DIARY
MARTIN KEIGHLEY’S PUBLIC OPEN DAY
IN AID OF THE ANDERS FOUNDATION
AND CANCER RESEARCH UK
SUNDAY 07 SEPTEMBER 2014
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My ‘unnamed’
favourite, seen during my visit last year, is now called Jeans Lady! It had been a very
quiet summer on the horseracing front, with Choc remaining on the sidelines
following the neck injury which he’d picked up at Chepstow on 25 April. However, indications were that he was
aiming to return to action before the end of September. The Keighleys had been
planning to hold a Public Open Day for a while and this was the first one of its
nature; although they do hold an Owners’ Day every odd numbered year, which
I’ve been fortunate to receive an invite to and attend on the last three occasions. Today’s public event was held in aid of two
charities close to the Keighley’s heart, namely Cancer Research UK and The Anders Foundation. The latter organisation will also sponsor the yard for the next two
years. When I met up with
my friend Lesley to attend a Lee Mead concert in Guildford on 13 August I
asked if she’d like to accompany me to the Open Day; affirmative. We were thus all set for a day out in the
Cotswolds in early September. The day itself
turned out to be beautifully warm, after a slightly cool and cloudy start in
Hertfordshire. I set my alarm for
06:00 with the aim of picking Lesley up from her home in a village near
Dunstable at around 09:00. I had a
shower, washed and dried my hair and applied my warpaint; breakfast consisted
of porridge and warm buttered toast. My outfit today was
blue jeggings, cerise knitted tunic, purple anorak, burgundy ankle boots, a
tan per una handbag purchased earlier in the year and a nickel-free ‘rose’
pendant necklace strung with blue glass pearls and cerise facetted glass
beads with matching earrings that I’d run up the previous day to match my
outfit ... as you do! I set off at 08:15. I dropped in to the local petrol station to
fill up the car, as my tank was only just over a quarter full. I had intended to then go via the city
centre but, having been fortunate to find all the traffic lit junctions on
green, I encountered a Sunday diversion; roadworks. Which way should I go? Had I not visited the petrol station I’d
have travelled via Harpenden, and for a few short seconds I was thinking that
I’d head to Hemel Hempstead instead.
Then it occurred to me that I needed to visit Bedfordshire to pick-up
Lesley. Whoops! This being the case,
I set off along the old A5 to reach the Redbourn bypass, I drove beneath the
M1 motorway at Junction 9, past Flamstead and Markyate
to
reach the turning to Kensworth where I turned left. I’d usually travel via Dunstable but my
preferred route through the housing estate along Lowther Road, Langdale Road
and Meadway has been seriously compromised by a 20mph speed limit and
numerous speed-bumps! Thus my route today
took me through Kensworth, past the thatched Old Hunters Lodge pub, across
Whipsnade green and up past the Zoo. A
sharp right turn outside the entrance of the latter is soon followed by a
steep decline down the escarpment slope of Dunstable Downs. I did glance across to my left to see if there
was any sign of the bison which live on the hill, or perhaps used to live on
the hill; nothing. At the bottom of the
hill, my route joined Dagnell Road; I turned right and headed the short
distance to a roundabout on the B489.
Straight across took me to Eaton Bray, but not before having to drive
carefully around a number of right-angled turns where oncoming vehicles had a
habit of drifting onto my side of the road.
I arrived at
Lesley’s house just before 09:00. I
parked up and rang the bell ... there were no stirrings in the house, despite
the fact I’d texted her 45 minutes previously to say I was on my way and
she’d replied too! Anyway, having
loitered in the garden for a couple of minutes, I banged the door
knocker. This resulted in all hell letting
loose as Lesley’s dog, Max, and her daughter Hollie’s ‘temporary’ dog (she’s looking after it for a friend), a chug
named Lily, began barking incessently.
I’m reliably informed that a chug is a cross between a chihuahua and a
pug. The door was
answered by Hollie’s boyfriend, Pete.
