Riders and organisers from Ilkley & District Driving Affiliation (IDRA) have been overjoyed to welcome John Whitaker to offer their annual awards – 50 years after he closing did so.
The showjumping legend, who passed out the trophies on the first IDRA presentation night time in 1973, returned closing Saturday (2 December) within the membership’s fiftieth anniversary 12 months.
“He was once superb,” IDRA chair Carol Dawson informed H&H. “The reality he got here again was once improbable. We had the Duchess of Devonshire at our display in August, and this was once the icing at the cake for our competition.”
Ms Dawson mentioned the membership, which was once shaped to improve novice riders of every age, has participants from 5 to 75 years outdated.
Image by means of Bobby Jo Imaging
“I mentioned to the participants ‘You’ll by no means omit this night, or the reminiscences you create at those grassroots golf equipment’,” she mentioned. “All of the winners got here as much as song associated with their names, or their horses’ – any individual mentioned it was once just like the Oscars – it was once simply good, I feel it was once the spotlight of my 15 years as chairman. I will’t thank John sufficient.”
Ms Dawson competed in opposition to John within the Nineteen Seventies, and recollects him leaping the mythical Ryan’s Son at one in all his first presentations.
“He got here in on what we idea appeared like a carthorse, gained arms down and were given 50p and a purple rosette!” she mentioned. “And that horse took him to the Olympics, and altered his lifestyles. He informed me this weekend, he went to the Nice Yorkshire Display on Ryan’s Son in about 1974 and felt truly outclassed; he informed his dad he didn’t suppose he would return – however he did, and gained the Cock o’the North.
“I mentioned to John that those grassroots golf equipment are so vital and he agreed, it’s the place long term stars are made.”
John mentioned: “It was once so great to look such a lot of enthusiastic horse other people of every age.”
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