Fitzdares Times | issue 14

S B C R A C I N G B O O K M A K E R O F T H E Y E A R 2 0 2 0 • F I T Z D A R E S. C O M • F O U R T E E N T H E D I T I O N, S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 • N O U N D E R 2 1 s

HIGH LIFE Jonathan Kumuteo’s long road to his pro dream

TOUR OF DUTY Stuart Barnes on the magic of the Lions

COMETH

YEAR OF THE KAT? The top Brits to follow in Tokyo

SPEED FREAKS How Stokes can rule again

BY HENRY BEESLEY

BY SIR GEOFFREY BOYCOTT

THE MAN

Gareth Southgate’s new generation of England stars offer the tantalising possibility of success on home soil this summer, says broadcasting legend and fan John Motson be a festival of football for England HEN I WAS A COMMENTATOR, I loved the job and felt very involved in the set-up with millions of people tuning in.

I used to have to bottle up my feelings, although when you were commentating on England you were allowed a little bit of patriotic involvement.

I remember when David Beckham scored that free kick against Greece in 2001 – Trevor Brooking and I just lost it completely, running uncontrollably down the commentary gantry. Nobody could stop us. It was always a pleasure and privilege to cover England. Now, as an fan, I can’t wait to enjoy what lies ahead for this talented and exciting England team.

Before we get too carried away, you can’t compare this England team to Alf Ramsey’s World Cup-winning side of 1966, or even Sven Goran-Eriksson’s squad of the early

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2000s. The latter side was packed with world-class quality all over the pitch. No, this England squad is by no means the best we’ve ever had. However, in my view it’s by far and away the most promising.

By that, I find it astonishing how many young players Gareth Southgate has brought through during his time in charge.

As fans, how could we have known so many young players would have emerged from the woodwork in the three years since the World Cup? I certainly didn’t see it coming.

Maybe Gareth did.

All that promise has put them right at the top of the market as joint favourites with France, which is probably about right, considering England’s home advantage.

Most of their games will be at Wembley, especially if they make it all the way to the final. They will be playing and training in very familiar surroundings.

That said, playing a major tournament at home is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the expectation on Gareth’s men is stratospherically high, from both the fans and the press, which can incur huge, even unrealistic, pressure on the individuals. On

What’s really exciting about this team, more than anything, is that our attackers really can ‘do things’ on the ball. the other hand, the team should be spurred on by plenty of encouragement from such a patriotic crowd, especially in the moments before games. The frenzied waving of flags as fans flood the team bus, or the deafening roar at Wembley, should provide that necessary dose of adrenaline. It promises to

supporters, much like how we remember the iconic Euro ’96 tournament.

What’s really exciting about this team, more than anything, is that our attackers really can ‘do things’ on the ball. They all create and score in equal measure, none more so than Harry Kane. Then you’ve got Jack Grealish, Mason Mount and Phil Foden, our midfield maestros with their magic vision. While Foden was on the losing side in the Champions League Final, you could argue he has the highest ceiling of the three.

The ability of Grealish is also outstanding. This has been aimed at lots of players in the past, but I really think he’s the nearest thing we’ve got to Paul Gascoigne, who we found very difficult to replace.

I’d worry slightly about Jack’s fitness if he is to take up the mantle. However, when he’s at full speed with his socks rolled →

02 MOTTY’S 1ST XI 9 11

20

Kane (c)

Rashford

Foden

19

8

4 Mount

Henderson

Rice

21 Chilwell

2 6

5

Maguire

Walker

Stones

1 Pickford

John Motson spent decades describing England’s ups and downs to a watching nation

→ down, he’s going to terrorise those overseas defenders. If he’s given the freedom to move across the line, he’ll unsettle even the very best in Europe.

Kane will relish having those players behind him and will be desperate to not just lead his nation to glory but also get his hands on that golden boot. If there’s one player out there who might pip him to the post, it could be Kylian Mbappé. He’s got just that little bit of extra quality and I suspect he will be one of the stars of the tournament.

In the hot-seat, Gareth Southgate is definitely the right man for the job. His background in both managing a Premier League side in Middlesbrough and the England U21s gives him a great blend of experience. He’s able to draw on all that knowledge, having worked so hard on the developmental side of the England set-up.

He isn’t just a typical ex-club manager who dips in every now and then when there’s an international to pick the players.

Our raison d’être When you last received a copy of the Fitzdares Times at Christmas, the UK was locking down county by county.

Rather than twiddle our thumbs, we’ve used the last six months to double (or quadruple?) our support for racing, investing almost a million pounds into the sport.

This includes three new sponsorships: Mondays at Windsor, the Curragh’s 200th Royal Whip and former Champion Amateur Jockey (and professional gentleman) David Maxwell. We also support David Crosse’s jockey school and the country’s two best podcasts, Off The Bridle and Nick Luck Daily. On top of that, we are refurbishing the Owners & Trainers enclosure at Goodwood for our Club members.

Racing is our raison d’être, and we are fully committed to supporting the sport through thick and thin. The real truth, though, is that it’s all down to you placing your wagers with us. You are supporting racing. For that, we are forever grateful. See you on course!

William Woodhams, CEO

Southgate is very meticulous in his approach. He’s been around the grounds, all over the country watching players with his assistant Steve Holland. They are both exceptionally thorough in their homework, and you can guarantee that no stone will be left unturned in England’s preparation for the tournament. He’s also very good in front of the camera, exuding calmness and authority when speaking to the media, as well as conveying an assured image on the touchline. I’m absolutely certain there is nobody better to be leading England going into this tournament.

There are still lessons to learn from the last World Cup. Aside from the need to move the ball a bit quicker, a change of mentality is critical if they are to make that big step towards becoming champions.

They’ve always thought of themselves as underdogs. Now they must approach the tournament thinking “We are World Cup semi-finalists”, rather than this typical inferiority complex. They need to be more positive and confident.

Southgate has enhanced his tactical knowledge considerably since 2018. With just a few tweaks, he’s now able to shift the mood and shape of the side, and he now knows how to use his substitutes effectively.

It’s going to be very important who he puts on the bench, aided, of course, by the fact they can use five subs.

If we are playing against one of the topclass sides, he might look to play with two sitting midfielders like Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips. Against a weaker nation, like Hungary, he’d say: “Two of you can go forward if one of you sits.” The sitter would have to be very disciplined.

HERE’S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, there have been tournaments in the past where the press has been right on England’s back. It’s affected the team and sparked a really unsavoury relationship. I don’t think that will happen this time. The players are mature enough to know they will be judged on their merits.

Gareth has worked wonders to try to foster a more constructive rapport between the press and the players. In the last World Cup, he allowed the journalists to visit the players’ camp to play darts, as a way of trying to smooth that relationship. Off the back of that, you’d hope the press will report the team’s performances as honestly and as accurately as they can.

It’s really over to how well England

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perform. If they play well, there’s no reason why they can’t make the final at Wembley on 11 July. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them ending up against Belgium, after they beat us twice in Russia. That would be the perfect opportunity to get one back on

them. But more than anything, the romantic in me is hoping for an England vs Scotland final. That would be fun. n John Motson commentated in 49 countries

during his 50-year his career in TV and radio.

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RETURNED £18,200 EDITED, DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY FITZDARES LTD

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2021

Dressing Gentlemen for 25 years oliverbrown.org.uk

04 SPEAKER’S CORNER Mike Cattermole

NATIONAL MALAISE HERE HAS BEEN SOME PRETTY SERIOUS self-contemplation among our leading British racing professionals since the Irish domination of the Cheltenham Festival. Most of us, if we are being honest, probably saw it coming – but perhaps not quite to that extent. The Irish are certainly in pole position, with a proven and trusted system of breeding potential champions who are then given the best education in their point-to-point fields.

We have nothing that compares. Prize money is a factor, too, and perhaps also the structure and composition of the racing calendar.

But not much of that would have explained what happened in the Grand National. With barely any time for the home team to regroup, the Irish returned three weeks later to monopolise our greatest chase. It was so one-sided that the British Horseracing Authority is mobilising a team to look into the way we handicap our jumpers, to see if there are any answers there.

There could be something to work on in that scenario, but it almost certainly

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We got what we deserved.

Our line-up was largely made up of ageing and exposed chasers.

won’t provide a definitive answer as to why the Irish sent out 12 of the 15 finishers at Aintree. Crucially, they included the first five, and ten out of the first 11. Of the 25 that failed to finish, 19 were trained in Britain.

