Tributes for respected owners of popular farm course
THE farming and hunting community recently paid their respects to John and Jill Rosser, owners of the point-to-point course at Uplands Farm at Ystradowen in the Vale of Glamorgan who tragically died within the same week recently.
John was born on the farm, and he and Jill worked tirelessly to help the two point-to-points be successful. Jill would procure a hugh amount of sponsorship for the Glamorgan fixture, and John would carry out an immense amount of work behind the scenes to ensure that both fixtures were run on good ground.
General point-to-point secretary Peter Thomas said: “John and Jill were a devoted couple who I think were proud to see people enjoying themselves on their farm.
“We at the Glamorgan Hunt are devasted at this sudden loss and extend our deepest condolences to the family.”
The funeral took place last Friday, September 22.
The couple, who had farmed the land all their lives, died recently within days of each another. The Glamorgan Hunt and the Ystrad Taf Fechan Hunt have been holding their annual point-to-point meetings on their farmland since 2002. They are survived by their son David and daughter-in-law Kirsty.
History was made at Ystradowen during the 2007-2008 season when Princess Anne paid a surprise visit to the course.
This was the first Royal visit to a Welsh point-to-point and the Princess’s horse Dhu Loch, trained by her daughter Zara and ridden by local rider Tom David, finished second.
Princess Anne, who remarked how delightful the surroundings were, thought her horse might have won had it not been hindered by a loose horse.
Meanwhile, British point-to-point racing is set to stage 179 meetings at 101 locations around the United Kingdom in the coming season.
The release of the 2017-18 fixture list confirms the earliest commencement of the sport in Britain has known. The seaon is due to open with the Bishops Court Club fixture at Ottery St Mary on November 11.
The closure of the Upton-upon Severn course earlier this year means that Maisemore Park in Gloucestershire has gained an additional fixture and will race on March 25 and May 7.
A point-to-point flat race, designed as another opportunity to give young horses racecourse experience, was staged for the first time in the UK last season at the British & Irish Racing club meeting at Barbury Castle and it was deemed successful enough to allow an expanded programme of six such races spread around Britain for the new season.
Each one will be run over two miles and limited to four, five and six year olds and to amateur riders who have partnered fewer than five winners.
However, none of these races will be held in Wales, but there will be one at Hereford Racecourse on April 14.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Former Welsh champion point-to-point rider Jamie Jukes rode 184 winners between-the-flags and 29 winners under Rules.
Jamie, who used to run a tree surgery business, won the Land Rover Hunter Chase Championship on the aptly named Welsh Legion in 1995, and in 2000 he won the Welsh Point-To-Point Grand National over four miles on Saffron Moss at the Pentyrch.
Jamie, who won the Daily Telegraph Novice Riders’ Championship, chalked-up his first win on 14-yearold Sparcon which dead-heated with Rocks Of Bawn at the Carmarthenshire in 1988.
One of the most stylish riders to come out of Wales, he held the Welsh seasonal record for a male rider of 34 wins. This was in 1996 when he won the national title.
Evan Williams in 1998 rode 38 winners and James Tudor in 2006 rode 37 when they won their national titles.
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