REVIEW
TORRINGTON FARMERS
UMBERLEIGH
SATURDAY 14 JUNE
2003
by Lee Glanville

The national point to point season ended in a heatwave with an enormous crowd basking in sunshine and enjoying as good a racing as the Torrington Farmers have put on in several years.

The area's leading lady rider, Lucy Gardner 71 points (13 wins) finished on a high with a win on Krystal Tip in the Restricted, stealing the race with a brave effort at the last fence, having stalked the field for the best part of three miles.

The area's leading gentleman rider, Les Jefford (74 points, 9 wins) had to settle for two seconds, one on Happy Team in the opening Confined hunts race and another on Darcy Jones in the first division of the maiden. The area
title is won on points which include placings, as Richard Woollacott, who took the Confined with a confident display on top-of-the-ground horse Morris Piper, finished the season on 10 wins, but with 58 points.

Andrew Glassonbury won the Intermediate on Mark Treneer's Itworked, beating Mary McCarthy (Nimbus Stratus) in to second place by a neck. It was an expensive neck at that as the points earned from a win would have won the
novice rider title for McCarthy. Instead she lost out by a point to Caroline Prouse who was third in the first division of the maiden on Harnage. Despite there only being three runners in this race, only a neck and half a length
split the three on the line.

The men's novice title went to Liam Heard who was in no danger of losing it on the last day but picked up a point to end on 42 points (4 wins).

Derek McKenna took the incident-packed men's open on Defendtherealm, favourite Pretoria Dancer having to retrace after being hampered early on by riderless Kingsbridge. Despite a gallant effort from Pretoria Dancer's
pilot Julian Pritchard, the horse had an impossible task with the placed horses, but did manage to overtake the back markers.

The ladies open proved an easy victory for another firm ground lover Badger Beer (Rilly Goschen). Mandy Hand on Guru Rinpoche threw down the gauntlett on the final circuit but Badger Beer was able to draw away from the top of the hill for a 12 length victory.

Only two finished in the final maiden, which was sponsored by Aileen and Ron Wosley to mark the forthcoming wedding between westcountry video man Jeff Guyett and his girlfriend Sarah Wosley. There was quite a battle
between Lucy Rowsell and Geoff Barfoot-Saunt, the latter getting up to win by a half a length on the grey Iron Buck.

Long time commentator Peter Wakeham, who is also a course inspector, steward and chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Point to Point Secretaries Association, was scheduled to receive a painting, commissioned from racing
artist David Trundley, to mark his retirement from commentating. Many people contributed to the fund, including all the hunts in the Devon and Cornwall area but Peter was unable to be at the races to receive as he is currently in hospital. His many friends hope to see him out and about again soon, when a presentation will be rearranged.

Confined: 1, Morris Piper, R Woollacott; 2, Happy Team, L Jefford; 3, Destin D'estruval, L Heard. Seven ran,6l, nk, 6.23.

Restricted: 1, Krystal Tip, Miss L Gardner; 2, Minster Belle, P Sheldrake; 3, Tabernacle, A Glassonbury. Eight ran, 5l, 3l, 6.21.

Men's Open: 1, Defendtherealm, D McKenna; 2, Mr Maggett, R Hawker; 3, Calleva Star, R Woollacott. Eight ran, 4l, 3l, 6.15.

Ladies' Open: 1, Badger Beer, Miss R Goschen; 2, Guru Rinpoche, Mrs M Hand; 3, Sea Spirit, Miss T Cave. Six ran 12l, 4l, 6.06.

Intermediate: 1, Itworked, A Glassonbury; 2, Nimbus Stratus, Miss M McCarthy; 3, Touching Down, W Biddick. Three ran, nk, 1/2l, 6.21.

Open Maiden Div One: 1, Snowtre, A Wintle; 2, Darcy Jones, L Jefford; 3, Harnage, Miss C Prouse. Nine ran, 1l, 8l, 6.18.

Div Two: 1, Iron Buck, G Barfoot-Saunt; 2, Drom Island, Mrs L Rowsell.. Seven ran, only two finished. 1/2l, 6.22.