94 LincolnshireEcho Thursday, March 8-Wednesday,March 14, 2012 w w w.t h i si sl i n c o l n sh i re. c o.u k ECH-E01-S2 ECH-E01-S2 w w w.t h i si sl i n co l n sh i re. co.u k Thursday, March 8-Wednesday,March 14, 2012 LincolnshireEcho 95 Tipster set Lincolnshire Horse Trials Women’s Football to pass on his advice Olympic medalist Alleway and Bradley ruled Pip Kirkby is the chief executive of Market Rasen out of Arsenal cup clash racecourse Fox-Pitt relishing

Market Rasen Racecourse is Lincoln Ladies’ FA Women’s by Mark Whiley the place to be on Sunday for task of clinching a Cup hopes have been dealt a Football writer betting tips ahead of next blow after defenders Laura Al- [email protected] week’s . leway and Sophie Bradley were Grand National-winning ruled out of Sunday’s fifth jockey Graham Lee will be round tie with Arsenal. we play Birmingham in the here to give visitors the inside The Lady Imps have been Super League. track on the best prospects for place at this year’s forced to apply for a new visa for “It’s frustrating because Cheltenham. winter signing Alleway follow- she’s settled in reallywell and The special Punters’ Panel ing achange in FA guidelines looks a quality player. with the jumps rider begins regarding players from outside “The frustrating thing is that before the first race which is at the European Union. we don’t seem to have been con- 2.20pm. London Games The Australian will now not sulted, none of the clubs have. The Cheltenham Festival be eligible until she has se- “We’re not the only club in theme continues through the cured a sporting visa. this boat. We’ve not been con- afternoon as expert opinions Lincoln manager Glen Har- sulted and all of a sudden these are sought between the races. ris hopes the defender will be new rules are brought in. Racegoers will be able to dis- With the Olympics just around the corner, the equestrian available for the start of the “We thought we’d done cover the top tips of raceday world is starting to shape up for the forthcoming Games. Women’s Super League. things correctly and got her in presenter MikeVince, Tom But the issue will not be re- under a visa that would have Halliday scholar Ollie Garner, The Echo’s Dave Marshall speaks to potential Olympian solved before Sunday’s tie at allowedher to play football in New girls: Lincoln’s Australian duo Laura Alleway (left) and Collette the Tote’s George Primarolo – William Fox-Pitt about his chances of selection, his horses Ashby Avenue or the Lady this country.” McCallum. McCallum is set to face Arsenal, but Alleway is not eligible as well as myself ! and his hopes for next week’s Lincolnshire Horse Trials Imps’ Continental Cup trip to Alleway added: “Basically, as There will also be scenes re- Chelsea a week later. the league is deemed profes- miniscent of Noel Edmond’s which are already capturing the imagination Harris says Lincoln are not sional, I’m on the wrong visa. that I’m good enough to be the start of the Super League. House Party. the only Super League team to “We found out a couple of playing here and over someone “She’s been on fire for Eng- Fifteen lucky visitors will have been hampered by the weeks ago and since then we’ve who lives in England.” land and she’s worked really win the chance to enter a glass new guidelines and claimed been going through the process Meanwhile, fellow hard to gether strength and cube and the one who picks up He may have represented his top horses up to Lincoln. It is clubs were not consulted prop- of getting appeals done with centre-back Bradley faces at fitness up having had acouple the most tickets in 30 seconds country at three Olympic William Fox-Pitt always quite important to get erly by the FA before the rule the FA so I can actually play. least a month on the sidelines of injuries.” will go home with £1,000 of Games and countless world started and have a good first change. “They say Ihave to have after suffering an ankle injury To Harris’s relief, Lincoln do vouchers to spend at the race- class events, but William honours list outing. “We genuinely thought we’d played aminimum of ten Aus- while playing for England in have plenty of options at course. Fox-Pitt still admits to a tinge “The Lincolnshire Horse Tri- got everything sorted,” said tralia games and 75 per cent of the Cyprus Cup last week. centre-back, including Eng- And our splendid new res- of excitement when the Lin- Olympic Games als is always avery well or- Harris. “She landed in the games in the last year. “The initial fears were that land captain Casey Stoney, new taurant MaMa J’s opens for the colnshire Horse Trials come ganised and efficient event, country on February 4 and “We haven’t had that many she’d broken her ankle,” added signing Meaghan Seargent and first time –with the official around. Silver - Athens 2004 (team) which is very well presented. then on following Monday out international games in the Harris. Rachael Daly. ceremony carried out by Mas- As one of the first events of Bronze –Bejing 2008 (team) “There is always an air of come these guidelines. past year so