2006

I WISH I had been there. Last Wednesday at Tattersalls Ireland saw the curtain fall on the domestic sales season.

Sadly, the day also marked the end of an era. For those in attendance, they saw one of the most popular and effective auctioneers of the last 30-plus years wield a gavel for the last time in public.

I have had the privilege to know David Pim since the mid-1970s when we were both soldiering in the then Ballsbridge International Bloodstock Sales Limited. The stories we could tell of those days are often recounted when we get together. That company has since gone through a few changes and now trades as the hugely successful Tattersalls Ireland.

One constant presence through all those years of change has been David Pim. Bringing what was at that time a unique style of selling to the public, he quickly earned the admiration of everyone in the business.

He fought for every guinea, pound, and latterly euro, in the ring.

Few purchasers felt that they ever ‘stole’ a horse in David’s ring, while many vendors had reason to be grateful for his dogged efforts.

Through it all he sold horses with a sense of fun where appropriate and, when he sold at Newmarket in the early days, he brightened up what was then a rather stuffy auditorium. His influence on the rostrum and on auctioneering styles has been immense, and something for which he will always be remembered.

During this time David ran his Anngrove Stud and also contributed, and continues to do so, to the world of racing. He served as one of the most successful National Hunt Stewards, and is still welcomed with open arms on the panels at a number of racecourses. He has given much to the industry, and the business has benefited from his efforts.

Retirement is not a word found in David Pim’s lexicon. A word found not far from it in the dictionary though is respect. J.D. Salinger once wished that he could meet someone he could respect. He obviously never had a horse sold by that elite auctioneer, David A. Pim.

Zara wins BBC Sports Personality Award

2006

ZARA Phillips highlighted a fantastic year when she won the coveted BBC Sorts Personality of the Year Award at the Birmingham NEC last Sunday night. The European and world eventing champion was following in the footsteps of her mother, Princess Anne, who won the award in 1971.

A visibly shocked Phillips said: “It’s just amazing to be here among these people, and to win this is absolutely amazing.” She received 32.5% of the telephone vote on the night. In an interview during the programme, Phillips again recalled the impact the death of her friend Sherelle Duke, killed in the week of the World Equestrian Games, had on her, and her determination to win a medal for Sherelle.

“There were so many fantastic people up for the award, I personally didn’t expect to win,” she said. “It’s great for my sport. The people that voted have obviously viewed what we did this year, and seen what it is all about. Hopefully it will encourage more people to come and get involved.

“I don’t think my background has helped me in my sport, but perhaps the fact that I am recognised has helped the sport.”

Rubi rises to the occasion, and Windermere delivers

2011

RUBI Light captured the Grade 1 prize that his talents have merited, and paved the way for a possible Gold Cup assault, as he landed the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in fine style.

After ending last season with a third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, Rubi Light was firmly established as one of the most eminent chasers in the country. This display only served to reinforce that impression and, at Leopardstown later this month, the Robert Hennessy-trained gelding will bid to further his burgeoning reputation against Ireland’s other leading Gold Cup hopeful, Quita De La Roque.

Sadly, while this race underlined Rubi Light’s status as a top chaser, it witnessed the demise of Kempes. Last season’s Hennessy Gold Cup winner had to be put down after breaking his knee in a fall at the fifth last fence.

Only for a last fence fall at Gowran on his comeback, Rubi Light would have handed out a decisive beating to Sizing Europe, and on his first run since then he was returned the 5/2 joint-favourite with Joncol. As ever, the Andrew Lynch-ridden Rubi Light adopted a prominent position and he was content to look on from second, as Cooldine cut out the running.

At the halfway stage Rubi Light improved to lead, and his trademark quick jumping had seen him open up a useful lead over the field as he left the back straight. After jumping the third last fence he held a commanding advantage, and soon his only danger was Joncol.

The latter steadily crept closer to Rubi Light from the second last, but he could never get close enough to land a telling blow and went down by five lengths. Roi Du Mee came down at the last when holding third, and this left Cooldine to finish 29 lengths behind the front two.

“That was good. Andrew said that he got tired, and he felt that the horse would improve from this,” said Hennessy, who trains the winner for his father, Bill. “He was a sick horse over a month ago, but he has been working great for the last couple of weeks. We’ll see how he takes this, but the plan would be to head for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.”

As he attempted to win the race for a second time, Joncol ran an honourable race in defeat, and Paul Nolan indicated that his charge would take on the winner once again in the Lexus Chase.

Lord Windermere

The promising Lord Windermere provided Jim Culloty with the biggest win of his training career in the Listed INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle, where he produced a display of considerable promise on just his third outing.

The Thurles maiden hurdle winner was niggled along sooner that some of his rivals, be remained firmly in contention for Tom Doyle. At the last flight there was little to choose between him, Ballysteen and the closing Dylan Ross as they did battle. A determined Lord Windermere kept finding more for pressure, and began to inch ahead nearing the line where he has a head to spare.

“He’s a horse we’ve always liked, but he’s been a slow learner, which is why he didn’t run until he was five,” stated Culloty who trains the gelding for Dr Ronan Lambe. “He’s really a chaser and he’s got a big engine.

“I think he would prefer better ground, so we might wait until February before running him again. He’s in a Grade 1 at Christmas, but that would come too soon.”

[Rubi Light and Joncol both contested the Lexus Chase. The latter finished down the field, while Rubi Light was runner-up to Synchronised.

Lord Windermere won once more over hurdles before embarking on a chasing career. While he won only three of his 22 races over fences, they included the Grade 1 Gold Cup and the previous year’s Grade 1 RSA Chase at Cheltenham]