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2010 Open Day Review
Our annual Sun Hill Stables Good Friday Open Day was another great success, despite the cold winds and damp weather, albeit with sunny interludes. George and I send our warmest thanks to all those who came along and supported us.
We raised £1,642.90 (slightly up on last year) with £600 going directly to Jack Berry's 'House in the North Fund' and the remainder going to the Middleham Open Day organisers for distribution to local charities.
Former trainer Jack Berry (he-of-red-shirts) and his wife Jo, joined us to sell Jack's books in support of the Day's activities. They both do sterling work for charities, and Jack's much deserved MBE was in recognition of his fund raising, mostly for the Injured Jockeys Fund.
Their new project, 'House in the North', will provide accommodation for ex-jockeys who are either retired or injured, and in need of some assistance - be it physical or financial. The proposal is to build 12 bungalows around a central building which will provide a main area for people to get together. A swimming pool and gym are also planned for use by the residents, and jockeys who are still riding.
George and I had been shopping for spring plants for the Open Day. Our local nurseries always give us a good deal as we take the unsold plants whose best days look behind them. George and his 'green-fingers' soon have them recovered and planted out in the flower tubs around the yard.
Our pick-up truck came home laden with pansies, daffodils, primulas and ornamental cabbages, all looking a bit tired. But they soon get the hang of looking good once given a lecture, a drop of water, and an ultimatum from our head gardener (George). Our efforts proved well worth it, for the plants lit up the yard on the Day. (It's often said that when George was riding - the horses won because they didn't dare do anything else: the plants at Sun Hill are the same.)
Morning work on the yard carried on as usual, and we all mucked-in for an extra tidy up. While the Middleham stable yards open at nine, we open at 12 noon, which gives us ample time to get on with morning exercise. With all the horses safely back inside, rugged up, fed and comfortable, the yards have a last minute sweep, all the door grills are put up to prevent anyone touching or feeding the horses. And we are all set.
Our army of volunteers had set up tables for displays. The 'posh coffee' van arrives, as does the Hog Roast people; Spillers horse feeds set up their displays and information, and Middleham Park Racing Syndicate are with us for the afternoon. My son AJ is selling piping hot vegetable soup, our generously donated raffle prizes are well advertised, with tickets selling like hot-cakes. And Nutty, our infamous goat, is on-hand to meet and greet everyone.
The Bedale Hounds arriving to support us at Sun Hill is always a sight to behold. This year was even more of a spectacle as kennel-huntsman Richard Tabberner declined whisky in favour of AJ's (very) hot soup. Richard's horse spooked at something, the soup shot out of the cup and onto his thigh. But worse than that, the remainder went down the horse's shoulder. When the poor horse felt the heat light up his skin, he began plunging with fright in front of a large cheering crowed and when the horse finally and unceremoniously dumped Richard, the crowd thought the whole hilarious episode was part of the show!
Meanwhile the isles in our stable barns were heaving with people - we reckon about 1,000 on the Day. Our farrier Hugh Dyer and his staff put on a very popular demonstration of hot shoeing, using our hunters. Jack's books were flying off his home-made shelf, and Middleham Park Racing sold several shares in their syndicates.
Bed by midnight - but only just.
Ann Duffield