Idon’t pass the “But it looks like ligament Stoney should be on a high terChef contestant Eamonn the year suitable for advanced excitement around the Lin- “We’ve applied to the Border criteria. damage so she’s looking at four after making her 100th appear- Hunt from Lincoln. horses, Fox Pitt will be one of World Championships colnshire venue and I am hope- Leap of faith: William Fox-Pitt makes amassive jump on Parklane Hawk Picture: Kit Houghton Agencyfor that, then we’ve got “Wehave to go to a boardof to six weeks out. We’ll be fight- ances for her country against many potential Olympians ful thatitwill provetobea to go to the FA.Then the like- members and prove our case ing to try and get her fight for France last weekend. Market Rasen form is best who will head for Lincolnshire Bronze –Jerez 2002 (team) productive event for me. lihood is that we’ll appeal it. for Cheltenham next week as they begin their Silver –Aachen 2006 (team) “The cross-country course is “If we’re successful we’ll still The agony and The big race on day one of the bid for selection for the London Gold –Kentucky 2010 (team) usually well-thought out and for aconfidence-boosting visit season and experience tells me than one horse every day, ”he b e t t e r, ”he added. have to send her back to Aus- the ecstasy of Cheltenham Festivalis the Games. Silver –Kentucky 2010 (ind) the ground is well prepared.” to the LincolnshireShow- thatyou can have a very good explained. “I very much hope Ican do tralia to get this visa. Sunday League Stan James . The Lincolnshire Horse Tri- As one of the more famous ground venue. year even if youdon’t start “I could spend eight hours a well and make the British “It could be a three or football I can’t see past the odds-on als starton Friday, March 16 European Champs names in the worldofBritish “Cool Mountain is currently well.” dayriding, butIam not com- team, Iam very pleased with four-week process.We’re hop- favourite Hurricane Fly. and conclude on Sunday eventing, Fox-Pitt is expecting out of contention, but I am very With the clock ticking down plaining, it is agreat wayto the team of horses I have. ing to get it sorted out before Football, p96 In , there’s an- March 18. Theevent is expec- Gold –Italy 1995 (team) to bring four of his top horses lucky to have some extremely towards the London Olympics, spend your working day. ” “A ll the riders in contention other short-priced market ted to attract more than 700 Gold –Burghley 1997 (team) to Lincoln. good back-up,” Fox-Pitt said. Fox-Pitt is stepping up prepar- Fox-Pitt has already com- for a place on the British team leader for Wednesday’s fea- competitors, with the cream of Silver –Burghley 1997 (ind) While perhaps his best “It is very important for mor- ations at his base near Stur- peted at the Atlanta, Athens will be doing their upmost so ture, the sportingbet.com Britain’s three-day-eventers Gold –2001 Pau (team) known horse,Cool Mountain, ale to have a good start to the minster Newton in Dorset. and Bejing Olympics and the there is a lot of competition for Queen Mother Champion hoping to impress selectors as Gold –P’town ‘03 (team) has been ruled out of Olympic season at Lincoln. With anumber of top horses father of two is optimistic of places. Chase. they get their Olympic year Gold –Blenham 2005 (team) contention through injury, “I would like to think we are to prepare, the former Olympic representing Great Britain “However, there is also a Golf I prefer the value –at about underway. Silver –Blenham 2005 (Ind) Hampstead-born Fox-Pitt will readyto do well, but Idon’t silver medalist admitted he again in London. great deal of camaraderie 5-1 or thereabouts –in Big Zeb “Lincoln will be the first Gold –F’bleau 2009 (team) be bringing Neuf des Coeurs, think it is essential thatwe could easilyspend all dayin “I feel very fortunate to have amongst those involved. Al- who won the race two years event of the season for my ad- Bronze –Luhmuhlen 2011 Lionheart, Oslo and Parklane should win. the saddle. two or three potential Olympic though we are competing ago. vanced horses,” Fox-Pitt said. (team) Hawk. “There will be many ups and “I am a professional sports- horses, but there is no indic- against each other, we are also Blankney golfer Jess Wilcox My pick of the opening two “Each year I try to bring my And the 43-year-old is hoping downs over the duration of the man and I need to ride more ation yet whichone will do very good friends.” secured one of the biggest vic- days though comes in the tories of her career by claiming Get fit, have fun and make new friends Weatherbys Champion Bump- the Hacienda del Alamo Wo- er,the last race on Wednesday. men’s Open. at Carholme Golf Club in Lincoln At odds of 10-1, New Year’s Eve French seeking some va-va voom in Lincolnshire horse trial event Wilcox, playing off -1, won the is my selection. 