One of Britain’s most famous point-to-point races has been given a historical update by West Midlands press officer Peter Mansell.
His 'The history of the Lady Dudley Challenge Cup 1978 – 2020' brings the contest up to date and follows on from the publication of a book written in 1978 by Jervis Foulds. He charted the contest from 1897 to 1977, a piece of diligent research which conveyed the importance 'the Dudley' had held for 80 years. Mansell's work now takes that through a century of races and counting.
In the foreword to his update – which can be found on the West Midlands Point-to-Point Association's website pointingwm.co.uk or by clicking on the link below – he writes: 'This race has been the centrepiece of the Worcestershire point-to-point since 1897. Prior to that races at all point-to-point meetings had only been for horses qualified with the promoting hunt, but that year the Countess of Dudley managed to secure funding for the 50-guinea cup that now bears her name.
'The race was "open to any horse qualified with one of the recognised packs of foxhounds in the UK" and can be said to have set the trend for the future.'
The 1978 race, the first which Mansell reflects upon, was a classic among Lady Dudley Cups, with Sporting Luck – who was trained in Yorkshire by Peter Beaumont – heading south and defeating local hero Sparkford. The fifth horse was Extra Fine, ridden by a youthful Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Sparkford's rider, John Bryan, apparently received some criticism for allowing Sporting Luck to establish a lead which he narrowly failed to bridge, but, according to Mansell's tally, at least the rider can take comfort in knowing he is the race's most successful rider with three wins and a second. Contemporary rider Alex Edwards, has three wins and a third and seems sure to take top spot in coming seasons. Edwards is pictured above winning the 2017 race on Barel Of Laughs.
Incidentally, Bryan's nephew, Peter, won the race in 2018 on Lotus Pond.
The 1985 winner, Ridgeman, was ridden by Keith Johnson, father of the great Jump jockey Dickie, while one of the great point-to-pointers, Brunico, landed the race in 1992 and 1993. A Gold Cup runner-up, Yahoo, scored in 1994.
Fans of pointing can learn plenty more about this famous race, and see photographs of all bar one of the winners since 1978, by clicking here.