Diamond Geezer
Gone But Not Forgotten
- Joined
- May 2, 2003
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- 13,884
A FUND-RAISING event organised by staff from Jonjo O’Neill’s racing stable for injured jockey JT McNamara has attracted huge support.
All 420 tickets have sold out for A Night of Fun at Cheltenham Racecourse next Saturday.
Celebrity Mr and Mrs, Blind Date and Has Racing Got Talent? – all based on the popular TV shows – will be among the attractions.
Dozens of items have been donated for auction, including the chance to play golf with champion jockey AP McCoy, spend time with Zara Phillips and have dinner at The Dorchester with O’Neill and his wife Jacqui.
McNamara was paralysed in a fall from one of O’Neill’s horses, Galaxy Rock, at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Sophia Upton, wife of O’Neill’s assistant Guy, and head girl Adelle O’Brien are the joint organisers of next Saturday’s event.
Upton said the response had been outstanding and well-wishers had delivered on their promises.
“We’ve been getting donations in from people who can’t make the evening but still wanted to help,” she said.
“A lot of the evening has been sponsored so we haven’t had to delve into the money that we’re making for JT and we can make sure all the funds we make goes to JT and his family.
“He’s got three children aged under six.
“I can’t divulge any names, but there are going to be few known faces up on stage involved in the Mr and Mrs and Blind Date and also we do have a jockey singing on Has Racing Got Talent?
“People said they would help and they have – it’s been absolutely heart-warming.”
McNamara’s biggest successes during his high-profile career as an amateur jockey include winning the Foxhunter Chase at the 2007 Festival aboard one of O’Neill’s horses, Drombeag.
Upton said when staff at Jackdaws heard of his accident they wanted to do all they could to support him.
“Adelle and myself just thought it would be nice if the staff at Jackdaws could just pay our respects,” he said.
“We had a Festival winner that week, which is the highlight of our year, but you just wouldn’t have known we’d had one because it was so overshadowed by what had happened to JT.
“There are 16 of us from the yard who are going to be taking part in the evening.
“We’re all going to be working for the evening, with Cheltenham Racecourse, and it’s going to be the Jackdaws staff that people see greeting them at the door, offering them reception drinks and working the tables throughout the night.”
Auction lots
The following items will go under the hammer during ‘A Night of Fun’.
Anyone who isn’t attending the evening can still make hidden bids by forwarding them to Sophia Upton by email via mitchellupton@aol.com.
1: Day with the Ward Union Hunt for two people, includes accomodation, flights and horse
2: Framed 2013 Grand National breeches, signed by all jockeys
3: Ellenborough Hotel, Cheltenham, midweek stay for two in luxury room, including breakfast and dinner in brasserie
4: Community Shield tickets for four, August 11, Manchester United versus Wigan Athletic, lunch, tea, drinks, seats below Royal Box, next to walkway of players
5: Wincanton Racecourse private box for 12 people, includes lunch, afternoon tea , parking and admission badges
6: Poachers Inn, Piddletrenthide, Dorset, two-night stay for two people in standard room on a bed and breakfast basis
7: China Tang at The Dorchester, London, private room, dinner for four accompanied by Jonjo and Jacqui O’Neill
8: Framed 2012 Gold Cup racecard and picture of Synchronised, racecard signed by all jockeys and picture signed by AP McCoy, Jonjo O’Neill and JP McManus
9: Willie Mullins stable tour for four to six people
10: Jeroboam of Provence Blanc de Blancs 2008 Clos Mereille Domain Ott champagne, boxed and signed by AP McCoy, last one in UK
11: Denise Finney prints of Big Buck’s, Frankel and The New One, mounted and signed by Tom Queally and Sam Twiston-Davies
12: Philip Hobbs stable tour and breakfast, followed by day racing at local track for four
13: Lizzie Hughes head piece by Vivian Sheriff
14: Croatia holiday villa for a week for four people, Villa Farolfi in town of Vis, to be taken between May 5 and May 17 2014
15: Cricket collection, Graham Good Benefit Year 1986 signed and framed 17 mini cricket bats, each bat signed by the players of each county
16: The Hollow Bottom, one night’s bed and breakfast for two, followed by escorted visit to Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gallops
17: Russells restaurant, Broadway , three-course meal and wine for two
