Posted by Heather Kemp on May 11, 2008, 2:55 pm
88.144.4.160

Congratulations to Stuart and his team - well deserved victory. Yesterday was a very sad day for SE point to pointing though - first a punch up in the paddock for an oversize pony, then Gemma Cobb gets pushed off her pony and no one said a word? Next was a nightmare start for Howard with 3 false starts in the restricted started deliberately by the lads - with much heckling from various senior members of the SE on either side of the course. Totally unnecessary and made Howards job a nightmare. Then through the cutting (with it's unprotected barbed wire) we have jockeys trying to push each other off their horses (not a steward in sight up there). Carryonharry was lucky to hang on the ladies - having seen an amateur video of the race and having been cut up twice myself during the race there is no doubt he wouldn't have kept it under Rules with their roving TV cameras. My fine added insult to my horse's injury although entirely my own fault (although worryingly the Area Chairman didn't know who to pay the cheque to i.e. who governs our sport?) Ground varied from firm to soft and my horse was one of at least 4 to break down. I spoke with Rilly last night and she has had her collar bone reset and is in pain but still swearing so she isn't that bad. Overall it was not a good day for the sport.

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Posted by Nick Pearce on May 11, 2008, 3:16 pm, in reply to "PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY"
86.26.251.164

Not deliberate, just trying to follow my trainers instructions.

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Posted by Anon on May 11, 2008, 4:03 pm, in reply to "PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY"
81.159.176.237

I agree, the behaviour at the start of the restricted race was appalling and certainly not helped by the bystanders who were egging on those point thirsty lads!! I did happen to see a jockey cracking another over the head (in full spectators view) so I dread to think what went on out of sight-chill out lads and give some consideration to the horses. I cannot help but think that the point system does bring out the worst in people. I thought the novice riders was a great race, nice one Matthew!

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Posted by MB on May 11, 2008, 5:45 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY"
88.110.25.61

Maybe it's time for a change in the Area ! I vote for: Heather Kemp & Nick Pearce to be on the race planning committee for a start ! Warren Marshall to be Chief Steward ! Chris Hall and John Hickman back in the roles they used to occupy. Area Chairman and Area Secretary This behaviour was present in the old days.

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Posted by MB on May 11, 2008, 5:50 pm, in reply to "PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY"
88.110.25.61

Can't believe you failed to weigh in Heather ! Why did a steward not walk you in to the weighing room ? It always used to happen, stewards always walked jockeys in. When was the last time you had a weigh all race ?? I was Clerk of the Scales for nearly 5 years and only once did I have one non-weigh, and the stewards enquiry scared me so much, there was no way I was going to allow a jockey not to weigh in again.

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Posted by Rosey on May 11, 2008, 6:59 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY"
62.164.249.215

A bit of controversy can be entertaining but fisticuffs, abuse, drunkeness is not my idea of fun at a point to point meeting. The very nature of the course is that you are virtually guaranteed different going at the top to the bottom of the course. With regard to the bumping and boring in the ladies race coming to the second last I saw it but could not give an opinion who was at fault, probably the commentator had the best if not a distant view of the incident. With regard to the stewards unless they were in a sixty feet cherry picker they would satisfy themselves of viewing no more than a third of the race and any thuggery around the forest and fun fair best left to a Dick Francis book. With barbed wire, hairpin bends, variable going and out of sight racing for safety reasons alone can this course be allowed to continue in these modern day safety concious times. It must be a money spinner for the hunt but at what cost to the racing. Clerks of the course for this venue have improved it but they are sorely limited to what they can achieve by the nature of the venue, although I was surprised that the fence by the horseboxes had not been repaired or removed. As a football referee if I am unable to see what is going on in a game due to fog I abandon the game. If it was foggy at PH would it make any difference! For all you die hard PH fans I`m off to my timeshare flat in Baghdad.