He called up the stairs, ‘There’s
a woman to see you Lesley’! He’s
not met me before!!! He did, however,
show me into the sitting room, where I waited for a couple of minutes before
Lesley appeared. We set off shortly
afterwards. Our route took us
via Billington to the petrol station beside the Leighton Buzzard bypass, as
Lesley hoped to withdraw cash from the cashpoint on the forecourt; it was out
of order. We re-joined the bypass to
reach the A418, where we turned left and headed through Wing to reach
Aylesbury. Our route then took us
around the town’s ring-road to find the A41 where we then headed westwards
through Waddesdon to Bicester. En route
it was noted that the roundabout on the A41 beside the Woodham Industrial
area has now been completed; it was under construction during my trips to the
Cheltenham Festival in March. It’s a
very big roundabout considering its rural location! Having reached the
far end of the Bicester bypass, I turned right, then left onto the Middleton
Stoney Road. Cotswolds here we
come! The housing estate through which
it passes continues to grow. The road crosses
over the M40 motorway to reach a traffic-lighted junction with the B430. After crossing this slightly-staggered
junction we headed along the next stretch of the route, through Caulcott to
reach a T-junction where we turned left and headed down Station Road
(Heyford) to the causeway over the River Cherwell. The causeway is
narrow, single-file, controlled by traffic lights. These were on red when we arrived; a
cyclist wearing ‘Wiggle’ gear was
the sole ‘vehicle’ ahead of us
waiting to the use the crossing. The
lights having changed to green, we were able to pass the cyclist soon
afterwards as the causeway was wide enough to do so. I noticed that red cats eyes had been
installed along the edges of the roadway; that’s new I’m sure. Perhaps someone drove off the side in the
dark necessitating this? Following this, the
road rises up through trees initially to join the traffic-signalled junction
beside the allegedly haunted Hopcroft’s Holt Hotel on the A4260. We continued forward across the staggered
junction and headed for the Bartons – Bartongate, Middle Barton and Westcott
Barton. The road then heads through
Gagingwell to reach Enstone. Due to
the nature of the junction of the B4030 with the A44, vehicles are directed
to turn left and head down the B4022 to join the A-road instead. Having reached the
A44, we turned right, headed through Enstone and onwards to Southcombe where,
at traffic lights, the aforementioned road bears off to the left to reach
Chipping Norton. At a set of
mini-roundabouts we turned left and headed through the main shopping street
of the Oxfordshire town, at the end of which the road veers right to travel
down the hill past the Bliss Wool Mill situated in the valley to the left. We continued along
the A44 Worcester Road until we reached the A436, turning left through a
wooded corridor to eventually head down the hill past the Adlestrop turning,
over the narrowing railway/Evenlode river bridge and then uphill to
Stow-on-the-Wold. We passed The Bell,
Choc’s current local, to our left on the way up the hill to the town. We waited for the
traffic lights to change at the junction with the A429 Roman Road (Fosse
Way). A right turn, followed by a left
turn at the following set of traffic lights took us onto the A424 heading
towards Evesham. On each occasion that
we’ve visited Martin Keighley’s yard, I’ve taken the first available turning
signposted Condicote, knowing that the third one is probably the quickest
route! Having taken the
first turning, the second route joins shortly afterwards and the lane heads
downhill to the Donnington Trout Farm.
We encountered a group of ramblers on the way and they kindly moved to
the side of the narrow lane to let me drive by; I gestured a sign of
thanks. Having climbed up the hill
beyond the fishery, we took the first turning on the right. The lanes were narrow and a couple of
vehicles heading in the opposite direction gave way for me to pass ... it’s
wonderful to encounter other well-mannered road users; unlike those in
Hertfordshire where they are sorely lacking! Having reached the
outskirts of Condicote I turned right and headed along the lane to Luckley
where the yard is situated. Arriving
vehicles were directed to park in the field to the right, as usual. I had to wait for two or three vehicles to
head in from the opposite direction; the route I should take but never
do! The last of the drivers was a
young lad, who turned out to be one of the work riders; he had to make two
attempts to manoeuvre through the stone-surrounded gate. But I shouldn’t make fun ... as I managed
to stall my vehicle prior to turning into the field! Anyway, we paid our
£5 per car and were directed to park to the far side of the field, almost in
the far corner. It was definitely
after 10:30, gate opening time, but I believe it was before 11:00. It always takes longer than expected to
drive from my home to the Cotswolds, because much of the latter part of the
journey is across country. I changed into my ankle
boots, put on my jacket and we walked back through the field gate, across the
lane and into the area attached to the yard.
