Some months ago I was invited to a drinks party for a small ski club. I was pleased and surprised to find Nicko Debenham and his wife, Samantha were also there.

The conversation with Samantha turned to sport and ultimately to horse riding, at which point emboldened by a number of glasses of fine wine I volunteered that I had been an enthusiast myself. In fact I let it be known that I was not so much an enthusiast as a full blooded expert who had narrowly missed greatness on a number of  different occasions! The conversation moved on and I soon forgot quite which sort of an expert I had claimed to be, complacent in the knowledge my unattractive and throw away boasts would never be challenged.

You can imagine my consternation when Samantha formally invited me to participate in a Charity Horse Race at Newbury in July on the following morning. I was quick to dismiss the idea with a plethora of ready excuses: I had no horse, I was busy working, the racecourse was too far way, I was too heavy. However all to no avail, when I found out a little more about the charity that the funds for the race were going to support. The event is in memory of George Frewer, a young man who tragically died falling off a cliff the day before his seventeenth birthday. His Father is known to many at Armajaro, Martin Frewer and has worked as a broker with us for several years. I first met him in 1979.

The story then continues with yet more Armajaro involvement. This time in the guise of Andrew Stone, CEO of Armajaro Trading Limited. Andrew is a passionate racing man who readily volunteered to find me a horse. I was thinking more of mounting something that might have been equally adept at pulling a cart as carrying a rider but Andrew had different ideas. He enlisted the help of David Simcock, veteran Newmarket Trainer who kindly volunteered a beautiful 9 year old Gelding called ‘Vain Glory’. With a little coaching from ex jockey Nicko Debenham we were good to go. I might at this stage add that apart from two occasions this will be my first riding experience in 35 years.

Thus it is, that this morning I have formally met ‘Vain Glory’. We cantered up the Warren Hill gallop together without mishap and I now find myself ready to race for real on July 4 at Newbury. The proceeds of the race and the money raised will this year go the ‘Mary Hare’ Charity for the education of deaf children, an amazing charity that changes the lives and opportunities for many deaf children each year.

 

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