Pointing EA remembers
Mike Ashby
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FAVOURITE EAST ANGLIAN HORSES
Here we feature AINGERS GREEN and her winning performances, as nominated by Joss Drummond.
AINGERS GREEN bm Nicky’s Double – Generous Gift
( Happy Monarch )
Foaled in 1974
Owner: D.H.Gibbon
Bred by the owner and named after a hamlet in North East Essex, this game mare started her racing career in 1979, running under rules, when trained by David Nicholson. Won 3 races together with an outstanding performance when 4th in the Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle at the 1980 Cheltenham Festival.
Started competing in points in 1982 and Aingers Green needed to be ridden patiently to see out the distance but seemed to revel with the undulations and 3 ¼ mile distance of the Marks Tey venue. She was a Ladies Open race winner on 3 occasions, from 4 outings during the 1982 and 1983 seasons, which were only career appearances at the Essex course.
In 1982 having finished 4th, at Marks Tey, in early April, re-appeared 10 days later to win the Ladies Open at the Essex Farmers’ Easter Monday meeting, partnered by Jane MacMath who was deputising for the injured Lucy Gibbon. Here the favourite MacKelly unseated and Aingers Green went on to beat Spanish Explorer by 5 lengths.
In 1983 Aingers Green made 2 appearances at Marks Tey and both were winning performances with regular partner Lucy Gibbon. They won the Ladies Open at the Essex Union meeting in March, defeating Quilpee Mai and 10 other rivals by a distance. The partnership was again successful in the Ladies Open event at the mid-April meeting, this time finishing a distance ahead of their 12 rivals.
Aingers Green proved to be very consistent in her outings and during her pointing career, from 1982-1986, registering 12 successes in total at the following courses. Cottenham (4), Higham (2), Fakenham (2), Ampton (1) and the ones highlighted at Marks Tey (3).
She also was entered in several hunter ‘chases and won at Folkestone in 1983 and took part in the Cheltenham Foxhunters in 1984 but was pulled up in the race won by Venture To Cognac. Lucy Gibbon was associated with all her winning performances except for the one at Marks Tey when injured.
Aingers Green last race came at Cottenham in May 1986 but unfortunately she finished lame after leading approaching the last fence but still gamely saw out the finish, to beat Random Leg by ½ length. After her racing days were over she produced three progeny but they were unable to produce the winning form or the consistency their mother had shown, on numerous occasions.
FAVOURITE EAST ANGLIAN HORSES
The following feature is one of Melanie Ibbott nominations and this tough, consistent horse was trained by Ruth Hayter and was highly successful in East Anglia, in the mid 1990's.
St GREGORY
b.g. Ardross – Crymlyn ( Welsh Pageant )
Foaled in 1988
East Anglian owners: Mr. & Mrs. A.G.C. Howland-Jackson
Ran just the once on the flat as a 2yo in July 1990 but was easily beaten.
Wasn’t seen again until beginning his point-to-point career in 1993 and won his Maiden on the second attempt at Charm Park, East Yorkshire. Continued his career in the Yorkshire area for the 1994 and 1995 seasons, achieving 3 further wins from 17 outings.
Changed ownership to the Howland-Jacksons for the 1996 season, in training with Ruth Hayter and from 11 outings managed 5 wins, all in Ladies’Open races and was partnered by three different winning riders. Lucy Gibbon won on him at Ampton and High Easter whilst Alice Plunkett, the TV racing presenter, had the two winning rides on St Gregory at Marks Tey. Lucy Hollis was the successful partner for his last race of the season at Northaw.
In 1997 this small but very tough, thorough stayer was on the go from January to May, running 12 times, with Lucy Gibbon partnering him on every occasion. They recorded 6 wins, five of which were consecutive, all in Ladies’ Open events.
The 1998 was ultra-busy, running no less than 16 times throughout the season and amassed 9 winning opportunities and struck up an excellent and successful partnership with Lisa Rowe, currently CEO of the Injured Jockeys Fund, after Lucy Gibbon had suffered a badly broken leg when St Gregory fell at Higham, in mid-January. St Gregory’s successes assisted Lisa in winning the 1998 Area Ladies Championship title and his total number of wins won the national Grand Marnier Trophy for owners Anthony and Sue for the most number of races won in a season, by one horse.
Sadly St Gregory died as a result of an accident, while out at grass, during the summer of 1998. During his career he had achieved a remarkable record since running in East Anglian points. From 39 races he had secured 20 wins and was unplaced on just 7 occasions.