Helpers were selling programmes, two for £5; we bought one each. Lesley also bought two pages of raffle
tickets. I said a brief hello to
Martin, who was chatting to someone by the entrance gate, as we walked
past. We stopped to purchase two hot
drinks in the area just outside the main barn. Having drunk these, we headed into the
aforementioned building to begin our tour of the horses. We got as far as
Thomas and Dinky at the far end of the barn before being ushered out in
preparation for the horses to be led out for the parade. Any Currency had become noticeably frisky
in his large open box two along from the ponies; the excitement of the
numerous visitors no doubt. Also,
along the way, I’d found my favourite filly, now mare, unnamed last year but
now called Jeans Lady. We wandered out of
the barn via the row of outside loose-boxes, before heading to the mound
above the warm-up/warm-down area to get a good view of the proceedings. There was a 20-minute delay to the
scheduled parade, after which the horses were brought out in ‘stable order’, commencing with
Seymour Eric from the row of outside boxes.
ATR’s Robert Cooper, who lives locally, was on hand to assist Martin
with the commentary regarding the horses as they paraded. Lesley made a note
of the horses names for easy identification, as I took the photographs. Martin explained that one-eyed Right On Roy
lost his right eye as a two-week old foal when his mother kicked it out; poor
boy. Last season one of the youngest
horses was discovered to be a two-year-old rather than a three-year-old,
which explained why the training schedule had been a problem, which had resulted
in the inmate being ‘turned away’
until this season And the plans for
Any Currency are to enter him in the three cross-country chases at Cheltenham
this season, plus maybe one other race.
And he will have an in-house rival in these races ... but I can’t
remember who! Any Currency was the
final racehorse to parade, followed by Thomas (ridden by Freddie) and Dinky
(ridden by Harry). The parade excluded the six horses who would be exercised
on the gallops across the road, and these soon appeared namely Annacotty,
Champion Court, Kyles Faith, Primo Capitano, Creepy and Always Bold; ridden
by Ian Popham, Mark Caswell, Tom Bellamy, Chris Ward, Tom Siddall, and John
Suthern respectively. Freddie had now transferred
to veteran Dinky, who is 24-years-old, and followed Always Bold around the
warm-up area. Those wishing to see
the horses on the gallop headed out through the gate and across the lane to
the area above it. The horses were
warmed up before heading across to the beginning of the all-weather strip in
the valley bottom. The first pair to
gallop were Creepy and Primo Capitano, followed by Annacotty upsides Champion
Court, and finally Always Bold and Kyles Faith. The horses walked
back along the top of the field, heading back to be warmed-down, spectators
following them at a safe distance.
Having returned to the area adjacent to the warm up track, we did a
brief tour of the trade tents before heading to the hot food van located
close to the stable block. Robert
Cooper was first in the queue, having ordered his meal ahead of collecting
it. We ordered ours, sausage and chips
for Lesley with a lemon Fanta and a large pallet of chips for me plus an
orange Fanta. The raffle results were
announced whilst we waited in the queue to collect our food. We went to sit on
the plastic covered bails of bedding situated beside the warm-up track to eat
our food. At one point we were joined
by black labrador George, son of Windsor.
I accidently dropped a couple of chips, but the dog was well-behaved
and wasn’t interested in eating them.