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Posted by Stuart Robinson on May 11, 2008, 8:41 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY"
86.141.102.3

I get the feeling that the sun has gone to a few peoples heads this weekend. Peper Harrow on Saturday wasn't a sad day - it was normal Peper Harrow. It's a proper old fashioned point to point course that sticks 2 fingers up to the health and safety brigade and gives horses and riders something different to think about. Noone has to run their horses there. Everyone is able to walk the course and make their own mind up. Everone knows that the going will be firm in places and soft in places and that you'll have several hairpin bends to negotiate. So why moan when you know exactly what the score is before you even leave home. Regarding the starts, riding etc on Saturday - it was no different to the way it has been ever since I started 18 years ago whether it be Charing, Detling or wherever. Lets not try and kid ourselves that false starts, taking other peoples ground etc are something new. We are all guilty without exception from time to time but that is all part of the sport and what makes point to pointing what it is. A final thought - rather than always banging on about the negatives of the day / season why not talk about some of the positives for a change such as the crop of superb novice riders coming through (Tom Cannon, Will Hickman and Matt Braxton have all had fantastic seasons), Nick Pearce filling some very big boots at the Tindall yard and doing a great job and Heather Kemp setting alight the ladies championship to name but a few. It has been a fantastic season and I for one would like to thank everyone that has made it possible for all of us to have so much fun.

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Posted by Helen on May 11, 2008, 10:13 pm, in reply to "PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY"
81.159.24.37

Sorry Heather you have got that wrong, a number of the jockeys were spoken to, but we are talking children here who we are trying to teach how to conduct themselves unfortunately the best example is not always there for them to see. As I said the matter was dealt with. I do feel its a shame some people seem to want to discourage the next generation rather than encourage - then everyone moans the are no jockeys! As you are on the board perhaps some constructive rather than negative comments might be helpful

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Posted by Shaggy on May 12, 2008, 10:58 am, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
80.169.158.51

Champ - where did that come from?!! Here, here - one thing missing though.... Well done Stuart a huge achievement in winning the Championship on largely home grown and home trained horses - fantastic, and definitely something to savour. I also completely echo your comments on the Novice riders - Tom Cannon, Matthew Braxton, and Ben Bentley all rode first winners this season, and lets not forget Will Hickman, who did everything but win on Saturday and gave Native Performance a never say die ride. We have some bright youngsters getting involved and that can only be positive for the sport. Roll on 2009!

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Posted by Nick pearce on May 12, 2008, 2:38 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
149.254.200.218

Well done to stuart and heather. Great season by you both. Agree with you stuart lets look at the positives instead of everyone knocking everyone and everything week in week out.

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Posted by HG on May 12, 2008, 4:30 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
62.189.154.181

A great season and so refreshing to have some new faces having success. There may be fewer horses about this season but there seems to be a healthy bit of competition these days which is great. There was a time where it seem to be the same people winning all the time which kind of gets boring! I agree with you Stuart about Pepper Harrow. We don't have to run our horses if we don't want to there. However it seemed that we only ran our horses there because there was no where else. It would be nice if we had a few more options towards the end of the season. I understand that Pepper Harrow is a great money spinner for the hunt, however it is the most ridiculous racecourse I have ever ridden at! Ride of the day was defiantly Matt Braxton. The way he drived that horse in to the 2nd last was quite remarkable! And Will Hickman gets my vote as a future top jock.

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Posted by mg on May 13, 2008, 8:19 am, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
193.178.217.17

Top man Stuart! Many congratulations on your championship and thanks for making it an exciting finish for the rest of us by letting young Nick have a bit of a chance!. I think most/all would agree that you deserve it more than most for all the time/money/effort you've put into pointing in the SE. What's more, you actually talk some sense on this forum which makes a pleasant change. Hope you've had plenty of opportunities to celebrate your new 'status'!

