Pointing People: Jane Allfrey

Jane (left) leading in Sam Burton and Dr Oakley at Edgcote (Neale Blackburn)

Jane Allfrey, owner-trainer of Dr Oakley – who won the Open at Edgcote on Sunday – must be one of the busiest people in the sport. Not only does she help run her family farm, she trains one or two pointers each season, and performs the role of Fixture Secretary for no fewer than five meetings, the four at Chaddesley Corbett plus Knightwick. Jake Exelby spoke to Jane on her way back from viewing potential stock for the farm at the Welsh Sheep Fair about how she manages to fit everything into her life.

Where are you based?

The farm – a mixed one – is on the Herefordshire-Worcestershire border, on the Hereford side of the Malvern Hills. You can ride up the Malverns if you want to – but we don’t! It’s not far from the old course at Whitwick Manor. Infact, I’ve just driven past there, as well as Bredwardine and Garnons.

How did you get into point-to-pointing in the first place?

I’ve always hunted – Mum was Master of the North Ledbury for 18 years – and my sister Lucy, who worked for the Sheppards, was keen on going fast, so she had a pointer called Welburn Boy, who was quite a character. I did pony club, and have hunted with various local packs, but never race-rode – I wasn’t brave enough!

We always supported our local meetings and originally had horses with the Wilesmiths. Tim Eades used to work for them, then started training for us himself. When he went to sell insurance, I took over the training.

When did you get your first horse? Who were they and how did they do?

In The Dock came from Tim Vaughan. He won seven for us and was a real course specialist at Hereford, winning five out of seven there. He’d get to the leisure centre and go up a gear! We’ve had quite a few horses from Tim, including Master Hide. You need a sensible horse here, as we do everything on our own and have to cross the main Hereford-Worcester road!

Tell me about Dr Oakley

We got him from Henry Oliver, buying him out of a field after a text from a friend! He’s our only pointer this season – we’ve never had more than two. It’s actually easier with two than one – for example, Dr Oakley has never worked with anything else and isn’t the bravest going out on his own. I’m planning to get another horse next season.

Who has been your favourite horse? Why?

I can’t choose between In The Dock, Master Hyde and Dr Oakley. They’ve all been consistent, placed a lot if not winning, and have given us some good days out. They’re all characters in their own way.

How and why did you become involved as a fixture secretary?

Back in the day, entries used to be posted. When technology moved on to faxes, they needed to be updated by hand, so I volunteered to put the entries for the North Ledbury on the computer, which led to me becoming entries secretary. We used to type up the entries, cut them up, sort them into alphabetical order and put them on a big sheet!

After Covid, I was doing the declarations for the Albrighton Woodland at Chaddesley Corbett, when I heard Nickie Sheppard’s voice across the car park, asking, “What are you doing nowadays, Jane?” As anyone familiar with her knows, you don’t say no to Nickie!

How did you come to take on five meetings – the most, I believe, of any secretary in the country?

Chaddesley Corbett thought it would be a good idea for the same person to do all four meetings, and I was on the committee at Knightwick, so ended up with that too. In my first season there, I arranged it twice and abandoned it twice – I got quite good at abandoning meetings last year! I think I must be mad – I do get a small remuneration, but not enough to cover all the hours I put in.

Describe your typical duties leading up to a meeting? And on the day?

In advance, it’s things like sorting out medical cover, booking marquees… and toilets. And the racecard – adverts can be a nightmare!

On the day, I’m normally the second person on the course after (all-round West Mercian legend) Jim Squires – I can be there as early as 7am and have already mucked out at home and maybe done some lambing before the Spring meetings. Once there, there are always lots of questions to answer and I have to sort out all the paperwork, radios and badges.

When racing starts, if everyone’s turned up, I think, “Thank God!” Life gets easier then… as long as I don’t have a runner (which Jane did at the last meeting and does again on Monday). If I do, we swap things round – Lucy normally does declarations, but she has to look after the horse.

You also ran the Schooling Day at Chaddesley Corbett in February. How did that go?

Really well, although it was a learning curve. We learnt a lot, and hopefully taught the participants a lot, and it went like clockwork. There were 130 entries – plus a waiting list – and we put up a temporary paddock and ran the races at half-hour intervals. There were two hurdles, four chases and five bumpers and everyone seemed to enjoy the day. It was nice to see the professionals – Harry Skelton rode in most races. We’ve got another date pencilled for the autumn.

What do you enjoy most about the role? And what do you find most frustrating?

I enjoy giving pleasure to the people who enjoy their day out. I’m lucky – we’ve built a good team of people, like vets, doctors and health and safety officials. It takes over your life but, if you make a mistake, at least you can put it right next time.

The sport is run by volunteers, so I find it frustrating when people get a lot out of pointing, but don’t give anything back. The volunteer army is old – I’m probably one of the youngest fixture secretaries – and younger people need to step up if the sport’s to carry on. Look at Jim – he was doing the courses at Bitterley, Chaddesley Corbett and Shelfield Park at the same time, with limited help.

What have been the funniest moments from your time as a secretary? 

A couple of years ago, at the Wheatland meeting, it became evident there were no number cloths – they were 40 minutes away – but we didn’t realise until runners had weighed out for the first. So, we ran the race without them – hopefully nobody noticed! Lucy was doing declarations, and stood up and announced, “The second race will also be run without number cloths,” and a voice piped up, “Thank God someone’s made a decision!” Luckily, they arrived in time for the third.

As an owner, Whitwick Manor was postponed one year, and we went to the course without a runner. As it was a rearranged meeting, there weren’t many runners and the Mens Open was due to be a walkover. However, our entry Openditch was at home in the field. I had to drive like hell, catch him, get him on the lorry and, by the time I got back to the course, the other runner was already in the paddock. We got everything done quickly and even won best turned-out. We were beaten into second, but it was worth the effort!

Which jockeys have ridden for you most over the years?

At first, Will Telfer. When he retired, it was James Jeavons for a long time. He was recommended by a mate of his and rode until the 2022/2023 season. This year, it’s been Sam Burton. I was struggling with a back injury and couldn’t ride out. James said Sam would come and school Dr Oakley, so he ended up with the ride.

Which current jockeys do you admire?

I can’t single any one out. The majority are polite, grateful for their opportunities and work hard, day in day out, in all weathers.

And trainers?

That’s another hard one. Nicky Sheppard does really well with different types of horse, I’ve always admired Phil Rowley, then there’s Alan Hill, who was second to us on Sunday. It’s always nice to beat the professionals! 

What are your favourite courses?

I miss places like the ones I mentioned earlier, and Brampton Bryan. Bredwardine was especially lovely along the river with the May blossom in rural Herefordshire. It costs a lot to put meetings on for little gain, and you can’t put a value on the fabric of the countryside. It’s a great day out for the farming community and, if we’re not careful, that will be lost completely.

I also like going to Welsh courses and have had some great days out there. One day, we were due to run at Siddington, but it was called off late. We also had an entry at Ystradowen, so rerouted there. We got there so late that James didn’t even have time to walk the course and only just got home in time for our Hunt Ball that evening!

What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?

Finances are tight and some meetings make no money. I know that sales races (Young Horse Maidens) are important for the sport, but it would be good if the meetings that stage these races would get something back for doing so. At the Wheatland a couple of years ago, we only just broke even, but the first three in the sales race made £300,000 between them!

Tell me something I wouldn’t know from asking these questions

I make cakes for a local craft centre. My signature recipe is an almond slice – I made 3,500 pieces last year!