Fundraising Activities:

Charity Flat Race - Sunday 11 March 2012
in aid of the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance & UCSW

To be held at Warwick Racecourse at the end of their “Countryside Day”. 

Might you, or someone you know, be interested in taking part in this Charity Flat Race?  It is a great opportunity for someone who either wants the thrill of racing or who is just starting out on their career in racing….   

Race Rules (in brief):

  • There will be a maximum of 12 runners

  • The flat race will be run under British Horseracing Authority Rules held over approx 1m 4f on the grass

  • The weight to be carried will be a minimum of 12 stone

  • To comply with regulations, riders may have to participate in a training course (to be financed by the rider). Details of those who are exempt are available from the UCSW

  • Riders must be over the age of 16 to participate

  • To qualify, all riders need to raise a minimum of £500.

    Interested?: Contact Rachel at UCSW as soon as possible, so that places can be allocated. 

        Download the Rider Entry Form, complete and send it to UCSW, or

Tel: 01295 712719 or

Email: office@ucsw.org or

Write: UCSW “Charity Race”, PO Box 129, Banbury, OX17 2HX.

We look forward to hearing from you! Or put this date in your diary and come and support this event.

 

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PAST UCSW FUND-RAISING EVENTS...

UCSW organised the INTER-HUNT CHARITY FLAT RACE, kindly sponsored by Brocklehursts of Bakewell, at Southwell Racecourse on Thursday 28 April 2011 at the Nottinghamshire Countryside Evening, - in aid of the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, the Hunt Staff Benefit Society and the UCSW.

Eight jockeys took part providing an exciting race to start off the countryside race meeting.  Guido Basile lead on Willy for the first half before being overtaken on the final straight when the others made their move, culminating in a nail biting three horse finish between Sarah Millard on Handtheprizeover (eventual winner), Ben Higgins on Theflyingscottie (second) and Rebecca Phillips on Rosie Raymond (third).  The remainder of the field all crossed the line safely.

Afterwards, champagne and UCSW goody bags were presented to all the jockeys by William Brocklehurst  in the winners enclosure, with additional vouchers for the first three donated by Brocklehursts of Bakewell.  Ben Higgins received a special prize for  the jockey who raised the most money.  A donation is also being made to the Granta Harriers - the Hunt supported by the winning jockey.

Congratulations to all who took part.


Photo: Tony Knapton - Proshot Photography

From left to right: Micro Parrish, Glyn Trundle, Guido Basile, Sarah Millard, Michael Appleby, Ben Higgins, Rebecca Phillips, Sophie Wray.

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UCSW at Warwick Racecourse for their Countryside Day on
Sunday 13 March 2011:                                   

Thank you to all those who came and supported the Countryside Day at Warwick Racecourse again this year. We hope our members took advantage of the great racecourse 2 for 1 entrance offer! 

As well as a full day's National Hunt racing our Committee members Matt Allen and Rob Lowe were demonstrating farriery, Barrie Wade brought along his terriers and information on the National Working Terrier Federation and Tony Huggett had on display his array of hunting horns and whips.

Michael Lane, Master of the Atherstone Hunt paraded his hounds in between the 3rd and 4th races whilst Nick Valentine, Master and Huntsman, brought along 5 couple of The Ryeford Chase Rabbit Hounds to introduce to the crowds.  Elsewhere there were trade stands, ferret racing and falconry displays.

The Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance were also present.


photo by member: John Carter
John Kennelly from the Atherstone Hounds from 2010 Warwickshire Countryside Raceday.

 

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2009 - two notable events were:

1.  Auction -  thank you to all those who took part in our Sporting Auction in      November 2009.  A report on this will be in the next issue of Livin' Country due out at the end of February 2011.

2.  Report on Charity Race at Southwell Racecourse - 15 March 2009

     CHARITY RACE at SOUTHWELL  RACECOURSE

The UCSW and Notts & Lincs Air Ambulance Charity Race was held on Sunday 15th March at Southwell after a card of seven National Hunt races.   

Seven riders (see picture) participated in the thrilling race, which took place on the all weather course over 1 mile 4 furlongs.  Dora Lenge, a stable lass, who was taking part in her first race on an English racecourse, won in style on Ruud Revenge, a locally trained horse from Bawtry.  Ned Sangster, a student, came second on the Charles Egerton trained The Local and farrier, Jonathan Clayton was third on the Graham Smith trained Nayodabayo.   Mel’s Moment, owned and trained by UCSW Committee member Rob Lowe (a farrier from Hereford), was fourth under jockey Harry Crump. David Hilton from Brackley finished fifth in his first ever ride on a racetrack on Court Alert with racehorse trainer Charles Smith coming in sixth on Phileas Phog.  Last but by no means least was Per Ardua Beagle Master and Huntsman, Tim Rogers on Shinko Shadow. 

All jockeys were given a bottle of champagne and various goodies from the UCSW.  The first three home were given a voucher from MacWet for their “all grip no slip” gloves.  Mementos were presented to the winning owner Mr Budge and to the jockey who raised the most money, Charles Smith. 

Apart from the racing, visitors to Southwell enjoyed amongst other things a farmers market, farriery demonstrations, a beagle display by the Per Ardua beagles and a hound parade by the Grove & Rufford Hunt. 

The Air Ambulance were delighted with the support they received during the day.  They rely heavily on voluntary contributions needing to raise 1.5 million every year. As their spokesman said: “You always hope that it is something you won’t need but you are always glad its there when you do.” 

The UCSW was set up to preserve the tradition of country sports with particular emphasis on the jobs of those involved in the sports.  The money raised will help pay the expenses of a legal case at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg with the ban on hunting at the centre of the case.  If the case in Strasbourg proved to be successful, hunting would become entrenched as a human right under the Human Rights Act and no Government would be able to ban it again.  

 

UCSW PO Box 129 , Banbury, Oxon , OX17 2HX
Tel: 01295 712719
Email: