Trade Stands, Farm animals, aDog Showand main ring attractions arebut afew to be enjoyedbythe general public. Then there’sthe Horse Showand ShowJumping which is very well supported, by local riding clubs and children to adultswanting to


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showoff their horses and ponies. Theshowcommittee would like to askifthereisanyone out therewho would be willing to give themahand with setting up and clearing away;mainlyon showday or on the days leading up to the showand after. If youfeel youmay want to help please give Nina Jarvis,Horse Secretarya call on 07774 228298 after4.30pmweek days or anytime at weekends to discuss further. It goes without saying that the morepeoplethereare involved,the moreenjoyable the showwill be foreveryone!


THE 2017 Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Showlooks set to stamp its markonthe worldofdressage as well as show jumping fromJune 14 to 18. ShowpresidentNina Barbour


revealed the exciting plans to media and dressage royaltyatthe official launch of the new Bolesworth CDI*** at Carl Hester’s yard in Gloucestershire.Thedressage legend, famed forhis skills as both arider and trainer is supporting the launch of this exciting new developmentfor the event, which has quicklyrisen to become apower house in British showjumping circles and aims to do the same in the worldofdressage. Thedressage expansion plans


mean thatthe eventisnow a fully-fledged CDI*** showwith international riders able to competein whathas quickly become one of the most soughtafter arenas to ride in.


Carl is confirmed to competeinthe


CDI***, and is set to wowspectators on the first afternoon of the show with ademonstration of his wealth of knowledge as both an internationally- acclaimed rider and trainer. Dressage fans can enjoywatching


tophorses and riders over the first twodaysofthe show, with thecompetition focusgetting underwayonWednesday,June 14 with the CDI*** Grand Prix at 2pm andthe Inter1Freestyle at 6pm. Thursday, June 15 promises a


full dayofthrilling competitions, with the Prix St George invitational event, the5,6&7-year-old Future Dressage Horse Competitions,which will be viewing trials fortheWorld Breeding Championships,the Grand Prix Special –and then culminating in the early evening Freestyle Final. Tickets canbeboughtonline at www.bolesworthinternational.com


APRIL 2017For the latest news visitwww.centralhorsenews.co.uk


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