Earning his Spurs - Pitchcare

Mark Cornford
The mention of Plumpton
generally brings a smile
to people’s faces, with a
comment about it being a
great name and, if the
person concerned is,
let’s say, of a more
mature nature, is
inevitably followed by a
rendition of Pugh, Pugh,
Barney McGrew,
Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb ...
John Richards reports on
a little course with a big
heart and award winning
Groundstaff
Trumpton was the name of a
popular children’s TV show back
in the sixties, and the toy town
had an array of splendid
buildings including the town hall,
a clock tower, a variety of shops and a
fire station. Impressive though it may
have all been, one facility Trumpton
didn’t have, however, was a picturesque
and award winning racecourse. Which is
what the real-life tiny village of
Plumpton, in the midst of the beautiful
East Sussex countryside, now has.
Plumpton Racecourse has recently
picked up one of the horse racing
industry’s most prestigious accolades -
the 2009 Neil Wyatt Racecourse
Groundstaff of the Year Award 2009, Best
Jumps Racecourse, beating off
competition from some of Britain’s more
illustrious and better known national
100
For some races
the horses
have to pass
the winning
post four
times!
Short
hunt venues.
Considering the size of the course, this
achievement is all the more impressive.
Plumpton has the second smallest racing
track in the country at just nine furlongs
in circumference. For some races the
horses have to pass the winning post four
times!
The course is also located some
distance from any significant sized town,
with only one way in and one way out - a
mile long country lane. A single sign at
the end of the lane, plus a regular flow of
horse boxes, are the only indications that
a race meeting might be taking place.
So, how has this small, but beautifully
formed racecourse managed to reach
such dizzying heights?
On meeting the course’s Head
Groundsman and Clerk of the Course,
Mark Cornford, the question becomes
almost academic. It is difficult to imagine
meeting anyone with as much
enthusiasm and commitment to his work.
Just coming up to thirty years service at
Plumpton, Mark’s first reaction when
asked about the award is to praise his
staff.
“I’m so proud at what they’ve achieved.
We’ve only got a four man team, and that
includes myself, my nephew, Mac
Cornford as assistant head groundsman,
who tackles most of the tractor and quad
bike driving operations, John Tampsett is
our fence man and Alan Greening looks
after our lawns. I should also add that
Alan’s DIY talents are legendary. And
then we have Ray Nye, our regular parttime
painter, who keeps the interior and
exterior décor up to scratch whilst always
finding the time to lend us that extra
pair of hands when needed.”