Monday Supplement: Clitheroe
Tony Stafford
Sunday supplement (on Monday)
By Tony Stafford
Did you miss me? With the boss away in California for the by-now over-blown and like the world heavyweight championship de-valued Breeders’ Cup, I took a sickie, except I wasn’t sick, unlike Richard Hughes and William Buick who both, to put it politely, cocked up on the best horse in two of the races at lovely Santa Anita.
Back home, as was the boss, who claimed to be in Clitheroe this morning when he reminded me of my duties, it’s a lovely day for one of my favourite weekends, and the Remembrance Sunday parade had me enthralled as ever. It makes you proud to be British, especially when all the Commonwealth representatives put down their wreaths around the Cenotaph.
The soldiers were out in force at Sandown, when there was quite a nice proportion of the massive crowd – Andrew Cooper remarked to me that maybe jumping is popular! – wearing the traditional poppies and like me and I think Donald McCain, the smaller ceramic one. It’s a seismic weekend with the proper Flat ended and the bigger jumpers coming along.
Since I last communicated – sorry, I digress again as I wanted to remind our older readers about that old Sunday morning radio show “The Clitheroe Kid” starring Jimmy Clitheroe. In his 60’s he still sounded and somehow looked in his late teens. It was very funny, but not as funny as the short conversation I had with a regular York racegoer about 20 years ago. “Aren’t you Jimmy Clitheroe?” I asked him. He drew himself up to his full 4ft 6ins and said: “No!”
So, since I last communicated, I’ve had some fun at the sales where after a few days’ negotiating, my boss became the owner of Lewisham, who was second in the July Stakes but still remains a maiden; thought we’d sold a maiden filly for a large six-figure sum until the purchaser’s feet got suddenly cold, and have had some exciting news about a trio of our jumpers.
Punjabi will be known to some as the 2009 Champion Hurdle winner, but of him there has been little news over the past two and a half seasons. But at Sandown, the great Nicky Henderson revealed he’d told Raymond Tooth he’d been schooling well over fences and working well, too. If he stands training, even at rising ten he’d be an interesting addition to the two-mile novice division in which McCain’s Overturn made a nice early statement on Saturday.
Another brilliant Tooth trainer, Hughie Morrison had excellent news of Cousin Khee’s initial schooling sessions and has marked down a race at Leicester next week for his bow, while perhaps most exciting of all, Fair Trade, now with Alan King, is getting nearer a hurdles debut.Once rated 110 on the Flat but after a year off and some disappointing runs in 2012, is down to 78. But Graham Lee, who rode him in his last race at Nottingham said not to lose faith and now with Alan King, Fair Trade will be the object of my admiration,
I hope, when he schools at Barbary Castle in the morning.
I took in the Manton gallops on Friday where Brian Meehan, despite quite a clear-out at the sales where at least 20 inmates found new owners and trainers here and overseas, reports a 2013 roster almost exactly matching that of this year. The difference to my mind is the number of potentially smart and unexposed mile plus juveniles that will go into their second season with high hopes.
At the same time, a new intake already of around 48 is beginning to take shape and a good number of potential Manton partnerships and share options are available. Even in a year of almost unbroken horrible weather, the various grass (300 acres), Polytrack and woodchip gallops enable the work to be maintained. Naturally other training establishments are available, but I cannot deny that piece of Wiltshire is my home from home.
Looking out of the same window that almost gave me a sight of the Olympics back in those days when everyone was carping about the cost – apparently there was an actual under-spend in the end on the admittedly massive budget – and how nothing good would come of it, I again feel that pride of nation.
That even transcends the awful autumn in which the BBC’s arrogance over time has been shown to be so much bluster in many ways.
The boss had to fall on his sword yesterday morning. The BBC is showing its humiliation in many ways, with even David Dimbleby in his Remembrance Day commentary, stumbling over his words and missing cues. Sophie Rayworth, obviously seen as a safe pair of hands, as the only other reporter on a scaled-down production did just that with some predictable albeit poignant interviews with some relatives who’d lost love ones. You got the impression the BBC wished to get it over with.
