Feature /// Stalwart
Michael Nobby Clark P R E S I D E N T, S TA M F O R D & D I S T R I C T B OW L S L E AG U E
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orse racing and bowls seem worlds apart but 77-year-old former jockey Michael ‘Nobby’ Clark from Market Deeping spans the divide as the new president of the Stamford & District Bowls League. He revealed that he took up bowls only 10 years ago after a career in racing, which included 25 years at the stables of the late Deeping trainer George Vergette, riding 25 winners. “I wish I’d taken up bowls years ago,” he said. “It’s far from being just an old man’s game and keeps me competitive.” He still remembers the good old days when he saddled up on a string of top class horses over hurdles and fences and still keeps a stack of old black and white photographs to remind him and his family when he would take a ride for just 10 guineas (£11) and risk life and limb in front of tens of thousands of punters every week. “I started as a flat race jockey when I got my licence in 1952 but I got too heavy and turned to riding over fences and hurdles,” he recalls. So what’s the best horse he’s ever ridden? “It would have to be Purple Silk,” he revealed without hesitation. “George trained him and I won on him twice at Southall and Market Rasen and finished second twice at Doncaster and Nottingham over hurdles. “I was better known as a hurdles jockey so I didn’t get the ride when Purple Silk led the Grand National at Aintree in 1964 and finished second by only half a length behind Team Spirit.” I asked what was a typical day for a jockey in the 50s, 60s and 70s when he was in his prime. “During the winter months I was racing two or three times a week but otherwise I’d take the three horses I looked after out at 6.30am to walk and canter then back for breakfast. At around
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Bob Warters
Above and right
Nobby Clark today and steering Golden Admiral to victory over the hurdles at Stratford in the mid-1960s
4pm we’d groom, them, feed them and settle them in for the night,” said Nobby, who did his National Service in the Queen’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery pulling guns on ceremonial duties in London. His best memory in the saddle was his first competitive ride, which he remembers as if it was yesterday. “I was aged just 16 and I was given my first chance in a flat race at Nottingham. The horse was called Rose Dust and we finished last of five!” Still as chirpy as he was then over 50 years ago he has now taken to bowling at least once a week.
As well as league president he’s captain of Market Deeeping bowls club’s A team and although they were relegated from the first division of the Stamford League he says they are determined to give a good account of themselves in league games during the summer months. “Our green has its critics but we’re investing in bringing it up to a higher standard with the help of one of the best local greenkeepers and hopefully visitors next year will see a great improvement,” he says. As president he will be staging a gala day in the summer with the proceeds going to his favourite charity. Appropriately for Nobby it’s the Injured Jockeys’ Fund with proceeds going to the new rehabilitation centre at Malton in East Yorkshire, originally set up when Paddy Farrell broke his back at the Chair fence in that same 1964 Grand National.
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24/11/2013 06:45