In truth, we got entirely what we deserved. Our 22-strong line-up was largely made up of ageing and exposed chasers who had seen much better days: five of them were 12-year-olds and nine others were aged 11. Contrast that with the Irish contenders, which contained none older than 11 (three of them) and included five eight-year-olds (including the winner and fourth) and even a couple of sevenyear-olds – younger, vibrant and unexposed chasers who were largely approaching, or in, their prime. It was a winning formula.

It was left to Blaklion, a 12-year-old who had not won in ten starts since December 2017, to take sixth and stop the whitewash. Britain’s other ‘heroes’ were Hogan’s Height (10) in 12th place and the ex-Irish veteran Sub Lieutenant (12) in 14th. What about the hapless Brits that failed to complete?

FALLERS Vieux Lion Rouge (12) fell for the first time in his life, but a blatant non-stayer

in four previous Nationals.

Double Shuffle (11) fell for just the second time in his career but at least lined

up in good form, if an uncertain stayer.

Ami Desbois (11) last won in December 2017.

Lake View Lad (11) fell at the first but had been put up an extraordinary 8lb

for winning a ‘joke’ race on the Mildmay course in December when nine of the 19 fences were omitted due to low sun.

Canelo (8) fell for the first time under Rules, but at least young and in some sort of form.

PULLED UP Definitly Red (12) pulled up, as he was in his only previous National four years

before, and promptly retired from racing.

Potters Corner (11) in first-time blinkers, having had issues and been lightly

raced since his 2019 Welsh National win.

Bristol De Mai (10) probably being asked the impossible. The last to win the

National under top weight? Red Rum in 1974.

OK Corral (11) was also pulled up in his prep run after 14 months off.

Takingrisks (12) the surprising gamble of the race as the veteran raced off his

joint-highest career mark, 15lb higher than his 2019 Scottish National win.

Give Me A Copper (11) pulled up in his prep run, which was just his second run

back since a wind operation and a year off.

Talkischeap (9) last won in April 2019 and arguably one of the worst

handicapped in the race, being still 10lb higher than his last win in spite of showing little in three chases since.

Kimberlite Candy (9) didn’t get his much preferred very soft conditions, and 13lb higher than his Warwick win.

Mister Malarky (8) never going, but the Tizzards never hit their top form in a disappointing season. Also a second run after a wind operation.

Lord Du Mesnil (8) at least in form and had 5lb in hand on the day on his new rating, but didn’t get the muddy conditions in which he excels.

Cloth Cap (9) perhaps the only British contender to have a ‘live’ chance on the day, he ran well until being pulled up with a breathing issue.

OTHERS Ballyoptic (11) refused; had been largely out of sorts this season.

Yala Enki (11) unseated his rider; another who needed plenty of rain to excel.

Minellacelebration (11) had an unlucky season and stumbled and unseated

here, but this was his first run after yet another (his third) wind operation.

Go on then, call me Captain Hindsight! What is in no doubt, however, is that the National is a vastly altered race. It has been modified into a largely much safer test, which requires a change of mindset about what a ‘National type’ is these days. The Irish have grasped it and we need to, too – and quickly – or we will get more of the same next time round.

In the meantime, much work needs to be done on the overall British National Hunt picture for our jumpers to hold their own again when it matters most. n Piloted by Rachael Blackmore, Minella Times led the Irish charge at April’s Grand National

Mike Cattermole has been a racing commentator for over 20 years.

B ac a c k Th e B ig i g ges ge s t Th is Summer S u mm e r

www.themagnumcompany.com Use Fitzdares at checkout for an exclusive 15% discoun discountt

HEN WE LAUNCHED our Fitzdares Fighting Futures boxing event at The Ned four years ago, it was born out of a passion for grassroots sport; a way for us to give something back to the sport that our chairman, Balthazar Fabricius, is so passionate about. On the night, eight amateurs lined up for their respective gyms, representing the diverse corners of London’s boxing scene. Under one spotlight was the famous FitzRoy Lodge from Lambeth, another Dale Youth, once located at Grenfell Tower, and Finchley ABC, where a shy heavyweight by the name of ‘AJ’ honed his skills.

Each fighter at The Ned was not just representing their gym, however, but also a dream. A dream that through hard work, discipline and of course talent, you can make it to the very top. These guys were fighting for their futures, and it was electric. In fact, for one fighter, that night supercharged his passion. Four years later, on 30 April 2021, Jonathan Kumuteo lit up York Hall on BT Sport with a four-round win in front of a small crowd, including famous commentator Steve Bunce.

For Kumuteo, it has been an extraordinary road to this point. Disney is unlikely to make an inspirational story about amateur boxing any time soon, but if it did, there would be worse people to turn to. As a kid, he fled war-torn DR Congo, escaping to Zambia before being woken up by his mother one evening, when he was just seven years old, to make the 12,000km trip to London.

As a fiercely competitive youngster, he attended his first boxing session at the age of 15 and instantly fell in love with the game. He was hooked. He joined Finchley ABC soon

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RISING thereafter and made his amateur debut in 2012, gradually climbing the ranks, culminating in a win in the London ABA Championships. His amateur career was significantly hampered by hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a rare, inflammatory skin condition that threatened to curtail his boxing career entirely. The condition (which affects less than 1 per cent of the UK population) causes painful abscesses and scarring on the skin. It affected him for four years, leading to three operations and many months on the sidelines.

It was in 2016 when Kumuteo was first diagnosed with HS, after an initial operation to drain an abscess on his arm. A second procedure followed a year later, forcing him to the sidelines for eight months. Explaining the extent of his incapacity after his second operation, he says: “I couldn’t even wash my face or brush my teeth.”

On the night of the Fitzdares Fighting Futures, he had just returned from his first operation and wasn’t ready to fight. “I had been laid down for eight months and was still taking 16 tablets a day. It was the most difficult year of my life, but my strength of mind and competitive spirit allowed me to fight that night.” To be where he is now is even more remarkable when you consider he lost his fight that night. Despite that, he reflects fondly on the evening: “I loved everything about

Jonathan Kumuteo, who competed at the first Fitzdares Fighting Futures boxing event in 2017, tells

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FROM THE NED it. It was a great show. I loved it. A beautiful venue, The Ned.” In May last year, Kumuteo signed with Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions agency, one of the biggest operations of its kind in the world. Warren has represented some of the biggest names in the history of boxing, including the likes of Frank Bruno, Ricky Hatton and Tyson Fury, making it the perfect place for Kumuteo to bruise his way through the professional ranks. 2020 was supposed to be the year that Kumuteo’s career took off. After signing with Queensbury, a live fight was almost certain to follow – or so he thought – but the pandemic put the launch of his professional career on hold. He was training three times a day, five times a week, ensuring that he was perfectly prepared for a call-up, not earning a penny in the process.

“The first lockdown was like lockdown four,” Kumuteo says, making it clear that he’d “been there three times prior” after the three operations that had left him bed-ridden for months on end. He picked himself up off the canvas again, however, appreciating the fact that he was – for the first time in four years – fully healthy. Despite the troubles of 2020, he even claims: “I actually had some fun last year.” He did indeed. His quick wit and humour left Judge Rinder out for the count when leaving the reality hit TV show with £2,525.09 for damages to his Range Rover following a crash.

us how a long fight of a different kind is finally paying dividends for him Kumuteo is clearly a different proposition in 2021, after a clinical first professional win, over Dale Arrowsmith. “This time I’m 120 per cent,” he says. “Mentally, I am so strong, I have taken my game to a whole new level.” We priced him up at 1/100, but even that was generous. It was never in doubt. Not in Kumuteo’s mind, not in ours. “It wasn’t the best performance, but you could see the gulf in class and skill between me and my opponent – it didn’t require a lot for me to beat him. Ring-rust was evident, but it just goes to show I’m a whole different athlete now.” He adds: “That was a C-minus performance – you’re going to see a much better version of myself next time.”

A first professional fight and now the shackles are off, right? Not exactly for Kumuteo, who is in no rush. Instead, he reflects on the five years that he describes as a “hell of a struggle”, while taking time to appreciate the fact that he’s achieved “a 10-year dream in having a first professional fight”.

His contract with Queensbury facilitates him to fight five times a year, something he expects to achieve in 2021, and he hopes to be out next in July, in front of a crowd. The prospect of fighting in front of an audience is extremely important to Kumuteo, to showcase his punching prowess in front of his close friends and family who have supported him.

PERFECTLYFRANK Ricky Hatton Light welterweight, welterweight “The Hitman” Hatton won the WBU world belt in 2001, aged 22, but it was his sensational victory over Kostya Tszyu for the IBF title in 2005 that really put him up among the sport’s biggest names.

Frank Bruno Heavyweight Known for his exceptional punching power, Bruno finally shed his ‘nearly-man’ tag when becoming WBC heavyweight champion in 1995 in front of a sell-out crowd at Wembley at the fourth time of asking.

As for his next opponent, “I let my team handle that – that’s no longer in my hands. I trust that I am in the right place,” under the Frank Warren wing. He currently competes as a middleweight but intends to switch down to super-welterweight. “I’m a lot faster, a lot stronger at that weight category. That’s where I am at my quickest and most effective.”

Kumuteo is predictably positive with regards to the future.

“The only way is up,” he says. “I’m on a new journey now. My professional debut closes that chapter of struggle.” The one

Seven boxers who made it big as part of promoter Frank Warren’s stable

Chris Eubank Middleweight, super middleweight The wildly charismatic and eccentric Eubank won his first world title, the WBO middleweight belt, in a shock win over Nigel Benn in 1990.

Joe Calzaghe Light heavyweight, super middleweight After switching to Warren’s stable in 1996, Calzaghe dominated the super middleweight division, winning world titles at WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, Ring and Lineal, before defeating Bernard Hopkins in 2008 to become world champion at light heavyweight.

Tyson Fury Heavyweight Fury exploded onto the scene when he beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, taking the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring titles.

After joining Warren in 2017, he fought Deontay Wilder twice.

One draw. One win.

Nigel Benn Middleweight, super middleweight “The Dark Destroyer” picked himself off the canvas in Atlantic City to defeat Doug DeWitt when becoming WBO middleweight champion in 1990. After losing to Eubank, he took the WBC title in 1992 with a third-round defeat of Italian, Mauro Galvano.

Naseem Hamed Featherweight “Prince” Naseem won his first world title in 1995 and remained unbeaten for another six years, adding the IBF and WBC belts to that original WBO title. He lost only once in 37 fights.

thing he wants to achieve most, however, by the time he hangs up his gloves is to “empower the youth and inspire the next generation”. He has clearly not forgotten his roots, describing how he benefited from “lessons that people would pay thousands for” throughout his time at Finchley ABC, learning from some of the “UK’s boxing greats – AJ [Anthony Joshua], Chisora…”. He describes himself as a “sponge, soaking up information” from these champions, and he hopes to one day have the same impact on the stars of the future.

Kumuteo is not getting ahead of himself, however. He describes this phase of his career as “the building stage”, developing his “name, status and confidence”. “As far as I’m concerned – and forgive me for my language – but I don’t give a f*** what any other fighter is doing. I pay attention to the top dogs in the division… but I am only focused on me, myself and I, and being the best version of myself.”

So we shouldn’t expect him to be calling out any fighters on Twitter, then? “Until I’m top 3, 4, 5 rated [in the country], I don’t see the point in calling out any fighters. When I get to the levels of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua – hell yeah, of course I’m going to call people out.”

Ambitious indeed, but Kumuteo is no stranger to defying the odds. “On paper, you’d bet against me because it doesn’t really make sense. Three years of inactivity, one due to the pandemic and two years recovering from a very serious operation. Yet I pretty much came out unscathed.” His ability to pick himself up off the canvas, figuratively and literally, is sure to serve him well in his quest to reach the top. n

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DIARY You really don’t forget the first time. 7AM minibus from school.

Packed lunch eaten by 8. Arrive at 9. Queue (fun for a while, then boring). Get in. Run round like idiots spotting players on the outside courts who you’ve never heard of but pretend you have. Minibus leaves at 5. Asleep at 10 past.

Overwhelmed by the occasion.

It was 1970. And I’ve missed out the highlight of the day: somehow, around mid-afternoon, plucking up the courage to ask Ilie Nastase to sign my programme. Knowing what we know now about Ilie, I suspect he did it grudgingly and grumpily, but in my mind he smiled and said he’d be delighted to, because I grew my hair like his, and he was my hero.

Two years later, he lost in the final to the military precision of the American Stan Smith. I cried. Forty years after that, I interviewed Stan Smith. “Nobody wanted me to win that day,” he said. “You’re not kidding,” said the man with the microphone.

My father once said to me, probably around that time in the early Seventies, that if you haven’t got the programme, you haven’t been to the match. A cursed statement if ever there was one. Fifty years of sporting programmes occupy – rather, ‘squat in’ – my house. One for each year at the All England Club, and most signed by somebody. Sue Barker in 1973 – now she did smile.

John Newcombe actually wrote “See you playing here one day” above his signature. In my dreams.

And then there’s 1977.

Another minibus journey. Another programme, signed by the men’s semi-finalists: Borg, Connors and Gerulaitis. One name is missing: the surprise qualifier from America. The bus was about to go. “He’s a no-hope pup from New York and you’ll never hear of him again,” someone shouted. “Now are you coming?” Twenty-five years later, when we worked together for the first time, he signed. “Better late than never. Best wishes. John McEnroe.”

They all sit there, these programmes, as memories of great players and great matches, but also of our own lives. Interviewing Boris Becker after he’d won at 17, realising he was nearly a decade younger than me, and my own tennis ship had well and truly sailed over the horizon. The day it rained, and we had to fill six hours of radio with chat. Not a ball was hit, so somebody went to the Royal Box and asked if any of the guests fancied helping out. And Tom Hanks sat in the commentary box for a few hours just to talk and pass the time. Honestly. Why did I not get him to sign that day’s programme?

That interminable semi-final when Tim Henman was going to finally make it, but the skies kept crying and Goran Ivanisevic slammed the door.

by John Inverdale

Interviewing a crestfallen Tim afterwards, the programme sitting on the desk in front of him, but resisting the temptation to ask. There are times and there are times. Rafa just signed with the word “Vamos”. Roger was more Swiss: “Enjoyed talking.”

Good times and bad times – sometimes together. That Saturday in 2013 when Marion Bartoli won the ladies’ singles, and I made an inexcusable remark on air that put me and not her on the front pages. And the next day Andy Murray only went and did what we’re all been waiting for since long before that first minibus trip 43 years earlier. It’s a bar-room debate with no end, but he is this country’s greatest ever sportsman, bar none.

This year will be the 50th Championships I’ve been to. A couple – inexcusably – were missed along the way. (Did I really go on holiday to a Greek island one year instead of going to rainy SW19?) From the days of Laver and Billie Jean to the current world of Djokovic and Osaka. The greatest match? The 2008 final, when Nadal won as day became night. And “I was there” when John Isner beat Nicolas Mahut in the contest that lasted for ever – at 6-6 in the fifth, sent down to court 18 to interview the winner. Two days later we were all still there.

Ask a cricket fan about the magic and majesty of Lord’s, and they’ll mumble about “the moment you walk through the Grace gates”. The Arch at Wembley induces similar incoherence. Position yourself by the last at Cheltenham on the Monday before the festival, and you can hear the hoofbeats even though there’s not a horse in sight. So it is at Wimbledon. To stand on Centre Court, a solitary figure as the sun dips below the stands, is to see and feel as though it was yesterday, a montage of figures from Wade to Williams. To hear the umpire – “Game, set and match, Miss Navratilova” – and isn’t that Cliff Richard in the Royal Box conducting an impromptu singalong? To remember Sampras crumbling to the worn turf in disbelief, Borg on his knees, Rafa on his back, Andy in tears, in defeat, and ultimately in triumph.

And at some point during this year’s Championships, I’ll be sitting in a commentary box with JP McEnroe. And fleetingly, it’ll be the summer of ’77, when Fleetwood Mac collided with the Sex Pistols, and I was a student and he was a no-hope pup from New York. And for a very brief moment you wonder if you’d swap it all to have played just once – even a 6-0 6-0 6-0 defeat to a random Eastern European in the first round. Because the thing is, if you had, you’d have been in the programme. n John Inverdale is our tennis Ambassador, and a broadcaster for ITV and the BBC.

Ilie Nastase may have lost the 1972 final to Stan Smith, but he was a winner with the fans

the fitzdares club at goodwood

This summer, the Fitzdares Club will be returning to Sussex’s Goodwood Racecourse for the remainder of the flat racing season.

FITZDARES CLUB MEMBERS will have access to the Owners & Trainers Pavilion, which has been given a new lease of life by our interior designer, Rosanna Bossom. Situated right next to the parade ring, it is the ultimate racing hotspot.

The highlights of the season include the Qatar Glorious Goodwood Festival in July, the August Bank Holiday meeting, the Midweek Racing Meeting in September and the Season Finale in October. Four consecutive months of sensational racing. DJ Carl Cox will be spinning fans into a frenzy post-racing at the August meeting.

There is no better time to become a member of the Fitzdares Club and take advantage of our glorious enclosure at the country’s most beautiful track, especially at a time when there will be limited attendees. We look forward to seeing you there. To enquire, please email club@fitzdares.com

10 IMAGE © THE CHESHIRE MAGAZINE

SERVICE WITH SIR JOHN TIMPSON

“Businesses think they can solve all their problems by going online. They’re actually just irritating loads of people.”

ARELY ONE MONTH HAD PASSED since the Cheltenham Festival when Sir John Timpson penned an article for The Daily Telegraph, wading in on one of the greatest business flaws of the 21st Century. The demise of customer service in an increasingly digital world. As a long-term owner with horses under Henry Daly, Paul Webber and Venetia Williams, Sir John has occasionally been prone to a flutter in his local shop. In March, ahead of the Festival, he opened an online account for the very first time – despite being wary of its pitfalls.

After a fast start, the bookmaker closed his account and demanded documents. His multiple attempts to contact their customer service team bore no fruit. Instead, he was ‘faced’ with a bot. No surprise that the day his damning article was published, he received two phone calls from them.

His column that day grabbed our attention. As a bookmaker who still operates a highly personal phone service (dare we say), this anecdote was an affirmation of our ways. In Sir John, we had discovered a kindred spirit and felt compelled to reach out. What more could we learn from a man who has turned Timpson into one of the most popular companies to work for in the country?

B

Recruitment Is Key “Years ago, we discovered that the most important thing in our business is how well we serve our customers. Nothing else matters as much. The way to give great customer service is to trust your employees. We look for personality. We don’t care what’s on their CV or their application form. What matters is: have they got that spark?”

How does he find the right people to trust, though? It must be a logistical nightmare to constantly hire the right person, when such emphasis is placed on personality. Not only that, but their admirable commitment to hiring ex-offenders (10% of the Timpson’s workforce) places even more scrutiny on the recruitment process.

Sir John has a very simple answer, “A Mr. Men interview form.” Author Roger Hargreaves would no doubt be ‘Mr.

Shocked’ to know that his caricatures were being used as a Human Resources tool. But when explained, it makes complete sense: “It’s a sheet of paper with the names of the Mr. Men. On one column you have the likes of Mrs. Happy, Mr. Keen, Mr. Helpful. On the other, Mr. Grumpy, Mr. Dull, Miss.

Late, and so on. We chat to the interviewees and tick all the caricatures that the person fits. If someone has enough positive Mr. Men in their repertoire then we pay for them to work in one of our shops for a trial day.”

Unsurprisingly, for a man whose business offers holiday homes for workers and gives colleagues their birthdays off, he says he’d be a ‘Mr. Helpful’. Then, in keeping with his natural modesty, he jests, “I’m probably more ‘Mr. Useless’, as I’m not very good at repairing shoes or cutting keys.”

I recount a recent experience, when I was mysteriously barred from buying tickets at a ferry terminal – yet the website was jammed. Hundreds of other angry passengers were stranded on the end of the pier. Alas, the men in high-vis jackets would only redirect us back to their faulty website. Sir John nods. If Timpson operated ferries, you can bet this wouldn’t happen.

“We don’t have a protocol. The only rules are to look the part and put the money in the till. Anything else, our employees can do. They can change prices. They can even charge nothing. They often do, which is probably the best advertising we have. We do various jobs for free anyway, and often we will just ask them to pop it in the charity box instead. Pre-pandemic we were collecting £8,000 a week for the Alex Timpson Trust, which is centred around helping children.”

Future Fears We move onto the lofty subject of the future and how digitalisation is killing personal service. I suggest that there could even be a world where faceless interactions are not just normal but the only way of communication. An idea he dismisses confidently.

“No, because there is that extra plus that comes from a personal service. People will become increasingly attracted to businesses that are hassle free. The problem with my bookmaker at Cheltenham wasn’t that they had booted me off. It was that there was nobody to talk to.”

What are his fears for Artificial Intelligence in the workplace, then? “I hate the idea of Artificial Intelligence playing a role in recruiting. It might be incredibly ‘intelligent’ but, certainly at the moment, it can’t deal with the exceptions. A bot always works off the most ‘typical’ questions rather than individual circumstances – we need people to do that. Plenty of businesses think they can solve all their problems by going online. They’re actually just irritating loads of people.” Indeed.

In His Shoes Has Sir John ever seen the power of the personal touch first-hand? “This man came up to me at Bangor racecourse and asked to buy my book Under Orders: The Diary of a Racehorse Owner’s Husband. It is a hopefully amusing insight into all the characters involved in racing. Anyway, the man asked me how much it cost and gave me a tenner, so I asked for his address and sent him one in the post.”

“Months later, when I turned up at Haydock, I went to place a bet on the rails. Believe it or not, it was the same man who had bought my book. He said, ‘I loved that last book. Can I have your business book this time?’ ” As a walking bookstore, Sir John had executed his job to a tee.

The Rules It is all very well dismissing Artificial Intelligence as lacking the personal touch, but many firms still don’t empower their employees to exercise independent thought.

Parting Gift Thanking Sir John for his time, I ask in what style he would like this interview to be written. “You do what you feel best,” he says. “Thanks. I’ll work it out.” His parting words then struck a final chord, “I really do believe in Upside Down management… which I’ve now just applied to you.”

Believe it or not, it was empowering to hear that.

Sir John Timpson, chairman and owner of Timpson, spoke with Fitzdares Times editor Rory Fairfax.

Meet Mr. William Wolfe and his eager dog, Fitz. This Christmas, we welcome him to the The Fitzdares Family with his debut book, a guide to the 101 best spots in London. Email club@fitzdares.com to get your paws on a copy.

12

TREBLES ALL ROUND! Playing on the PDC tour was tough enough even before the pandemic changed everything. We asked Fitzdares Ambassador Devon Petersen about life as a darts player and what it takes to win What has been the biggest challenge as a darts player during Covid?

There have been various different challenges, including practising alone, adapting to ‘bubble’ life at tournaments and never having an audience to play in front of. I’d say the biggest challenge for me personally has been the long periods of time where I have not been able to compete.

Has not playing in front of a crowd helped with any nerves?

For me personally, I don’t think it has helped at all! I thrive off the crowd noise and I find they can help me when I’m down in a match and can sometimes carry me through to the winning line. Playing behind closed doors has brought with it a different kind of anxiety. It is not so bad in small venues, but I remember finding my first game at the World Championship at the Ally Pally very difficult – it’s such a huge venue and it was odd playing there on live television with it being completely empty.

As the ‘African Warrior’, do you feel the game has potential to grow on the continent?

There is massive potential for darts in Africa. There are already a number of excellent players who could make it on to the PDC tour. The pandemic meant not many were able to get to Q-School in January, unfortunately. In terms of the future I am launching an academy structure in South Africa; the first academy is about to be launched in Cape Town. I’m very hopeful this will be effective at unearthing new African talent for the future.

Is mental strength the most important factor in winning darts matches, or is it about having flawless technique?

I think there is a mixture of attributes needed to win darts matches. You need to have trust in your technique and equipment, but you also need to believe in yourself when it comes to a crunch situations in a match. I try to always be aggressive and make sure I am trying to win, not trying not to lose.

Peter Wright changes his darts equipment more often than he dyes his hair. What are the advantages, and would you consider doing it?

I wish I could change my hair colour as much as Peter, but I haven’t got any!

Personally, I can’t see how changing equipment as often as Peter does can

Darts has always been associated with pubs. Do many players have a couple of ‘calming’ pints before they play?

Of course not, we are all athletes!

Ron Meulenkamp, Ross Smith and now Jermaine Wattimena have changed their diet massively, losing loads of weight. Do you think this could become something that more players look at?

The sport is definitely moving towards a healthier lifestyle, and the current tour schedule forces players to consider their fitness levels, as it can be a relentless treadmill of darts.

There is also lots of money in the sport now, so players will naturally look for any edge they can get. I definitely think there can be benefits to being fitter, particularly over long matches.

WA R R I O R A M B A S S A D O R Name Devon Petersen Age 35 From Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, South Africa World ranking 24 Darts 22 Gram Trinidad Signature Nickname The African Warrior Walk-on music Waka-Waka (This Time for Africa) World Championship best Last 16 (2014, 2016, 2021) Famous for Dad dancing on stage to Shakira!

2022 World Championship odds 60/1

Last year, Devon become the first professional athlete to be sponsored by Fitzdares in our entire history. Following on from the success of our Darts At The Arts night in 2018 in association with National Numeracy, we saw darts as a sport with a growing influence in not just the UK but the world. A combination of intense pressure, fierce competition, huge skill and, rather crucially, brilliant maths ability make it the perfect sport for us to partner with. In Devon, we have found our ideal match. He is passionate, generous, talented and most importantly, hugely keen on supporting grass-roots darts. We will continue to back him! be beneficial. I’m all for trying to find an extra edge, but changing darts means controlling a number of different variables. Confidence with your equipment does not happen overnight – it takes time to build.

You kindly sent some darts to our office and they are on the lighter side. Is that a deliberate choice, and if so, why?

It’s a personal choice. My technique and my equipment go hand-in-hand.

Throwing darts is about timing and rhythm, and it is those factors that can make you a force in the sport.

You have a unique but very solid throwing style. How often, if ever, do you look to tweak or improve it?

I am a big believer in striving to perfect my throw from a technical

I had an opponent in a big televised match breathing extremely heavily when I was throwing.

That was a new one!

What is the strangest thing an opponent has ever done to psych you out?

I had an opponent in a big televised match last year breathing extremely heavily when I was throwing. That was a new one!

perspective and I will always try to analyse my throw and consider subtle changes that could bring about improvement. This approach led to my significant improvement last year.

The World Cup of Darts is one of the most enjoyable watches of the year as players pair up with their native teammates.

If you could pick one player to play with in a doubles team, who would it be and why?

The World Cup of Darts is great to play in too – I love it! If I could pick any player in the world to be in a doubles team with, it would probably be Dimitri Van den Bergh. Firstly, there would be lots of dancing with our walk-on, but more importantly, he is a huge talent and I could really trust him to perform under pressure.

What are your pre-match routines?

I actually have a very regimented routine! I always arrive at the venue at least four hours before my match, I iron my clothes one hour before I leave my room, and I have to play at least three practice matches once I’m at the venue.

Who would be your pick for the World Championships?

Devon Petersen, of course! Apart from me, I had a look at the Fitzdares market and I think 18/1 on José de Sousa is very generous. José is playing as well as anybody at the moment and is the biggest 180-hitter in the world right now. People have to remember that playing major televised tournaments is still fairly new to him, so I think he will find some improvement in the pressure situations as he gains more experience.

Who is the best player in the world?

This is a question that can no longer be as easily answered as it has been in the past when Phil Taylor, and then Michael van Gerwen dominated the sport. I honestly don’t think darts within the PDC has ever been as open as it is now. There are so many players who can post huge averages and win major events.

We saw several new major winners last year and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more this year. Gerwyn Price is deservedly world number one as he has been the most consistent, but I don’t think he is far clear of the chasing pack at all. n

‘I found a very cool villa in Ibiza for my 50th’ ‘I also joined a racing syndicate and we had an amazing winner. And we found a buyer for our London flat.

Plus we sold our six Labrador puppies to happy homes.

And finally we found a new nanny in the Cotswolds.

All on the Grapevine.’

14 FIXTURE DATES 1st Test 24 July Cape Town 17:00

2nd Test 31 July Johannesburg 17:00

3rd Test 7 August Johannesburg 17:00 All times BST

This summer’s Lions tour of South Africa may be missing the Stuart Barnes looks forward to it, as well as reliving his own HURSDAY 6 May was a day that will live forever in the mind of Gloucester’s Chris Harris. As Jason Leonard read out the 37man British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa in July and August, someone was filming the Scotland centre, sitting in the team room, arms wrapped around his head – hopeful but surely not expecting – when the room exploded into a frenzy of excitement as the old Lions prop said the name “Harris”.

The centre briefly threw his arms in the air as his mates engulfed their teammate.

Gloucester got themselves another Lion, the 20-year-old Welsh prodigy, Louis ReesZammit. There was no online footage of celebrations; between the Scot and the Welshman an Englishman had missed out. As the squad was read out alphabetically, Jonny May had known his fate long before the younger Gloucester winger got the nod.

T

Where there is agony, ecstasy is often found in the closest proximity. My mind trawled back to another century, 1993 to be precise. The Lions manager for that tour of New Zealand also happened to be the England manager, Geoff Cooke. He said anyone selected would be notified before the media announcement on the Monday, following an awful England performance in Ireland.

Home by Sunday afternoon, I prowled around the telephone.

“Ring, you bugger, ring.” At midnight I gave up and went to bed, where I failed to sleep.

I phoned in sick from work the next day as I took up the phone vigil. Was it mid-morning the BBC’s radio bulletins broke the news? Only two of the English side from Saturday were excluded.

Neither name began with “B”. The phone started ringing. Still not Geoff Cooke, but congratulations from near and far. To hell with training that day. I was straight down the local. I was one of the

lucky ones: a Lion. This time around, Harlequins’ Danny Care probably watched as the backs were named in alphabetical order.

“Dan Biggar, Elliot Daly,” Leonard – a former Harlequin – matter-offactly crushed the dream of the scrum half.

“At least I’ll sleep tonight,” Care said. I knew what he meant.

By the time this column is published, there will probably be a few sad tales of injured players. But at least we know the nature of this tour party. In the main it is tough as teak. Centres picked to crunch South Africans, forwards to come off the bench with an ability to impose a British and Irish brand of

There is no point pretending 2021 is just another Lions tour (besides, there is no such thing as “just another”)

15

pack of well-fuelled fans, but it promises to be a brutal affair on the field. days as a Lion heading inland towards the threea late try in the final. Add Damian Alun Wyn Jones and Maro Itoje brutality every bit as uncompromising as the 80 minutes South Africa dished out to England in the 2019 World Cup final.

South Africa haven’t played since that day. For once, the Lions will not be disadvantaged. If only they were up against the usual odds – but the pandemic put paid to any semblance of normality.

There is magic in the combined forces of English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh fans. God knows, in these divisive days, a smiling coming-together would be something to celebrate. Alas, Lions fans are to be trapped in front of their TV screens – not this time for the backpackers and high-end corporate spenders, the people who have saved all their lives to follow the Lions.

There is no point pretending 2021 is just another Lions tour (besides, there is no such thing as “just another”). The players will start in Cape Town and wend their way along the coast via Port Elizabeth and Durban, before

match Test series.

It will be the tour where sanitisation trumps the bonhomie that is tour insanity. Instead of that familiar Lions roar, there are set only to be echoes in South Africa’s superb stadiums. The Springboks have home advantage and are world champions. They should be favourites, but the lack of games changes all that.

The best of the Springboks are plying their trade in Europe. Faf de Klerk is as familiar a face as there is in the game. He may not possess the panache of Antoine Dupont, but he is a great reader of the game and as tough a scrapper as they come.

Travel several hundred miles southward from that Springbok home-from-home in Sale, and in Toulouse we encounter the world’s best broken-field runner.

Cheslin Kolbe ripped through the All Blacks defence in the World Cup pool stages and sealed South African success with a bamboozling moment of brilliance to tie Owen Farrell in knots as he scored

de Allende, now of Munster, to the equation and there’s a balance behind the scrum.

But it’s the “bomb squad” and the capacity for the forwards to play flat-out first to last that stood them apart in the World Cup. Lions coach Warren Gatland has decided to take them on at their own game. In Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson and Courtney Lawes, he has a trio of second row/blind sides who guarantee the Lions will not fade away in the fury of the Springbok assault.

So much for tactics – what about the match-winners, the men who can rise to rugby greatness?

were magnificent four years ago, eclipsing the All Black second row, one of their strengths. This time around, it may be that neither of them will last more than 50 minutes. Like a physical game of chess, Gatland will monitor closely the Springboks’ substitution policy.

Conor Murray seems to have found top form in the nick of time. Until the Munster man’s marvellous performance against England, the Lions looked short of a top-class scrum half to take on Faf. In New Zealand, Murray managed Aaron Smith. He is tasked with muzzling the

SPRINGBOKSTARS Cheslin Kolbe Without doubt one of the world’s best. Who could forget THAT try in the World Cup final when leaving England skipper Owen Farrell in his wake en route to glory?

Keeping the wizard winger under control will be crucial to the Lions’ chances.

heartbeat of South Africa this time. It could well prove the pivotal personal head-to-head.