Lesley said that her dog Max would have woofed them down! Having finished our meal we took the
packaging, including the two dropped chips, and the empty drink cans over to
the waste bin beside the food van. We
bumped into Martin again at this point; following a brief chat Lesley and I
headed back to the stables to continue our tour. Harry and Freddie
were riding their bikes around the area beside the stables. We began at Seymour Eric’s stable, took a
photo of ‘Pickle’ and the very dark
grey Sugar Mix before saying hello to Right On Roy, and heading into the barn
to see the ponies once more. I took a
photo of Lesley with Westerly Breeze who lives in the open box next to the
ponies; also a picture of Lesley with Thomas, and she took one of me with the
pony too. I noticed Hannah
Bishop, Racing Manager to Liz Prowting, chatting to a couple of gentlemen
further up the barn and I introduced myself shortly afterwards. Soon it was time to leave the yard and
begin our journey home. Having
returned to the car, I changed into my driving shoes and we set off to drive
to The Plough at Ford. I confess I
exited via the ‘no exit’ gate
because there was a car driver ahead of me who seemed to be umming and ahhing
about his route out, resulting in him temporarily blocking the way! Well that is my excuse anyway! We headed to the pub
via Condicote with its walled green in the centre of the village. Having reached the B4077 we turned to the
right and drove to Ford. There are two
car parks serving the hostelry, one behind the pub and one across the road,
we parked in the latter as on a previous visit. This area is located next to the driveway
of Jackdaws Castle, the home of trainer Jonjo O’Neill. Due to the location of the pub, on a
corner, extra care must be taken before crossing the road, especially on the
return leg of the walk! We entered via the
gate and headed into the bar area to purchase drinks; mine was an Apple and
Raspberry J2O ... no change there
then. As it was such a nice day, we
then went to sit at a bench table in the garden. Choc had recently tweeted a photograph of
William playing table tennis at a pub and I thought I recognised the location
as The Plough. It was, as there was a
large ping pong table situated on the concrete area in the garden! Well spotted Jane! Having finished
drinking, and then spending a penny, we returned to my car and set off back
along the B4077 to Stow-on-the-Wold, via Lower Swell where care must be taken
when driving over a narrow river bridge.
I’m far from keen when pulling out at the junction where this road
joins the A424; however a car driver heading from our left let us out, which
was kind of them. I like these
Cotswold road manners! Upon reaching the traffic
lights at the top of Stow’s main street, we turned left and drove down the
hill past The Bell, heading back past the Adlestrop turning to join the
A44. We had soon arrived on the
outskirts of Chipping Norton, where we noticed cattle mating in the field to
our right, above Bliss Mill! We drove
up the hill into the town, through the high street and took the ‘local traffic only’ road to reach a
set of traffic lights where we turned right to head towards Enstone. The road to Bicester
veers off to the left just beyond a bend in the road; we took this route
heading back through Gagingwell and the Bartons. It’s at this point that I feel sad that
I’ve got to return home to Hertfordshire.
Anyway, we eventually reached Bicester and were soon heading along the
A41 to Aylesbury. Having joined their
ring-road, we took the Leighton Buzzard road through Wing. We drove along the Leighton Buzzard bypass,
took the road though Billington once more and soon arrived back in Lesley’s
village. I dropped her off at
18:15. I decided to return
home via Dunstable, which meant driving through Totternhoe to reach the
town. Having chosen this route it took
me via Meadway, Langdale Road and Lowther Road; the speed-bump
nightmare. Upon reaching the old A5 I
turned right and headed towards Markyate or, to be specific, the Markyate
bypass. Having driven through the
traffic lights at the junction of the Luton Road, the traffic suddenly slowed
down to a crawl; this continued until Flamstead. It transpired that a didicoy and painted
trotting horse were out for an early evening drive. Finally it was my turn to overtake him and
I was on my way again. The remainder of my
route took me via the Redbourn bypass and Harpenden back to St Albans, then
home around the ring-road. I arrived
back at 19:00. I had been panicking,
thinking I was at risk of missing the Strictly Come Dancing 2014 introduction
programme but, as it transpired, that didn’t begin until after 20:00. Phew!
This being the case, I had time to eat penne mozzarella for my evening
meal before it started. The weather had been
so nice on this Sunday that I actually caught the sun across the back of my
neck, which I noticed when I undressed at the end of the day! It has been a lovely
day, with pleasant company, good weather and beautiful countryside too. Wicked. |