18: Elizabeth Armstrong watercolour painting of JT McNamara on Spotthedifference
19: Four County Stand badges at Chester races on Friday, August 30
20: Admission and restaurant meal for four at Bangor-on-Dee races on day of choice
21: Day hunting for two with VWH
23: Ascot Racecourse, United House Group day, November 2, two tickets, entrance and invite to box
24: Mark Upton painting
25: Hand-carved wooden rocking horse
27: Paul Nicholls stable tour for four, including a night’s stay at the Manor Inn for four guests
29: 90-minute Elemis well-being massage at Elemis Day Spa in Mayfair, London
30: golf day, date to be arranged among players, at Sunningdale, Ascot, two four-balls with AP McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald
31: The Bell, Stow-on-the-Wold, three-course meal and wine for two
32: Olympia tickets for two on December 19, puissance evening, own a shetland pony for the evening, behind-the-scenes tour
33: Rambo Micklam bridle
34: Makeover by celebrity make-up artist Gary Cockerill followed by photo shoot with photographer Alan Strutt
35: Racing Post framed picture by Edward Whittaker
36: Framed print of Lester Piggott by Raymond Leslie Skipp, signed by both
37: Be a guest of Lisa Maxwell on the ‘Loose Women’ set for four, chauffeur-driven to and from studio (Glos area) with champagne and nibbles en route, meet the panel after the show
38: Cartmel tickets, champagne day for two, consists of two Paddock badges for any day and a complimentary bottle of Louis Roederer champagne
39: A morning with Zara Phillips, followed by lunch then rugby match
40: Three Sisters Art painting, Irish point-to-point scene in oil on canvas by cousins of JT McNamara
41: Irish painting
42: Harriet Glen paintings, Kauto Star and water jump scene
44: Weekend racing in Ireland for two and includes flights: August 10: guided tour of the Curragh followed by visit to Kildangan Stud, stallion show and tour of stud, overnight accomodation in four-star Keadeen Hotel; August 11: Curragh racing, Phoenix Stakes Day, includes admission, lunch in champagne bar and VIP seating in grandstand
45: County Stand badges for four people on any day of York Ebor Festival meeting
47: Morning on the gallops at David Pipe’s racing stable followed by a raceday
49: Cheltenham Festival 2014, opening day for four people, includes Club admission, car park pass, lunch and afternoontea, with complimentary champagne on arrival and wines, beers and soft drinks throughout the afternoon
50: Dorothy Clive Garden, Shropshire, tickets for two
51: Saddle signed by AP McCoy
All 420 tickets have sold out for A Night of Fun at Cheltenham Racecourse next Saturday.
Celebrity Mr and Mrs, Blind Date and Has Racing Got Talent? – all based on the popular TV shows – will be among the attractions.
Dozens of items have been donated for auction, including the chance to play golf with champion jockey AP McCoy, spend time with Zara Phillips and have dinner at The Dorchester with O’Neill and his wife Jacqui.
McNamara was paralysed in a fall from one of O’Neill’s horses, Galaxy Rock, at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Sophia Upton, wife of O’Neill’s assistant Guy, and head girl Adelle O’Brien are the joint organisers of next Saturday’s event.
Upton said the response had been outstanding and well-wishers had delivered on their promises.
“We’ve been getting donations in from people who can’t make the evening but still wanted to help,” she said.
“A lot of the evening has been sponsored so we haven’t had to delve into the money that we’re making for JT and we can make sure all the funds we make goes to JT and his family.
“He’s got three children aged under six.
“I can’t divulge any names, but there are going to be few known faces up on stage involved in the Mr and Mrs and Blind Date and also we do have a jockey singing on Has Racing Got Talent?
“People said they would help and they have – it’s been absolutely heart-warming.”
McNamara’s biggest successes during his high-profile career as an amateur jockey include winning the Foxhunter Chase at the 2007 Festival aboard one of O’Neill’s horses, Drombeag.
Upton said when staff at Jackdaws heard of his accident they wanted to do all they could to support him.
“Adelle and myself just thought it would be nice if the staff at Jackdaws could just pay our respects,” he said.
“We had a Festival winner that week, which is the highlight of our year, but you just wouldn’t have known we’d had one because it was so overshadowed by what had happened to JT.
“There are 16 of us from the yard who are going to be taking part in the evening.
