AFTER an enforced gap of more than two years due to the pandemic, the Isle of Wight Grand National and Ashey Scurry are back and raring to go tomorrow (Sunday).
With a forecast of sunshine expected, one of the most popular events on the Island’s equestrian calendar will again be staged at West Ashey Farm.
As ever, there will be the traditional series of races involving Island and mainland competitors.
Gates open at 10.30am, with the first race, the Elite Spas Puffing Billy Stakes for children on small ponies, set to get underway at noon.
It will be followed by the Emerson Willis Puffed Out Billy Stakes, the Leslies Motors Ashey Scurry, the Reynolds and Read Junior Scurry and the main event, the Ginery Isle of Wight Grand National.
The scurry and national fences are a mixture of hurdles, hedges and open ditches.
There are also going to be two new races for Shetland ponies, which have been added this year thanks to a high number being brought across The Solent specially for the event.
The event was cancelled last year, and delayed from its usual March slot this year due to the pandemic.
Organising committee secretary Sharon Waghorn, a former Isle of Wight Grand National and Ashey Scurry winner, said: “We’ve had some amazing entries this year.
“We’ve got 20 Shetlands coming over and will hold two extra races, which we’re going to call the Shetland Grand National and the Shetland Gold Cup — 11 in one race and nine in the other.
“We’ve had 12 entries for the Puffed Out Billy, eight already for the Isle of Wight Grand National and we will have Mark Smith coming over, who does rides for the Pink Bridle for Cancer charity, who will bring jockeys over to make up some of races a bit light with entries.
“It’s all looking good. We haven’t done anything for so long, that everyone is really keen to come over.
“We’re really lucky in that there are no other events going on, on the mainland on Sunday.
“We’ve now given up on our usual March date to hold it — because of the weather. Mark said it’s a good weekend to come and we thought we had nothing to lose, which is why we’ve decided to give it a go.
“If this one is successful, this is the month we will probably hold it.”
Despite the heavy rain the Island has been bombarded with in recent weeks, organisers are confident the course will hold up.
Sharon added: “We spoke to Harold George, one of the main course builders, and he seemed quite positive. We didn’t have rain for quite a long time, so we have that advantage of not having six weeks of solid rain like we had in February and March.”
Sharon’s sister, Karen Begley, also a former Isle of Wight Grand National and Ashey Scurry winner, will be competing again on Signs of Love, together with several other Island riders, including Lily Bartlett and Sharon’s nine-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.
A donation from the proceeds of the event will go to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
For the full schedule of events, visit the IW Grand National website: www.iw-scurry.co.uk
House Rules
We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel