Young rider clears unfamiliar hurdles in first French winner
Former Welsh champion pointto-point rider Charly Prichard is delighted to have ridden her first winner in France for her new boss, the famed Guillaume Macaire.
Charly, who was 21 earlier this year, told me: “I was riding a horse called Le Francesca in the Prix Victor Basse – Three Nations Cup, a conditions hurdle race of around two-anda-half miles.
“The hurdles, however, are not like the ones we are used to at home, as they are green hedges nearly the size of our point-to-point fences.”
The race was held on Bastille Day before a huge crowd. The course at Pompadour is really picturesque, according to Charly, who gained her first win on a horse called Alroyal, owned and trained by her mother Tracey and father Ian, who are pillars of the hunt-racing community.
Charly’s brother David chalked up his first win under Rules on Alroyal and, like Charly, was also a successful pony-racing competitor in his younger days.
Charly, who graduated from competing in pony races to riding in point-to-points and hunter chases, has also ridden in New Zealand.
She said: ”The French racing authorities have introduced a weight allowance for female riders which, although controversial among many of the British lady riders, has arguably helped me to gain a vital opportunity which I can hopefully now build on.”
Guillaume Macaire has been the leading National Hunt trainer in France for many years and has nurtured the talents of horses such as Silviniaco Conti, Master Minded, Voy Pur Ustedes and Jair du Cochet.
Charly is certainly enjoying herself in France and says: “We are based right on the west coast of France so the lifestyle is very relaxed, with most afternoons spent on the beach after we have finished work.”
Meanwhile, one of Wales’ most popular point-to-pointers, Kerry Soldier Blue, has died at the age of 28. More about this wonderful old grey horse next week.
Former Point-To-Point Secretaries Association (PPSA) chairman Andrew Merriam is to become chairman of Britain’s Point-To-Point Authority (PPA) board.
Mr Merriam, who lives in Suffolk, becomes the fourth person to hold the role since the PPA’s creation in 2008. Previous holders have been Robert Waley-Cohen, Simon Claisse and Tim Curtis.
Nick Sutton, who has acted as temporary chairman since Mr Curtis stepped down earlier this year, said: “Andrew brings great depth of knowledge and experience of point-to-pointing, being a past chairman of the Point-To-Point Secretaries Association, in addition to owning and breeding racehorses with his wife Jean.”
Mr Merriam said: “I have been passionate about point-to-pointing throughout my life and have attended hundreds of meetings as an owner, steward, husband of trainer, father of a jockey and in other voluntary guises.”
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