Nigel,Are You Out There?:A True Champion After All: Pics.
Amongst the verbiage and general literary debris , in yesterday's "Telegraph " (22 /09 /'17 ) was this interesting and almost unbelievable article.
There were ( writes Nigel Rees ) in 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics, no baby Nigels born in England and Wales.
That appears astonishing , especially as Mr Rees points there was one thousand 'Jaxons. ' Who?
This led me thinking and I had to admit, that of personal acquaintance, I could only remember two; one a friend from home and one I knew at college.
That, being so I suppose if you are Nigel Havers; Kennedy; Mansell; Planer and Clough then you are in a select group indeed.
In tribute, may I remind you of XTC's record " Making Plans For Nigel."
Nigel
It's time to come out of the cold, we love you Nige really!
There were ( writes Nigel Rees ) in 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics, no baby Nigels born in England and Wales.
That appears astonishing , especially as Mr Rees points there was one thousand 'Jaxons. ' Who?
This led me thinking and I had to admit, that of personal acquaintance, I could only remember two; one a friend from home and one I knew at college.
That, being so I suppose if you are Nigel Havers; Kennedy; Mansell; Planer and Clough then you are in a select group indeed.
In tribute, may I remind you of XTC's record " Making Plans For Nigel."
Nigel
It's time to come out of the cold, we love you Nige really!
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You may have realised by now, my favourite race in the Cheltenham National Hunt Racing Festival is the Champion Hurdle, which is always the highlight of day one of the festival.
Run over two miles at usually breakneck speed, it defines the top hurdler of that year.
Many horses train on and appear in the race the following season(s). This being the case, one gets to know the strengths and weaknesses of these equine warriors.
Indeed some lucky horses have become multiple winners of the race, Hardy Eustace (2004/5) and Istabreq (1998,9, 2000) to name but two.
I was fortunate enough to be present at their successes.
Hardy was one of the toughest horses I ever saw. He led from the front and refused to be beaten.
Watch this great clip to demonstrate the point.
Hardy E.
As for Istabreq, he was just a brilliant hurdler and in 2001 following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, the Festival had to be cancelled. Were it not so, I believe Istrabreq would have claimed the crown for the fourth time.
The usual route to the Championship, begins when four year olds start their hurdling careers. Winning at the Festival in the various hurdle races, they become contenders for the next season's Champion race.
So with this background in mind, I was mildly annoyed when in 1992 Royal Gait, a former high class flat horse, was as a nine year old given three hurdle races before appearing in the Champion Hurdle and dutifully winning the race.
Royal Gait
I remember worrying at the time that this could start a trend, whereby top staying flat horses, would be popped into a couple of hurdles, before mopping up the big prize of the Champion race.
But I have lately changed my mind reviewing Royal Gait's earlier career.
As a 5 year old Royal Gait won the Ascot Gold Cup, only to be disgracefully disqualified later. He had won by a clear five lengths and if he had caused any interference it was two furlongs before.
This would never happen today and he would have easily kept the race.
In 1991 he was sent to be trained by the Late Henry Cecil. The horse proved uncooperative and so the following year was bought by Sheikh Mohammed and sent to James Fanshawe to prepare for a hurdling career.
So viewed in this light, James, to have brought the horse to peak performance by March 1992, was a wonderful piece of training.
In 1992 Royal Gait was a worthy champion after all.
The wide expanse of the River Severn.
Autumn Border Corners.
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Indeed some lucky horses have become multiple winners of the race, Hardy Eustace (2004/5) and Istabreq (1998,9, 2000) to name but two.
I was fortunate enough to be present at their successes.
Hardy was one of the toughest horses I ever saw. He led from the front and refused to be beaten.
Watch this great clip to demonstrate the point.
Hardy E.
As for Istabreq, he was just a brilliant hurdler and in 2001 following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, the Festival had to be cancelled. Were it not so, I believe Istrabreq would have claimed the crown for the fourth time.
The usual route to the Championship, begins when four year olds start their hurdling careers. Winning at the Festival in the various hurdle races, they become contenders for the next season's Champion race.
So with this background in mind, I was mildly annoyed when in 1992 Royal Gait, a former high class flat horse, was as a nine year old given three hurdle races before appearing in the Champion Hurdle and dutifully winning the race.
Royal Gait
I remember worrying at the time that this could start a trend, whereby top staying flat horses, would be popped into a couple of hurdles, before mopping up the big prize of the Champion race.
But I have lately changed my mind reviewing Royal Gait's earlier career.
As a 5 year old Royal Gait won the Ascot Gold Cup, only to be disgracefully disqualified later. He had won by a clear five lengths and if he had caused any interference it was two furlongs before.
This would never happen today and he would have easily kept the race.
In 1991 he was sent to be trained by the Late Henry Cecil. The horse proved uncooperative and so the following year was bought by Sheikh Mohammed and sent to James Fanshawe to prepare for a hurdling career.
So viewed in this light, James, to have brought the horse to peak performance by March 1992, was a wonderful piece of training.
In 1992 Royal Gait was a worthy champion after all.
👶👶👶👶👶👶👶
Three pics. for you.
The wide expanse of the River Severn.
Robins beating Colchester 3-1. Note the new score board in the far corner.
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That as the old clock-maker said, " about winds it up for the week."
WiFi for now,
Ck.
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please feel free to comment and point out faults.
glad to have you aboard .
Curlykale.