Category: Sport

Have you ever thought about giving Pilates a try?

Pilates is great for improving your core strength, flexibility, coordination and balance. Whether you’re rehabilitating from an injury and would like to get moving again, or are fit and healthy, Pilates has something to offer everyone, of any age and gender.

Kate Jeans, an IPTA qualified teacher who trained under Suzanne Scott at The Scott Studio, runs a matclass in North Cheriton Village Hall on Thursdays at 3.30pm. The class is open to Beginners and Improvers. Class sizes are kept to a maximum of 12 so that individual attention can always be given, and modifications cued whenever necessary.

If you’re interested in giving the class a try please give Kate a call on 07884 105 336 or email kate@pilatesmindandbody.co.uk. Also have a look at Kate’s website www.pilatesmindandbody.co.uk to find out more about Kate’s background and Pilates.

In fairness, we ought to mention that Horsington has Pilates on Mondays at 6pm and 7pm  in the village hall, Contact Carol Pirie, 07885 798032

The Horsington Open was held for the second year running on Monday 27th October at Folke Golf Centre, Alweston.

This fact alone gives the organisers the right to call it Horsington’s “Annual” golf charity event. The event is billed as a fun day for all-comers.

18 Golfers took to the course to battle it out for the coveted Horsington Open Claret Jug over 9 holes, on a pleasant early autumn morning, which meant that fallen leaves were a minor factor.

Chris Dibben, from the Winky Seniors had the task of defending his title against some stiff and keen opposition. Some people had even trained for the event! The course was in beautiful condition, but was a more difficult challenge that last year’s venue, Henstridge.

The eventual winner was Kevin Wagland from the home team, the Half Mooners(Handicap 28), with a score of 21 points under the Stableford System. He narrowly pipped last year’s winner Chris Dibben (Handicap 23) by 1 point. Kevin has not played for several years, but we wonder what his handicap was before he took a break.

Third was Frank White (Handicap 9) from the Winky Seniors with 17 points. The Winky Seniors also took the team prize, with a total of 67 points.

Other prizes:
Longest drive AND nearest the pin – David West (handicap (14), who also came 4th
Putt of the Day – Neil Edwards (Handicap 28)
Best Newcomer John Macdonald (Handicap 28) with a score of 14
Best injured player Howard Bentley – Marchant (Handicap 28) – 11 points.
Wooden Spoon – Paul Mann (Handicap 28). This was despite having briefly been the holder of the nearest the pin prize AND beating event organiser Richard Gaunt by 2 points. Richard claimed the organiser’s right to award a prize to whomsoever he wanted to and to demonstrate there was absolutely no favouritism when it came to awarding prizes.

The Horsington Open made a small profit of £64.00, which has been donated to St Margaret’s Hospice.

Well done to all competitors, and thanks to Folke Golf Centre, who were excellent and generous hosts.

The Horsington Open 2014 – Order of merit
Kevin Wagland 21
Chris Dibben 20
Frank White 17
Mike Parfitt 15
Derek King 15
John Macdonald 14
David West 14
Colin Constable 14
Ray Phillips 13
Phil Bennett 13
Nick Maynard 13
George Wagland 13
Andrew Tarling 13
Neil Edwards 11
Howard Bentley-Marchant 11
Glyn Parry 6
Paul Mann 5
Richard Gaunt 3

Winterbourne Longjohns, the Blog’s resident racing correspondent reports . . .

Nothing for Wincanton on Thursday, but after cheering home Dashing Oscar  who won at 9/2 at Newton Abbot on Friday, Winterborne Longjohns is hopeful that the Harry Fry Racing Club will reward its followers with their first winner when the talented mud lover Highland Retreat  tackles fences for the first time at Cheltenham this coming Friday afternoon. Having already won in excess of £50k in prize money over hurdles, good things are expected of this fast and fluent seven year old in the months ahead.  Twice winning Henryville might also be considered should he run in a nominated race on this same card.

It’s  two weeks to the start of the National Hunt season at Wincanton, and we have received a portrait of none other than our winning jumps correspondent Winterbourne Longjohns.

He claims that, like the stream, he is peculiar to the chalk, which is so porous that when the water level drops or the season changes, the winterbourne or stream, also disappears beneath the ground surface in the upper reaches  of its valley. However like his namesake, Winterbourne is about to re-emerge after the summer break.

Once again our readers will be following the fortunes of the fifty-horse Harry Fry stable at Seaborough, and should particularly look out for the following early sorts:

Activial who is being aimed at Cheltenham’s mid November Greatwood Hurdle, Sir Ivan, Vivant Premio, Assam Black, Blue Buttons and the Hazard Racing Syndicate’s son of Derby winner Generous, General Ginger. Wincanton will hopefully open Winterbourne’s next profitable jumping season in but a fortnights time.

Wincanton races starts on Thursday October 16. First race  2.30 Book in advance and save a fiver

Our racing correspondent Winterbourne Longjohns bids us farewell for the summer with this valedictory piece on prospects for the 2000 and 1000 Guineas on Saturday and Sunday, and races at Punchestown and Sandown.

Winterborne Longjohns will shortly be handing over this racing column to Swinley Bottom who is feeling quietly optimistic about the chances of Aidan O Brian’s Australia in next Saturdays 2000 Guineas. His contacts at Coolmore and at Ladbroke’s describe the horse as ‘a cast iron each way bet’ so ever cautious Swinley has acted accordingly. He has also and somewhat earlier backed Clive Brittain’s Rizeena at 8/1 and Lucky Kristale at 14/1 for the following days 1000 Guineas.

But back to Winterborne for the time being. Harry Fry’s strike rate on which so much relies has certainly slowed up over the past month with but two winners from seventeen stable chances. However Harry’s entries at Punchestown should be worth more than just a passing glance while Opening Batsman might provide his sporting connections with some compensation for a hitherto disappointing season if he runs in the Gold Cup at Sandown tomorrow

Other than Balthazar King,  (which I had at 20-1!- Ed) this years Grand National brought very little joy and even less profit to us all on Saturday. Except perhaps to those of you who had been fortunate enough to follow this column’s advice to back Peter Hobbs’ runners on an each way basis and who were rewarded with a gratifying 12/1 winner in Duke of Lucca.

So onto better things with other horses and courses. This country’s most promising young trainer, Harry Fry from Seaborough, just south of Crewkerne, is sending two horses up to Scotland on Saturday. Mendip Express is likely to start favourite at 10/1 or thereabouts for the Scottish Grand National at Ayr while on the same afternoon and at the same meeting Bold Chief , a winner last time out , is likely to start at a somewhat shorter price in the three mile chase at 5.05pm.

This same yard has a number of entries for Wincanton on Sunday and should be supported if they run Fair Dreamer and Vauban du Soleil in the 2.50pm  , Presenting the Way in the 4.30 and or Oscars Lad in the 5,05pm race. While Sir Ivan may run in the bumper at 5.40pm.

Proper flat racing is usually believed to start with the Craven meeting at Newmarket on Wednesday of the following week from where I shall expect my ever hopeful colleague Swinley Bottom to have gleaned some useful insights into likely future winners when he makes his debut before the Horsington Blog’s faithful readers later in the month.

He hasn’t mentioned Mrs Badger, so it seems that she is probably a non-runner. Many of our readers, (including the editor) are possibly more interested in this match than in the four-legged wonders -Ed.