In 1997, the Lions beat the reigning world champions with a drop goal in Durban by my old Bath mate, Jerry Guscott. Twelve years on, the champions of the world sealed the series with a brilliant, if bloodthirsty win in Pretoria. Another cycle has come round and again the hosts are champions of the world. In these terrible times it is something to get excited about, even if the Lions fans – the backdrop to the tour – are missing. n Stuart Barnes won 10 England

caps and is a rugby commentator and analyst for Sky Sports.

Four players to watch from the world champions

Faf de Klerk When it comes to de Klerk, size definitely doesn’t matter.

Few read the game better in world rugby than the 5ft 7in scrum half and he’s further sharpened his skills while on duty for Sale Sharks since that World Cup success two years ago.

Siya Kolisi The talismanic Springboks’ skipper’s trademark high intensity looks to be back as he returns to optimum fitness following a slow start to the year. His outstanding groundwork will be pivotal in leading South Africa to another memorable success.

Damian de Allende Another one of the stars from that World Cup winning side. It’s not just de Allende’s devastating ball carrying that sets him apart, his role in defence is equally as important. His tough tackling will be crucial in the Boks’ bid to thwart the Lions.

Two decades on, Raindance still spar kles.

We are delighted to celebrate the 20 t h anniversar y of our most iconic r ing with t wo ver y special editions featur ing pink and white diamonds.

Discover the Raindance collec tion at Boodles.com

18 At last, the delayed Olympics are nearly upon us – and many of Team GB’s top hopes for gold in Tokyo

8 BRITISH

JASON KENNY, 33

ADAM PEATY, 26

Team sprint, sprint, keirin 2016 Rio 🥇🥇🥇 2012 London 🥇🥇 2008 Beijing 🥇🥈

100m breaststroke, 4x100m medley relay 2016 Rio 🥇🥈 Record breaker?

Consistently breaking his own world records, most recently when completing a World Championships double in the 50m and 100m breaststroke.

DINA ASHER-SMITH, 25

Road to Tokyo It was Adam Peaty who captured Britain’s first medal in Rio, in the 100m breaststroke, becoming the first British male Olympic champion in the pool since 1988, breaking his own world record en route to gold, before doubling his tally with silver in the medley.

Record breaker?

She’s the fastest woman in British history and could just be our best chance of a track medal at the Tokyo Games. In Dina Asher-Smith, we have a genuine female sprint star on the global stage.

Couple this with the fact that he is also the holder of eight World Championship gold medals and Peaty will again head to the Games as Britain’s leading hope in the pool.

He smashed his own world records in 2019 as he completed a World Championships double (for the third time) with wins in the 50m and most notably in the 100m breaststroke. In doing so, he conquered ‘Project 56’, becoming the first man ever to complete the event in less than 57 seconds.

Medal hopes After toying with the idea of stepping up to 200m, Peaty confirmed he will be solely focusing on the 100m breaststroke. His preparation has gone swimmingly this year, clocking a sub-58-second time in April’s British trials, and he will be a warm order for more swimming success in Tokyo.

100m, 200m, 4x100m relay 2016 Rio 5th

Road to Tokyo She ran a highly creditable fifth in the 200m at Rio before collecting a bronze in the women’s 4x100m relay, but it was in 2018 when she really announced herself as a serious force on the biggest stage. 4x100m relay gold coupled with a bronze in the 200m at the Commonwealth Games proved a stepping stone as Asher-Smith landed a tremendous treble in Berlin at the European Championships, striking gold in the 100m, 200m and relay. In doing so, she became the first British woman to achieve such a feat at a major Championships.

Medal hopes So, can she add to her collection in Tokyo?

“Absolutely, she is now one of the best in the world.” Don’t take it from us – that’s according to US legend Michael Johnson, who knows a thing or two about winning Olympic medals.

LAURA KENNY, 29 Team pursuit, omnium 2016 Rio 🥇🥇 2012 London 🥇🥇 Record breaker?

Kenny was a part of the team pursuit team who broke the world record en route to gold in Rio. She also makes up half of the Kenny household, who together have collected a total of 10 Olympic golds – more than 100 countries that have competed in the history of the Games have managed. Not bad.

Record breaker?

Kenny and co broke their own world record en route to team sprint gold in Rio but this has since been surpassed by the Dutch at last year’s World Championships.

Road to Tokyo Jason Kenny is one of the undisputed Olympic greats. His velodrome velocity has seen him win a total of six Olympic gold medals at three different Games. He made it a hat-trick of team sprint golds in Rio, while adding a second gold medal in the individual event, following his silver in Beijing. Enough? Not quite. He also added gold in the men’s keirin in Rio.

Road to Tokyo Injuries and motherhood left Kenny close to quitting cycling for good after Rio, but the Covid-enforced postponement of the Games gave her time to renew her competitive desire for another tilt at gold.

It seemed that Rio would be Kenny’s swansong, but after a year off he returned to the sport in 2017 with a crack at Tokyo in mind. It took a world-record-breaking Dutch team to thwart Kenny in the team sprint at the 2020 World Championships, but they’ll be confident of hitting the podium at the very least in the summer.

Medal hopes Her four Olympic golds (from four attempts) make her the second most decorated female British Olympian in history, and Kenny will be confident of at least joining, if not passing Katherine Grainger (five medals) as she bids for trebles in the omnium and team pursuit.

Medal hopes Kenny has had such success that a medal of any colour in Tokyo would see him pass the mighty Sir Chris Hoy and become the most decorated British Olympian of all time – and with a resume such as his, who would bet against it?

19 have done it all before. Henry Beesley looks at the nation’s finest athletes going for it this summer

BULLETS

CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN, 36 MAX WHITLOCK, 28 KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON, 28 Heptathlon 2016 Rio 6th 2012 London 14th Record breaker?

Broke the British heptathlon record when topping the podium at the World Championships in 2019.

Road to Tokyo From the moment KJT touched down in the UK after Rio 2016, her attention immediately shifted to the Tokyo Games. She won gold in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and silver in the European Championships behind Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam. 2019 saw her finally win a global heptathlon event, as she overcame Thiam at the World Championships in an epic battle.

Medal hopes The world champion is determined not to let the one-year postponement halt her progression and goes into this summer’s Games full of confidence, despite a serious achilles injury suffered late last year in training. Tokyo represents a great opportunity for her to fulfil her huge potential and add ‘Olympic champion’ to an already mightily impressive CV.

Pommel horse, all-around, floor exercise 2016 Rio 🥇🥇🥉 2012 London 🥉🥉 Record breaker?

With five Olympic medals, he is comfotably Britain’s most successful gymnast in history.

Road to Tokyo Whitlock was a pivotal member in helping Britain end a century-long wait for a GB team gymnastics medal in 2012, and he would double his tally with another bronze in the pommel in London. It was four years later, however, when Whitlock demonstrated his true genius, striking gold with a stunning, gravity-defying performance in the floor before topping the podium again in the pommel just two hours later. His versatility earned him bronze in the individual allaround event to pocket a fifth Olympic medal.

World Championship gold in the pommel in 2019 followed and Whitlock showed he hadn’t missed a beat when reappearing from a 16-month absence for one of Britain’s trial meetings earlier in the year.

Medal hopes While the one-year postponement was not ideal for his preparations, Whitlock heads to Tokyo at the peak of his career and as a warm tip to retain his titles, adding to his impressive medal haul.

Team dressage, individual dressage 2016 Rio 🥇🥈 2012 London 🥇🥇

JADE JONES, 28 Taekwondo (57kg) 2016 Rio 🥇 2012 London 🥇 Record breaker?

Jones is one of three Olympians in our list aiming to become the first British woman to win gold medals at three consecutive Games.

If she reaches the final on 25 July, she might even be fighting at the exact same time as Charlotte Dujardin is competing for team dressage gold.

Road to Tokyo “I’ve always made history.” That’s how Jones describes her career, and it’s hard to argue with her. When landing gold in London she became Britain’s first Olympic gold medallist in taekwondo. After another gold in Rio and a World Championship in 2019, more history beckons in Tokyo.

Medal hopes Jones certainly embraces the pressure, making no secret of the fact that for her, anything less than gold will be a disappointment. We think she’ll take all the beating as she bids to leave a lasting legacy like no other on the sport.

Record breaker?

Dujardin is the individual freestyle dressage world record holder. Like Laura Kenny and Jade Jones, she is bidding to become the first female British competitor to win gold at three consecutive Olympic Games.

