I am pleased to say that I successfully finished my challenge at Fontwell racecourse on 11th December!
Please read on to see what has been involved!.....
My challenge during 2012 was to visit the 31 English racecourses (on race days) that I haven't yet visited. During this time I have driven over 11,000 miles, spent the equivalent of 7 days at the wheel and a small fortune at the fuel pump!
The racecourses I have visited as part of my challenge during the year are listed below:
Huntingdon, Hereford, Wincanton, Towcester, Sedgefield, Uttoxeter, Kelso, Fakenham, Ludlow, and Goodwood, Chester, Plumpton, Aintree, Kempton & Windsor, Royal Ascot, Worcester, Newbury, Brighton, Cartmel, Sandown, Epsom, Stratford (where I was runner up in the Best Dressed Lady competition!!) Folkestone, Newmarket, Newton Abbot, Salisbury, Bath, Exeter, Taunton & Fontwell and I've had very nice days on each occasion!
I would like to thank my good friend Emma Pearmaine of Simpson Millar for her support & generosity at Aintree, John Powell of EPDS Racing, good pals Steve & Val Allen of General Welding for their ongoing support and friendship, Darren Cook & team at Hereford Races, Steve Parlett of Wincanton Racecourse, Jill Williamson of Sedgefield racecourse, Louise of Kelso racecourse (where the sun shone on us all day!) David Hunter, Chief Exec of Fakenham, Bob Davies of Ludlow, Lucy Faith & Bradley of Goodwood, Paul Clark & Jon of Plumpton, Helen Talbot of Kempton, Christina & Matthew of Windsor, Jenny Cheshire of Worcester, Cilla Osgood of Newbury, Stuart Dorn of Brighton, Annie of Sandown, Emma Santer of Folkestone, Fiona Watson, Patrick Masterson of Newton Abbot (where the meeting was almost abandoned at the last minute due to water logging!) Alexina Griggs of Salisbury & Tim Darby of Exeter, Bob Young and team who looked after me very well at Taunton and Phil Bell and Emma Newbery of Fontwell for their kind support. Thanks also to David Kay who has not only provided a nap of the day at each course throwing the winnings in the charity kitty, but kindly organised tickets for Royal Ascot Ladies Day which was a fabulous day and marked the half way point of my challenge being racecourse number 16!
When I visited Newbury, I also visited HEROS charity which is one of the charities I am supporting.... Spent a lovely couple of hours there and thank you to Hilary who showed me around and introduced me to the horses they currently have in their care including the ambassador Monsignor & his old mate Run for Paddy! Two superstars in their day! It was lovely to meet them all and to see the good work they do at HEROS.
I would like to thank everyone who has been supportive of my mission to attend the courses and raise money for 2 very worthy causes (my other charity being Kirkwood Hospice in West Yorkshire
www.kirkwoodhospice.co.uk). I would also like to thank everyone in advance of their support in the future and very much hope I can take a number of you along to the racecourses with me to experience the thrills of horse-racing (you are all welcome - just let me know!) and hopefully we can pick a few winners too and help the charities further!