NWN-18062020

Thursday, June 18, 2020 48

Newbury Weekly News

Read Tim Dellor’s Royals column PAGE 47

Gareth’s emotional farewell GARETH Thomas has spoken of his ‘ emotional

decision’ to leave Thatcham Town after 15 seasons with the club. The defender announced that he would be leaving the Stacatruc Stadium, where he has been since 2002, to join Bracknell Town. It was a difficult decision for Thomas and he was quick to thank all at the club for their support throughout his career. “After committing half my life to the club, of course it tore at a few heart strings. “The people behind the scenes welcomed me with open arms all the way till the day I told them it was time to move on and the respect and gratitude I have for them will live long in me.” Thomas made his debut for the Kingfishers in 2002 and tasted his first promotion when the club came up from the Wessex League. He was also part of the Thatcham squad who made history by winning the FA Vase at Wembley Stadium in 2018. He said: “Although I didn’t play in the final, to see the club I love at the best stadium in the world with 5,000 supporters there, and my son as mascot

Gareth Thomas

brought a tear to my eyes.” During his time at Thatcham, Thomas was captain of the squad and even had a spell as player/manager. However, a new challenge awaits Thomas and he is hoping to force his way into the Bracknell Town starting XI, under Bobby Wilkinson. “When I got the call and found out where the club is heading, the infrastructure being put in place, it was a no brainer. “If I can stay fit and give this club two massive seasons then that would put a huge cherry on my non-league career.” n For the full story, see newburytoday.co.uk

Jockeys keep a safe distance from each other in the parade ring as racing retu rnedtoNewbuyrlastweek.Seepage47

Picture: Edward Whitaker (Racing Post )

Battaash makes it third time lucky Charlie Hills enjoys a 1-2 finish in t’he King s Stand at Ascot

Memories of a Country Pub. Before the horses were declared the owner had dinner with her trainer in our restaurant, she finally agreed to enter him late that evening. It was a popular decision in the pub and many regulars placed their bets first thing the next morning, some getting better than 33-1 before the declaration. Not being a keen betting man, I applied to the Magistrates Court for an All Day Licence for the day after the race. They eventually agreed to grant the licence subject to the horse winning. The only time a licence has been granted with such a condition. The chairman of the bench addressed me saying ‘I assume this horse has some chance of winning’, I replied that the odds were down to 9-1 that morning, he thanked me with a grin. The pub was packed for the race with everyone’s heart pounding as he almost fell, at an early fence, by the end of the race everyone was standing on tables and chairs to cheer their horse on. We never sold as many bottles of champagne for many years. The following day the winner was brought down the pub and the celebrations continued. Watch it on youtube. 1988 Grand National. One mid-summer morning in 1991 we found a cow at our gate, on closer inspection we discovered a herd of cows spread ou along the road, having escaped from a nearby field, and already causing a traffic jam. We quickly assembled our ‘troops’, myself, Susan and our head chef Russell, to try and ‘kettle’ the herd. We closed our neighbour’s gates and s ooed the h d into our car park. The memory of Russell, a chef of generous proportions, chasing, in full chef’s whites and waving his oven cloth, a reluctant cow down the road still brings a smile to my face. Having removed all t e cows fr m the road and shut our gates, we rang around all the local farmers until we found the wner. Meanwhile I received an angry call from our new next door neighbour, complaining that she had a cow ‘desecrating’ her garden, my fault apparently! I let the farmer deal with her and her hungry cow. We still get visits from deer, rabbits and even the occasional sheep. Memories of a Country Pub Sorry, but we’re closed until the Government lifts its crisis measures.

if we can. “I would be really proud if he could win the King George Stakes four times at Goodwood. “It would be a highlight of the season if he could do that.” Earlier in the day, fellow Lambourn trainer William Muir also tasted victory as Pyledriver recorded a shock win in the King Edward VII Stakes. Priced at 18/1, Pyledriver took up the running just over two furlongs from home and never looked in any danger as he saw off 9/2 chance Arthur’s Kingdom by two lengths. Muir said: “We could have had a double. Jack’s Point [second in the opening Buckingham Palace Handicap] came out of the yard like an absolute jumping jack. “And this horse [ Pyledriver ], he has progressed and progressed. In the last three days he has come alight. “I went to feel his legs the other night and he reared up on top of me, and I thought, ‘you’re coming now, you’re getting your strength up’. “I knew he’d stay, and he’s got a turn of foot,” he added. Elsewhere, Nicky Hender- son’s only runner across the five days was Verdana Blue – who finished second behind Coeur de Lion in the Ascot Stakes.

Report by LIAMHEADD email liam.headd@newburynews.co.uk twitter @liamh_nwn

LAMBOURN trainer Charlie Hills enjoyed a tremendous start to Royal Ascot as Battaash raced to victory in the King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1) on the opening day of the five-day festival. Having finished runner-up to Blue Point in 2018 and 2019, the six- year-old made it third time lucky in the five-furlong highlight on Tues- day. It was a brilliant performance from Battaash , who finished ahead of stablemate Equilateral to complete a one-two for trainer Hills. He said: “Fantastic, he was really on his A game today. “He was beautifully relaxed before the race and as soon as the gates opened you could see he was going to be very hard to beat. “He has been quite relaxed in his work at home, until Saturday and he was really quite strong in the first half of the gallop. “I think he’d got to the point

Battaash

really when we needed to get a race into him. The race will do him the world of good, we can train him off today.” “I was slightly tense, but I’ ve lived every emotion with him now. We have been beaten here twice before and, three times, I don’t think I could have dealt with that.” On Equilateral , Hills said: “He ran brilliantly and I always thought he was going to run a really big race. “He has always shown that he is a really good horse. He deserves to win a big one in time, but he hasn’t even won a Group race yet so we’ll try and find a Group Three for him somewhere

Sorry were closed We wish everyone good health and look forward to welcoming you again, soon.

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