Road to Tokyo Dujardin and her mount Valegro proved a match made in heaven, delivering an Olympic double in 2012 by striking team gold and dominating the individual dressage event. It was a case of ‘Dujar vu’ in Rio as Dujardin and Valegro again topped the podium. Despite having to settle for silver in the team event behind the Germans, Dujardin has amassed a fabulous fourfold of Olympic medals.

Dujardin and her new ride, Mount St John Freestyle, got the partnership off to a winning start when landing a Grand Prix event at Olympia last year and will be confident of forming another golden partnership in Tokyo.

Medal hopes The postponement of the Games was no doubt a positive for Dujardin. It gave her and her new, less experienced ride more time to improve and develop that required telepathic relationship in this most technically demanding of events.

20 AM OFTEN ASKED: which do I think is the best, Test match cricket or T20 cricket? My answer is always the same: there should be room for both. Some people believe the short form of the game is Mickey Mouse stuff and can’t compare with Tests, which have been played since 1877. But surely cricket, any cricket, is supposed to be fun for all, and if the short format captures the imagination and spectators find enjoyment watching, isn’t that good for our sport?

I do understand T20 needs different skills from the longer format and some people find it difficult to come to terms with the unorthodox shots or power hitting, but T20 is excitement while Test match cricket is an examination. Watch with the right frame of mind and enjoy it as if you were going to the cinema or a night out for dinner. Don’t look to criticise – smile and have a good time. Would I have enjoyed playing T20 cricket? You

I West Indies are the defending champions and India the passionate hosts – but would you bet against Ben Stokes winning the World T20 for England?

There is much to love about T20 cricket, says Sir Geoffrey Boycott – especially when England have a

bet I would, and I would be off to India with three empty suitcases to put all my money in!

T20 was a brilliant concept devised

by Lalit Modi in 2008 for the Board of Control for Cricket in India, especially to be shown on TV. It was meant to be all-action entertainment for every age group and both sexes, contained in a four-hour slot for evenings on TV when people had finished work, and jazzed up with pop music, girls dancing, lights flashing and players in coloured clothing. Selling it to a TV station for huge money wasn’t that difficult in a cricket-crazy nation of 1.3 billion people.

But the real genius, the one ingredient that made it different and grabbed the attention of the sporting world, was the BCCI giving millions to each of the eight franchise teams to spend on buying the best cricketers on the planet. Having an auction process with teams trying to outbid each other for the best batsmen and bowlers captured the imagination and gave the tournament huge media coverage and favourable publicity.

Players were ecstatic as they were able to earn sums of money dwarfing what they received playing for their countries. Nearly every cricketer wanted to take part, and players who

21 TEAMS/PLAYERS India @ 9/4 Star man: Virat Kohli Hard to start anywhere other than with India’s talismanic skipper. If India are to win a second T20 World Cup, ‘King Kohli’ is certain to play a starring role. With an average of 52.6 in the game’s shortest format, Kohli could enhance his saint-like status by delivering a home victory later this year.

England @ 10/3 Star: Ben Stokes Despite the final over fiasco of 2016, Stokes may well hold the key to England’s T20 World Cup hopes.

England’s mercurial all-rounder has that ability to do things at the crease that very few others can do, as well as delivering a devastating spell of bowling at just the right time.

Australia @ 4/1 Star: Aaron Finch Finch became Australia’s highest ever T20 run scorer earlier this year in a win over New Zealand and his blistering ball-striking at the top of the order will be crucial to the Baggy Greens’ hopes of factoring in the latter stages of the tournament.

West Indies @ 9/1 Star: Chris Gayle Has he retired? Hasn’t he? The ‘Universal Boss’ continues to produce truly staggering displays in the game’s shortest form in franchise cricket across the globe but it seems he’s set on a return to the international circuit for the T20 World Cup as the Windies bid to make it three wins in 10 years.

chance to rule the world

were average or borderline at Test cricket just made sure they were fit and available for T20.

These competitions have since sprung up in most of the major cricket-playing countries, and some guys who can’t cut it at Test level play nothing else but T20. For them it’s so lucrative that it’s a case of ‘have bags, will travel’, hopping from country to country as a specialist world T20 player. Who can blame them? Not me.

Even highly successful Test cricketers don’t want to miss out on the IPL riches in India, and sometimes it brings conflict between in terms of

being available for their countries.

Nobody should expect these kids to turn down sums of money that are life-changing. The IPL is so big that I do think our England and Wales Cricket Board should make sure England don’t have international fixtures that conflict with it.

I can remember going to see my first T20 match at Headingley, and it immediately reminded me of a game of baseball. The winner at baseball is usually the team that is successful in hitting the most home runs. In T20, every ball is an opportunity for a batsman to hit a home run, or as many

sixes and fours as possible. Baseball has bunting and tactical base hitting, just as cricket has scoring singles, but a swing and a miss at baseball is not good, just like a batsman not scoring.

Dot balls for a batsman are an opportunity missed.

T20 cricket has become so popular that the World T20 Cup is now a huge event. The seventh World T20 Cup is scheduled to take place in India in October and November, but with India having such a difficult time trying to contain the pandemic, contingency plans are being drawn up to move it to the UAE if necessary.

I remember seeing my first T20 match – it reminded me of baseball.

If it does go ahead in India and spectators are allowed in, then the passionate, excitable and very vocal home supporters will spur India on and make them tough to beat. But on recent form England should be favourites, as they have some top-class game-changing individuals and when their best players have been available they have won a number of series.

In 2016, when this competition was last played, also in India, the winners were the West Indies. England blew it when in the last over Ben Stokes was tonked for four successive sixes from the same type of delivery. The England team were gutted and some of the players should still be smarting over letting that match get away from them. Hopefully they will use that disappointment to spur them on and be extra keen to win this time. It would be special to be able to say England are the 50-over and 20-over world champions. n Sir Geoffrey Boycott OBE is a

Fitzdares WhatSport Ambassador.

22 Jubilant Walter Swinburn on Lammtarra after the Derby on 10 June 1995

trainer Mouse Morris spoke of receiving “a bit of help from somewhere – ‘Tiffer’ was working overtime for me”, a reference to his son Christopher, who had died in South America the previous year.

But when it came to reading the script, the peerless Frankel demonstrated that it was not just in his spectacular 14-from-14 career that he was a superstar performer. The late Sir Henry Cecil, himself as much part of the story as the magnificent bay colt which he trained between 2010 and 2012, had been suffering from stomach cancer for a number of years before Frankel’s arrival. As his condition worsened, there was little doubt among onlookers that the horse kept him going, providing sustenance to make the terrible hardships of treatments a little more bearable.

T SEEMED A SIGN that things might be deteriorating when the trainer missed race number 12 of his sequence, a second success in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in August 2012, because of chemotherapy commitments.

That enforced absence meant that the horse’s much-anticipated step-up in distance to a mile and a quarter in the International Stakes at York – a race later that month sponsored by his owner Prince Khalid Abdullah – took on an extra significance. And Frankel ‘knew’, producing a bravura display to – just as he had at Goodwood – defeat emphatically the talented Farhh, sending the crowds on the historic Knavesmire racecourse into rarely seen raptures of delight – perhaps even more for trainer than horse.

Acknowledging the support, Cecil, frail but smiling bravely and with that distinctive voice reduced to a whisper, said he felt “20 years younger”.

Frankel raced one more time, watched by the trainer for whom he represented a crowning glory, when adding the Champion Stakes on October’s Champions Day at a soggy Ascot to his long list of achievements.

Then it was off to begin life as centrepiece stallion with Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms for the 2013 breeding season.

That June, a week before his beloved Royal Ascot, Sir Henry Cecil died in hospital in Cambridgeshire. He was 70. It was a time of global mourning for a true giant of horseracing, and of sport as a whole.

At Ascot, Cecil’s widow Jane saddled Riposte in the Ribblesdale Stakes and – guess what – the filly’s sixth sense kicked in on cue, securing a comfortable success, to widespread acclaim and tears. Extraordinary animals; extraordinary results. n

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SIXTH SENSE The way horses seem to produce special performances when it means most to those around them suggests an extraordinary power of perception, says Cornelius Lysaght HE BRITISH REPUTATION for maintaining composure under fire was severely examined by race five at a recent point-to-point I attended at the charming Flete Park course, east of Plymouth. Even the most seasoned of stiff upper lips reached wobbling point at the conclusion of the ‘Artemis Morgan Happiest When Hunting’ Conditions race, named in memory of a popular schoolgirl who died in 2020 as the result of a tragic farm accident.

