‘A SEVERED THUMB’

BACK in August, Team Rideaway captain Stephen Clark’s left thumb was severed by his reins — a grisly consequence of a nasty fall.

Doctors were unable to reattach it but following skin grafts, he was able to use his left hand again and travelled from his Yorkshire home to support Team Rideaway squads at early events.

Impressively, by October he was back in action at the Berkeley team chase and, at the Pytchley, he led two teams to victory in the novice speed and intermediate.

“My aim was to be back for the Grafton next week [22 October] and the surgeon was pessimistic,” said Stephen, who is now the recipient of certain “thumbs up banter” from team chasing colleagues. “I just love this sport, the competitiveness and the camaraderie, so I couldn’t wait to be back.”