Drivers and Trainers Down Time (July 2011)

 

 

Trainers work seven days a week, 24 hours a day.  Nothing stops.  Statutory holidays mean nothing. In fact, often there are race meetings on those holidays.

Horses still have to be fed, watered, boxes mucked out, track work completed and ailments treated, whatever day of the week or time of the year it is.

However, everyone needs some time off and a change of scenery from the work place.  If not to rest the body, but to rest the mind.

 

 

 

 

(Happy even in winter! Endorsement on her cap
Whales Hotline - Nicky's sponsor )

 

Winter time is the quietest time of the year when there are obviously less horses in the stable to be worked and looked after.  So this is the time when staff can generally get away.  All the staff at White Star Stables have been doing just that during June and July.  But no-one anticipated the holiday time being as tumultuous as it was this year.

Earthquakes and Ash Clouds – what a contrast!

 

With Loki Brogden qualifying for the Jewels at virtually the last minute, Nicky had to make arrangements for his travel and her own, to Ashburton for the 4 June race meeting.  Arrangements were made for his accommodation and her own with Doug and Susan Breed who train on their property at Ashburton.  But prior to this, she had made arrangements for a holiday break with Arna Donnelly and another friend, at the Gold Coast (Australia) starting 6 June.

Once the Jewels were run in Ashburton, she flew back to Auckland on the Sunday morning for one night at home and then flew to Brisbane with Jetstar for what was supposed to be a relaxing 7 days, enjoying the sun (which did not entirely eventuate), reading and enjoying some of the night life.  But 48 hours prior to coming home, the “Ash Cloud” reared its ugly head and created air travel havoc.

 

Jetstar were cancelling flights and Nicky had to find an alternative airline which was flying, to rebook and get home.  Alan Shand was due to go away on holiday to Timaru on her return and she had to get home.  After a number of hours on the internet and phone – she managed to get a flight on Emirates Airlines from Brisbane to Auckland.

 

The return flight itself had its dramas with turbulence making it a very uncomfortable flight back to New Zealand. 

 

Alan Shand then went off on his “road trip” to Timaru the day after Nicky got back.  The trip itself was uneventful until he got to Christchurch.  He stayed near the “Red Zone” in Christchurch and felt a few small after-shocks.  This was a little unnerving so he decided to stay at Woodend – there he experienced quite a large jolt! 

 

We do not realise what the Canterbury people have had to endure during the last nine months from September when Darfield was the centre of the first earthquake and February when Christchurch itself suffered the devastating one the results of which we have been seeing on the television in recent times.

 

Also during this time, Nicky had a milestone birthday.  This was actually 4 June, Harness Jewels day and her birthday was recognised on Trackside by Greg O’Connor and Mark McNamara. 

 

 

In the meantime, her mother, Lynn, was arranging a surprise dinner party on her return from her holiday.  This was held at Onyx Restaurant in Cambridge and she was completely surprised – not suspecting a thing.

Happy Birthday Nicky!

 

 

 

News December 2010

News March 2011

 

 

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