The principal Condition was that solely ‘novice’ riders based in the Devon and Cornwall area qualified for the line-up, and by happy chance one who fitted the bill by having partnered five winners or less was Artemis’s older brother Otis, 16. Riding the onetime David Pipe-trained 12-year-old Skylander, and to wild applause from the limited crowd permitted to be there, Morgan successfully negotiated the final two obstacles after being left in front by the fall of his main rival. It was the most poignant of victories and the teenager’s first in point-to-points at the fifth attempt.

“It’s just amazing really,” he said, more composed than most others present, “and I’m hoping that Arte can

be looking down now and seeing her brother has just won her race for her.”

It was a priceless moment, and another example of how horses sometimes seem to have their own sixth sense about special occasions.

At the other end of the racing spectrum, just days after the death of champion owner Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, Haqeeqy provided his family with a striking win in the 2021 Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster. Soon afterwards Mutasaabeq announced himself on the stage at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting before finishing a

T

There was little doubt among onlookers that the horse kept him going.

creditable seventh behind Poetic Flare in the 2000 Guineas, a performance that indicated more to come.

And I have a clear memory from 1995 of jockey Walter Swinburn saluting the skies over Epsom after the never-beaten, Saeed bin Suroor-trained Lammtarra stormed home in the Derby, eight months after racing had been stunned when the winner’s previous trainer, Alex Scott, had been shot and killed at the age of 34 during an argument with an employee.

More recently, after the 2016 Grand National success of Rule The World,

Cornelius Lysaght is a racing writer

Jockey Otis Morgan with our man

and broadcaster with over 30 years’ experience and a Fitzdares Ambassador.

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This season we sponsored owner and amateur jockey David Maxwell, who was Champion Amateur Jockey last year. However, Sean Bowen is pictured riding the Maxwell-owned BOB & CO while winning at Haydock on 20th February 2021 when Maxwell was injured.

This summer, we began our first formal season-long sponsorship when we signed up to Monday Night Racing at WINDSOR – a true highlight of the diehard’s racing calendar. Every Monday until the end of the flat season, we will be hosting members in the Churchill Box. Below is the winner of the first qualifier of the Sprint Series, PUNCHBOWL FLYER.

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Our Head of Marketing and regular racegoer Bobby Burns is pictured handing out the trophy to members of the winning syndicate in the Fitzdares Racing Sportsbook Of The Year Handicap Chase at HUNTINGDON on 22nd December 2020. This was part of what we hope will be a regular, annual winter sponsorship at the course.

Previously, we sponsored the Peterborough Chase and the Boxing Day meeting. On the right, TAZKA leaps ahead of the chasing pack in our wonderfully named Google The Fitzdares Club Right Now Novices' Handicap Chase. Go on, then!

David Maxwell’s STRATAGEM is seen in the winners’ enclosure at Doncaster on 11th January 2021. David was injured at this point, so Harry Cobden took the ride, looking dashing with Fitzdares emblazoned across his chest.

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We’ve teamed up with top games maker Geoffrey Parker to produce this elegant Fitzdares Club backgammon board.

Our professional backgammon board combines elegance with practicality, and can be neatly rolled-up after play, making it super-easy to travel.

Expertly handmade in England from full grain leather, this is the only type of roll-up board that guarantees a perfectly flat playing surface.

Our board is designed to bring a taste of The Fitzdares Club to your living room table. At your request, we will commission one of these beautiful pieces to be made and then delivered to you.

Fitzdares Club backgammon board, £550.

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GROWTH INDUSTRY With the Derby Meeting and Royal Ascot, June is always an extremely exciting month for Tattersalls graduates. When we sat down recently with Jimmy George, Tattersalls’ marketing director, to chat all things bloodstock, he offered some sound advice if you’re looking to move into racehorse ownership – and better still, he gives us a tip for the season!

It’s been an unprecedented time for us all over the past 12–18 months. How has the pandemic impacted the sales?

with a very impressive recent run, and I’ll say he’ll start favourite for the St James’s Palace.

We’ve been remarkably fortunate in many ways that the sport has carried on almost completely uninterrupted across the globe.

We were able to stage the majority of our sales on the dates and locations that we’d pencilled in.

If we were to give you a £50 free bet on our Champion First Season Flat Sire market, who would you back and why?

Looking at the bloodstock industry as a whole, do you think there’s an over-reliance on a few big players from the likes of Juddmonte and Coolmore?

Global racing and bloodstock industries have benefited extraordinarily from the patronage of very committed owner-breeder teams. For example, the support of the Maktoum family of British racing is unprecedented, while the Coolmore team is a global powerhouse. While these organisations have arguably become more prominent over the past 30– 40 years, the growth of successful syndicates and partnerships have made racehorse ownership more accessible. That’s one of the key aspects we focus on, making it clear to potential owners that you don’t need to be spending a fortune to be competitive.

Why do you operate in guineas?

Is it something that is universally done across the bloodstock industry?

No, it’s actually just us now! It’s kind of a historic thing. A guinea is worth £1.05, so effectively the 5 per cent is the commission taken

by Tattersalls and that remains the case today on every transaction. We’ve always retained that as a nice reminder of the long history of the firm. I suspect we are actually the only business in the entire world that still trades in guineas!

Are there any graduates that you’re looking forward to seeing at Royal Ascot?

There are always superstars to come out of Book 1 of the October yearling sale – Europe’s most prestigious yearling sale. St Mark’s Basilica flew the flag pretty high

It’s a great market, this. They’ve all got off to a decent start, but numerically I’ll say you can have a lively each-way bet on Ardad at 7/1. It would be great for the champion first season flat sire to be standing at Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire – it’s a lovely farm with a great history.

Could you give us the top three horses you’ve ever seen through the ring?

That is difficult! I’ll give you an anecdote instead. Our chairman of Tatts would always be out at this time of year looking at yearlings in Britain and Ireland, and he’d always come back with two or three that have really caught his eye. I’ll always remember one that didn’t actually turn up at the sales.

He’d been shown this colt and there was an outside chance he

could have turned up, but the likelihood was that the breeder would keep him. Anyway, he said: “I’ve seen this Cape Cross colt, he’s just absolutely flat-out gorgeous! If he turns up, he’ll top any yearling sale in the world.” As it happens, he didn’t turn up – and it was Sea the Stars.

2021 so far has been Ireland’s year. They dominated Cheltenham, they had nine of the first 10 home in the Grand National, they’re off to a flyer on the flat in winning both English Guineas… What do you think the main reasons are for this?

There’s no shortage of equine talent in Britain at the moment and these things can be a little bit cyclical. I’m sure by the end of the 2021 Flat season we’ll be acclaiming a good number of British stars. One of the highestrated horses in Europe, Palace Pier, is British-bred, British-trained and by a stallion who stands in Britain. There’s an awful lot of the season to go and there will be plenty of British triumphs. It won’t all be one-way traffic.

THE CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Slang for £25 (4) 3. Two-time Wimbledon winner (4,6) 7. Hero (4) 8. Retired Russian tennis player (5) 9. Darts throwing area (4) 11. Retired Spurs, Egyptian striker (4) 12. Makes you feel better (5) 13. Spanish for goal! (3) 14. 2020 Epsom Derby winner (10) 16. Super agent, car manufacturer (3) 18. Outsider in a race (3) 19. Winter sport (3, 7) 22. Genre of Jamaican music (3) 23. Body tissue (5) 25. Serie A team (4) 26. Often the difference in a horse race (4) 27. Johnny Depp’s exwife’s surname (5) 28. Slang term for a multiple bet (4)

29. Title challengers (10) 30. Unit of measurement (4)

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A sale at Tattersalls, horse auctioneers. Engraving by Gustave Doré, 1872

are a billionaire going in at the top level, you’re going to be buying a horse at a relatively modest sum, so you want to be part of a team that you enjoy being with. It does need to be fun – win, lose or draw. Let’s face it, most of it is going to be lose! n

If you were to advise a firsttime buyer, what do you think would be the safest route into successful ownership?

If you have a network already involved in racing, pick their brains. You want to enjoy that first step into ownership. Unless you

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DOWN 1. 2021 USPGA winner (4,9) 2. Oxford United’s nickname (7) 3. A thing of value (5) 4. Team who protect the goal (7) 5. US pasta ‘sleeves’ (9) 6. Someone attending Ascot (8) 10. Record breaking Norwegian striker (6,7) 15. IPL team, Royals (9) 17. Trained killer (8) 20. Boring (7) 21. 2014 FIFA World Cup winner (7) 24. Extra runs in cricket (5) £100 free bet for the first correct submission to rory@fitzdares.com

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