The best thing about the last few years and the revival in the poppy appeal is that so many of the younger generation are taking part, not just by wearing the poppy, but with true pride at their ancestors’ courage over all the wars. Of course, the Afghanistan war is resulting in the deaths of their contemporaries and it’s wonderful that they are attuned and sympathetically proud of it. Social media may have its drawbacks – as in the haste to “out” Lord McAlpine – but it can also engender national pride, as we are seeing so clearly this autumn.
Monday Supplement: Clitheroe,
12 Responses to Monday Supplement: Clitheroe
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Shame that in leeds my experience was very different.I saw very few poppies on a train load of students
Col
November 12, 2012 at 9:48 am
err, Philip Schofield works for ITV.
Pete H
November 12, 2012 at 9:52 am
The BBC may have a lot to answer for but Philip Schofield presents ‘This Morning’ which is an ITV programme so let’s not get carried away in a frenzy of tabloid angst and exaggeration…
Ken
November 12, 2012 at 10:02 am
I am proud to wear my poppy and I feel even prouder when I am the only person in a place wearing it I puff out my chest and make sure I catch non poppy wearers eye . I am proud of ALL our troops past and present ………..thank you all for making my life for happier and safer than many others outside Britain.
tony
November 12, 2012 at 11:25 am
We agree Red poppies are for World War 1st and World war 2 only. So long as we have got World War 2 survivors now.
But why Blair’s Iraq War and Bush’ Agfa Invasion? Both wars are lies and illegal. So poppies for them are very questionable. Questionable.
JKK
November 12, 2012 at 1:33 pm
The poppy has become an internationally recognised symbol as a tributed to soldiers/civilians who have lost their lives in war situations. The morals behind the wars may be questionable, but remembering the fallen never should be.
Chris Worrall
November 12, 2012 at 2:16 pm
then we would have to extend to IRA , palestine, israel ,syria, argentine, Taliban, Pakistani victims of drone attacks…and more. World War ! and World 2 are clear, war without choices and what Red Poppies are meant for them. Money raised for world War 1 and 2nd veterans, should we divert that to Iraq victims and others?. Puzzled. No politics allowed ?
all wars are political
JKK
November 12, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Of course all wars are political, John, which is why it makes no sense to make distinction between WW 1 and 2, and more recent conflicts involving British servicemen (and women). It does of course make sense to distinguish between British and other nations’ servicemen (and women).
Best,
Matt
Matt Bisogno
November 12, 2012 at 10:09 pm
JKK
Please. Don’t be ridiculous. This is not about the politics behind the wars. It’s about respect for the people who were sent places they didn’t want to go, to defend the principles for which their nation stands. The same reason we were in Prussia and Poland in WW I and WW II respectively.
Matt
Matt Bisogno
November 12, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Shocked and disappointed that you removed the earlier comment criticising Mr Staffords piece. It was no more than fair comment. Those men and women we remember by wearing a poppy gave their lives to preserve our freedoms, one of which is freedom of speech. Frankly to criticise people for “stumbling” in a piece that contains inaccuracies is a bit rich. What was the term the BBC used……. shoddy journalism????? Poor show!
Mike
November 12, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Mike
Were you really SHOCKED? I mean seriously… you add a comment which has nothing of positive value and merely bitches at a man who gives freely of his time (for no recompense), and has delivered engaging editorial for months, on which you didn’t see fit to comment.
The first error (getting the wrong channel) and you behave like he’s slept with your wife and your daughter. I’m afraid this isn’t the sort of place that tolerates that kind of petulant crap.
If you’ve nothing constructive to say, best say nothing at all. There are plenty of other places you can go to bitch to your heart’s content. This is not such a place.
Now, you may find THAT shocking!
Matt
Matt Bisogno
November 12, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Hi Matt
totally agree with your comments to Mike,I spent a lot of time in the Middle East, Bosnia,Serbia and Croatia, been shot at many times, I wear a poppy with pride, the troops go where our dickhead politicians send them,
they are all entitled to our respect,
Tony always gives a good read, amusing and entertaining, so stop nit picking at him folks, he doe,s it for free.
Time you paid him Oggie !
Hope you enjoy Clitheroe, are you up on my patch to sample our excellent
ales, visit the Farmers Market and Carboot,
or buy some cement, don,t get your self locked in the Castle dungeons or
tied up in the stocks because we have lost the keys.
A good day to all,
regards.
Bob Grimes.
Robert Grimes
November 13, 2012 at 12:24 am