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DIARY
ODYSSEY LOG - Week 7
Updated 10th January 2002
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| Week Seven: |
Hereford Races and Chepstow Races |
Hereford
Thursday 4th October
The Odyssey's presence at the race meeting was featured on Radio Hereford and Worcester. Amongst the people interviewed were celebrity rider Alison Dawes and Ross M.E. Support Group member, Alan Tuson.
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Alison Dawes, former Olympic showjumper and twice winner of the Hickstead Derby and the Queen's Cup:
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In response to questions from the interviewer:
It's the first time I've ridden on a racecourse and it was lovely, really exhilarating. The Russians classed Kaan as a Grade I racehorse while he was in Turkmenistan, so he knows all about racing. As we got level with the stands, he started to really take off - I didn't think I was going to stop for the turn! And when we turned, I just let him go and he flew, he absolutely flew. Like a bird.
He's smashing!
Alison Dawes rides Kaan, accompanied by Jenny Barnes
Alan Tuson:
The 2001 Odyssey for M.E. has been a great boost for people with M.E. Unless you know someone with M.E., you just don't know what they go through and and there are members of the general public who don't realise how serious it is, so events like this to raise awareness of the illness are very important.
There are several charities who can offer help. I belong to my local support group in Ross on Wye and they're great; it's really helpful to know there are people nearby to talk to who can really understand. The Odyssey is raising money for the Research Fund of the Tymes Trust and they're there to help children who have M.E. You wouldn't believe some of the problems they face, so further research is really important.
Alan presents Alison Dawes with flowers and an Odyssey T-shirt while
Alison's nephew, Ben, who has M.E., and Jenny Barnes look on.
Chepstow
Saturday 6th October
Gill:
Just one more day, and we're finished; unbelievable thought.
The gremlins are out in force to celebrate. Bertha's brakes go into terminal
decline a mile from Chepstow Racecourse, and by the time we get there we are
down to the handbrake. The yurt team of eight (we have borrowed a Central
Asian felt tent for the occasion) have to unload all the goods for the stall, as we
will now be without Bertha for the day. After a very hairy drive back to base, we
hitch up the Land-Rover instead to bring Kaan.
More trouble: the racecourse manager vetoes both the yurt and its position (all
arranged some time ago with his deputy). "It's too big, and anyway you'll have
to put it up over there." So the team cleverly arrange a rectangular tent with half
of the bits and pile the rest alongside. Later we discover that someone has
borrowed two crucial pieces to weigh something done, and have the devil of a
job to track them down.
But nothing prevents us from having another splendid day. Marcella Bayliss has
brought her Grand National winner Earth Summit to parade before the stands in
our honour.
Marcella Bayliss with Earth Summit
Then Peter Scudamore dons a pair of chaps and a crash cap over his
TV suit for his gallop on Kaan, whom he describes as "a cracking little horse".
Peter Scudamore rides Kaan onto the course
©2001 Sue Alexander
Meanwhile Rosie and Lizzie, in Turcoman costume, take the buckets into the
crowd to fleece the punters. An hour later Scu draws the raffle, and the first
ticket he pulls out is that of Jenny Monger, our week 1 rider and also a sponsor.
"I don't want it!" she says, to his consternation. It's her own prize - a week in
her New Forest holiday cottage. Amazingly, the second ticket is Martha's, so the
two later agree to a swop.
Sue and Gemma with Gill and Kaan
©2001 Sue Alexander
Volunteers again cover the gates. Another splendid collection, and while it's not as much as at Haydock, we later find that per head we've taken more so we're well pleased.
It's all over. There's nothing left except mopping up - and counting the cash.
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At last - a form of conveyance which does what you tell it
©2001 Sue Alexander
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