In a sea of champagne, and with cheers and applause echoing around the hills, Woollacott, 33, was crowned the new champion alongside Polly Gundry who took the female equivalent for the eighth time. “I’m absolutely delighted. There are so many people I need to thank for getting me here, not least my staff back at home and my parents Dennis and Carole,” said Woollacott who added that being the country’s winning-most trainer and training Come What Augustus to win the area leading horse title with eight wins was also something he was very proud.
Both Polly and Richard reside in the Devon and Cornwall area and area secretary Gordon Chambers added his congratulations. “We are very lucky in the area in that we have some exceptionally talented jockeys and some very good horses and trainers. We started the season off in November and ended it on Saturday and on the way two Devon-based riders have been crowned national champions, Fully Loaded, who won many of his races in the area, is the country’s leading horse and we have some very promising novice riders coming through.”
Richard gained his 40th win of the season in the members’ race on Ben Robarts’ Prince De Bersy and Ben’s two wins and two places in the area on the gelding earned him the Silver Ransome Perpetual Challenge Cup for the owner/rider resident in the area gaining the most points on one horse.
Joe Tickle, who works for South Molten-based trainer Nick Williams, took the Devon and Cornwall area’s novice title and finished just one win behind Tom Cannon in the national competition and with Lucy Pugsley took the area’s female equivalent.
Paddy The Piper’s win in the men’s open at Umberleigh drew him level with Beau Supreme for points gained in the area and the two share the leading veteran award. Paddy The Piper was ridden to success by 17-year-old Michael Heard who will join Woollacott at his South Molton yard in September.
Jane Brake’s Glacial Call started the season a maiden and ended with four wins and three seconds ensuring she took both the areas leading mare and novice award. Neil Harris took the veteran rider award.
A spokesman from the area said: “It’s been a long season and at times particularly trying with the weather against us a lot of the time but in the end we got the right result and the area can quite justifiably say that it is the best in the country.”
The Devon and Cornwall Area’s annual presentation and dinner dance takes place on Friday, July 9 at the Holiday Inn, Plymouth. Tickets are £38 each and can be obtained by contacting Lucy Johnson (07866 497976).
|