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Posted by David R-J on May 13, 2008, 9:41 am, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
86.144.96.151

God Help Us! Is this how the newly crowned ladies SE area champion behaves, having just won the title? Posting a winge of mega proportions in which everyone from the race day stewards, to the area chairman, to the male jockeys, et al, few seem to escape the wrath of HK!! Fortunately I was up in the air 40 feet so off the HK radar! Having attended the meeting last Saturday it was everything Peper Harrow normally provides. Handbags at dawn in the paddock, a few minor false starts, some argy bargy in a race where those involved were best of mates in the weighing room afterwards, along with a finish in the ladies where followed a stewards enquiry. HK have a look at the photo on the website which shows the Turner horse heading Carryonharry at the last, where I seem to recall that the interference occurred between the 2nd last and the last! Following the outcome of the enquiry the Turner's, as they always do, displayed a cheerful face, with no wingeing about the decision. Shame we cannot swap them for one or two in our Area. Having attended over past years racing days where both jockeys and horses have lost their lives I would respectively suggest that HK's rant is blowing everything way out of proportion? Her description of a ".... a very sad day for SE point to pointing" is way over the top and pales into insignificance on some days we can all look back on. Bar a few lame horses (always happens at PH/end of season) plus a standard sporting injury to one jockey we enjoyed some exciting racing, with sufficient enough runners in warm and sunny conditions. It's great to at least see the gentleman leading male rider celebrating his achievement in the weighing room afterwards. Could not happen to a nicer and more decent participant in the sport! Oh well, let's all now look forward to next season and to the joys and woes it will no doubt bring! Happy End of Season! From the Greatest Grand Stand Jockey of Them All! Your Very Amateur, but always enthusiastic Race Commentator.

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Posted by Observer on May 13, 2008, 7:24 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
91.109.223.115

Very well said David!! Hell Hath no Fury Like a Point to Point Board Representitive Fined For Getting Beaten and Failing to Weigh In.

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Posted by Pamela Tetley on May 13, 2008, 7:29 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY"
91.109.223.115

As Area Pony Racing Representitive I would like to reiterate what Helen Sarchet has already said, and both issues were dealt with by Helen and my self on the spot.

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Posted by CL on May 13, 2008, 8:48 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
81.157.79.60

Now, now Gentlemen...this is no way to treat a lady! Especially one that actually has the best interests of our sport at heart! Heather has obviously ruffled a few feathers of the so-called 'Kent Mafia' that I've been hearing so much about since moving this way.

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Posted by MB on May 13, 2008, 9:10 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
88.109.244.217

Who's the Kent Mafia???

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Posted by CL on May 13, 2008, 10:12 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
81.157.79.60

Oh hush my mouth! I'm too scared to tell you....I like to see my horses heads over the stable door, not tucked up next to me in bed!

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Posted by MB on May 13, 2008, 10:26 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
88.109.244.217

I heard the Sussex Mafia are way much more scary then the Kent Mafia !

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Posted by CL on May 13, 2008, 11:05 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
81.157.79.60

Oh dear....between the two of 'em what hope is there for the future? Rudi Giuliani for SE chairman please.

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Posted by Nick pearce on May 14, 2008, 8:35 am, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
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I vote David R-J for chairman, someone who understands the sport and sounds like they want to make a difference.

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Posted by Anon on May 14, 2008, 3:15 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
81.159.176.237

Tell you what chaps... lets just ban women from the sport, how dare they have an opinion especially when they are as bold as to air their views on the forum. Peper harrow- a good day for some but not for all-any chance of ending this debate??

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Posted by ruckerroo on May 16, 2008, 12:56 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
86.146.227.14

Couldn't it be possible to have another fixture at any one of the other south east courses??. Lets be fair now,the grounds always patchy and inconsistent, the viewing is utterly diabolical, it doesnt really have too much going for it,in truth

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Posted by Sharpey on May 17, 2008, 7:34 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
86.149.253.195

Congratulations SE Pointing on such a fabulous website. The photos are superb, results and pics so promptly put up and a lively, interesting forum. What more could we ask for? I sincerely hope you are hear to stay and look forward to more "Down at The Last" next year. Well done and grateful thanks!!!!!!!!

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Posted by Sharpey on May 17, 2008, 7:35 pm, in reply to "Re: PEPER HARROW - A SAD DAY???"
86.149.253.195

Congratulations SE Pointing on such a fabulous website. The photos are superb, results and pics so promptly put up and a lively, interesting forum. What more could we ask for? I sincerely hope you are here to stay and look forward to more "Down at The Last" next year. Well done and grateful thanks!!!!!!!!

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