54-hole tournament by a huge Full Playing Membership now available from £45 per month. Thehorse was a very im- six shots. Junior and Student membership also available. pressive when winning here at When three sisters named the Horse Trials. “The cross-country course is past three years. “The horses are always a bit In an event sponsored by Market Rasen next month, and new addition to their family The annual event takes place well built and it gives the “Thereis no room forerror excited at the first event of the Nike Golf, Wilcox (pictured he’s my bet of the festival. after a literary hero, they at the Lincolnshire Show- horses a really good run at the and the horses have to be as year and they tend to get a bit right) carded three great Everyone is still hoping that might have chosen a more com- ground next week, and with start of the season.” well prepared as we can pos- windy. rounds to shoot 71-71-72 to win Kauto Star will recover from plimentary character than Pig- the London Olympic Games Piggy, who’s real name is Geor- sibly get them. “But these are two fantastic from Emily Taylor of Royal his heavy fall on his home gal- let from Winnie the Pooh. only months away, Piggy, who gina, finished the 2011 season in “Thankfully, both these horses and last year was a good Lytham. lops to be able to take his place But 31 years on and eques- is amember of the UK’s World fourth place in the British horses are looking good and we year forthem both. They are She will soon be returning to in the starting line-up for the trian star and British Olympic Class Squad, will be hoping for Eventing rider rankings and will give it a really good shot, both good enough to give it a England to compete in all the . hopeful Piggy French wouldn’t agood performance and asuc- was leading lady rider. both at Lincoln and for the rest really good go. major amateur competitions Next week, I’ll give you atip change a thing, writes Dave cessful start to this Olympic The Leicestershire-based of the season.” “If the Olympic Games was in in England and Scotland. for that race too. Marshall. year. rider was also selected for the British Olympic selectors two weeks time I would be in “This was a great event and a The next racing at Market “I suppose Icould have told “We are getting very busy now, British team at the European will be at the Lincoln event as with a good chance of selec- great triumph for Jess,” said Rasen Racecourse is on people somewhere along the the season is about to kick off,” Championships, winning a the cream of British tion, but they are not and there Jan Heywood of Blankney Golf Carholme Golf Club is an 18-hole course situated on Lincoln’sWest Common, designated Sunday11 March:Premier line that I actually had a real Piggy added. “I reallylike the bronze medal. three-day-eventing begin their is so much that could go wrong Club. All at Blankney wish her as an area of critical asset and natureconservation importance with superb views of the Members £26; County Enclos- name,”she said. Lincolnshire Horse Trials, I Her horse Jakata topped the quest for a place on the team. between now and the Games. every success.” Lincoln Cathedral and surrounding areas. ure £19; Tattersalls £14; Family “But my big sisters gave me wouldn’t miss it. British Eventing horse rank- Five horse and rider com- “There is a lot to lose, I think Enter the city on the A57 and drive alongside the race course, past the grandstand and Enclosure £9. that name because they thought “The ground is very good at ings forlast year,while DHI binations will be selected to it’s more difficult to stay at the Woodhall Spa the Golf Club is immediately on the right. Accompanied children 18 ad- I looked like Piglet when I was this time of year so it givesa Topper W finished the year represent Great Britain at the top than it is to get to the top. On March 1, the ladies played mitted free of charge. Parking born and it just stuck. good opportunity for me to ranked seventh. London Games. “But, the London Olympics the first qualifying Stableford free. “I don’t see whyIshould bring my top horses. “It is very important thatwe “We don’t actually have to go has been my aim for along competition of the season. Formore information at change now. ” “I will be bringing both my get a good start to the season,” to Lincoln and win,” said time now. The horses have to be Dianne Eddington wonwith w w w. m a rke t r a s e n r a c e s.c o.u k . Piggy French will be among a potential Olympic horses Jakata Piggy said. “Every event is im- Piggy. “A s long as we go there solid in all three events 34 points. Alyson Potton was The first race is at 2.20pm, list of famous names compet- and DHI Topper WtoLincoln portant now, we have been and put on a good perform- (dressage, showjumping and Dream team: William Fox-Pitt Picture: Adam Fanthorpe second with 34 points. Ann and gates open from 12.30pm. ing at this year’s Lincolnshire because it is such a good event. working towards this for the ance. cross country).” Leggate was third with 33, For further details, contact the Office on 01522-523725 Carholme Road, Lincoln, LN1 1SE Join in the discussion on click like at www.facebook.com/LincolnshireEchoSport Get the breaking sports news first via search for @LincsEchoSport Come and join us, you know you want to! ©NM