South East Hunts
Club
Charing
Sunday 24th February 2008
by Mark Siggers
MIXED FORTUNES FOR ROBINSON FAMILY
It was a day of mixed fortunes for David
Robinson and his son Stuart at Charing point-to-point on Sunday
(24th Feb). After watching Robinson Junior and Turnstile
comfortably justify favouritism in the Mens' Open, 66-year-old
David set off on the odds-on Bee An Bee in a bid to repeat their
popular win at Godstone two weeks ago. But coming down the steep
Charing hill on the first circuit Bee An Bee ran out at the eighth
fence and put David through the wing.
David Robinson and Bee An Bee are upsides
eventual winner Saffron Hill, moments before the odds-on favourite
ran out
There
were a few anxious moments, but the intrepid David eventually
returned to the weighing room complaining of nothing more than a
stiff neck. Ironically the race, which was won by Isle of Wight
raider Saffron Hill (Richard Bandey), was sponsored by a hospital,
especially as David has now been stood down for concussion.
The day began with an impressive win for Like Minded, trained by
Don Cantillon in Suffolk and ridden by Alex Merriam. The Restricted
went to the Tork family's Beareen Lad (Gordon Gallagher).
Best finish of the day came in the Ladies' Open with Soldershire
(Hannah Grissell) clearing the last in front of Heaven Is Above
(Annie Goschen), but both were pegged back on the run-in by Emily
Harbour on Danaeve and Millenium Way (Caroline Taylor).
Stuart Robinson completed his double when the well-fancied Parzando
scored in the Maiden. Touching down in second over the final fence,
the pair overhauled Millview in a driving finish, with Some Story a
distance back in third.
The area's next meeting is at Godstone on Sunday March 2nd. With an
abundance of entries and good ground expected, another exciting
day's racing is expected. Pony racing starts at 11.00am and
admission is £20 per car, £10 for single occupants and
£5 for pedestrians. The course is just two miles from Junction
6 of the M25.
