GRIFFEN 2024 | 21 Walter Courage (1958) Racing was referred to as the ‘sport of kings’, implying that great wealth was needed to participate. A degree of affluence is required, but many more are enjoying being involved in the sport through syndicates, spreading the cost. Training fees of £3045,000 per annum, plus the purchase of a horse for £60,000 or so, can be shared by having a syndicate. I am part of the Thurloe Syndicate and we currently have four individual syndicates (one or two horses each) with 15 to 20 members in each. We are each classed as an owner, so can enjoy the privilege of race meetings when our horses run. It is a lot of fun, particularly when you have a winner! Horses are judged by their breeding and most are bought as yearlings, so unraced. This brings an element of luck, but a combination of breeding and the formation and movement of the horse dictates the price. There are many experts in this. As to my experience over the years, from being an owner and rider in the early days, to being a syndicate member now, there have been many ups and downs. I prefer to concentrate on the former. Recent highlights have included ‘Buzz’, trained by Nicky Henderson, winning both the Cesarewitch (flat race) and the Coral Cup (hurdles) in a 12-month period. Also, ‘Achelois’, trained by Andrew Balding, won at Glorious Goodwood. Two years ago, we had 11 winners in a single season. I have been involved in starting a new syndicate, The Cavalry and Guards, with the aim of running in the Grand Military Gold Cup in 2025. We have 25 members and each initially paid £1500 to buy the horse and now contribute £100 per month towards training and expenses. Being in a syndicate is less expensive, but just as much fun. There is the enjoyment of being with a group of friends, watching the progress of the horse through stable visits, and the races themselves. Tim Hadaway (1991) After leaving Abingdon in 1991, Tim attended the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester on their BSc International Agriculture and Equine Business Management course. Tim had competed in the sport of Eventing for some years and on graduating from the RAC, he pursued a career in the equine industry, initially setting up a business designing and building cross-country courses. A stint of work experience in Scotland at the Blair Castle International Horse Trials resulted in an offer to become assistant to the then Event Director, Andrew Tulloch. When the latter moved on to become Operations Director at Aintree Racecourse, Tim took on the lead role where he remained until 2001. While living and working in Perthshire, Tim was appointed by British Eventing, the UK’s governing body, as one of their Technical Advisors. Quickly, he advanced to the international equivalent role of Technical Delegate, which brought opportunities to officiate at Bramham International Horse Trials in Yorkshire, the 2006 Asian Games in Doha and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The early 2000s saw Tim take up the role of Sport and Technical Manager at British Eventing, overseeing what was then 150 events nationwide and the underpinning structure of regulation, officials, safety and development. Setting up in consultancy in 2005, he worked extensively for the British Equestrian Federation on a range of projects including facilities development, increasing participation and club and coach development. During this time, he sat on a working group in 2003 advising on the choice of an equestrian venue for a bid being put together to host the Olympic Games in London. It was therefore with some irony that Tim subsequently joined the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) in 2008 as Equestrian Sport Manager, responsible for delivering the equestrian competitions in the heart of London at Greenwich Park. This was undoubtedly the most challenging project he has worked on to date, but ultimately the most unique, amazing and rewarding experience of his working life so far. At the conclusion of the successful London Games, Tim was invited to join the sport’s international governing body, the Federation Equestre Internationale. There he established a new role, Director for Games Operations, and since 2013 has been hugely privileged to travel the globe working with organisers of Olympic and Paralympic Games, Championships and other major events, helping to ensure they are delivered according to the sport’s requirements and expectations. The Paris 2024 Games are on the horizon and work is already underway on preparations for Los Angeles 2028! Equine Sports Sailing (L to R) Andrew Balding, Walter Courage, Rob Hornby Ben Hancock (2001) Ben and his crew left Skagway, Alaska, on the 12 June and, at the time of writing, had travelled to Tuktoyatuk on the northern coast of the Canadian Northwest Territories. From there, they were hoping to continue to Greenland over the following couple of months, weather permitting. Ben is on sabbatical from his position in infrastructure project management for the Government of Yukon. He lives with his wife Sarah, and shaggy dog Bruce, in Whitehorse, Yukon, having emigrated after retirement from ten years of military service with the Royal Engineers. They have purchased a plot of land and hope in due course to build their own idyllic cabin in the woods. News submitted by Ben’s brother, Daniel Hancock (1998) Ben and his wife Sarah
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