“We’re all going to be working for the evening, with Cheltenham Racecourse, and it’s going to be the Jackdaws staff that people see greeting them at the door, offering them reception drinks and working the tables throughout the night.”
Auction lots
The following items will go under the hammer during ‘A Night of Fun’.
Anyone who isn’t attending the evening can still make hidden bids by forwarding them to Sophia Upton by email via mitchellupton@aol.com.
1: Day with the Ward Union Hunt for two people, includes accomodation, flights and horse
2: Framed 2013 Grand National breeches, signed by all jockeys
3: Ellenborough Hotel, Cheltenham, midweek stay for two in luxury room, including breakfast and dinner in brasserie
4: Community Shield tickets for four, August 11, Manchester United versus Wigan Athletic, lunch, tea, drinks, seats below Royal Box, next to walkway of players
5: Wincanton Racecourse private box for 12 people, includes lunch, afternoon tea , parking and admission badges
6: Poachers Inn, Piddletrenthide, Dorset, two-night stay for two people in standard room on a bed and breakfast basis
7: China Tang at The Dorchester, London, private room, dinner for four accompanied by Jonjo and Jacqui O’Neill
8: Framed 2012 Gold Cup racecard and picture of Synchronised, racecard signed by all jockeys and picture signed by AP McCoy, Jonjo O’Neill and JP McManus
9: Willie Mullins stable tour for four to six people
10: Jeroboam of Provence Blanc de Blancs 2008 Clos Mereille Domain Ott champagne, boxed and signed by AP McCoy, last one in UK
11: Denise Finney prints of Big Buck’s, Frankel and The New One, mounted and signed by Tom Queally and Sam Twiston-Davies
12: Philip Hobbs stable tour and breakfast, followed by day racing at local track for four
13: Lizzie Hughes head piece by Vivian Sheriff
14: Croatia holiday villa for a week for four people, Villa Farolfi in town of Vis, to be taken between May 5 and May 17 2014
15: Cricket collection, Graham Good Benefit Year 1986 signed and framed 17 mini cricket bats, each bat signed by the players of each county
16: The Hollow Bottom, one night’s bed and breakfast for two, followed by escorted visit to Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gallops
17: Russells restaurant, Broadway , three-course meal and wine for two
18: Elizabeth Armstrong watercolour painting of JT McNamara on Spotthedifference
19: Four County Stand badges at Chester races on Friday, August 30
20: Admission and restaurant meal for four at Bangor-on-Dee races on day of choice
21: Day hunting for two with VWH
23: Ascot Racecourse, United House Group day, November 2, two tickets, entrance and invite to box
24: Mark Upton painting
25: Hand-carved wooden rocking horse
27: Paul Nicholls stable tour for four, including a night’s stay at the Manor Inn for four guests
29: 90-minute Elemis well-being massage at Elemis Day Spa in Mayfair, London
30: golf day, date to be arranged among players, at Sunningdale, Ascot, two four-balls with AP McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald
31: The Bell, Stow-on-the-Wold, three-course meal and wine for two
32: Olympia tickets for two on December 19, puissance evening, own a shetland pony for the evening, behind-the-scenes tour
33: Rambo Micklam bridle
34: Makeover by celebrity make-up artist Gary Cockerill followed by photo shoot with photographer Alan Strutt
35: Racing Post framed picture by Edward Whittaker
36: Framed print of Lester Piggott by Raymond Leslie Skipp, signed by both
37: Be a guest of Lisa Maxwell on the ‘Loose Women’ set for four, chauffeur-driven to and from studio (Glos area) with champagne and nibbles en route, meet the panel after the show
38: Cartmel tickets, champagne day for two, consists of two Paddock badges for any day and a complimentary bottle of Louis Roederer champagne
39: A morning with Zara Phillips, followed by lunch then rugby match
40: Three Sisters Art painting, Irish point-to-point scene in oil on canvas by cousins of JT McNamara
41: Irish painting
42: Harriet Glen paintings, Kauto Star and water jump scene
44: Weekend racing in Ireland for two and includes flights: August 10: guided tour of the Curragh followed by visit to Kildangan Stud, stallion show and tour of stud, overnight accomodation in four-star Keadeen Hotel; August 11: Curragh racing, Phoenix Stakes Day, includes admission, lunch in champagne bar and VIP seating in grandstand
45: County Stand badges for four people on any day of York Ebor Festival meeting
47: Morning on the gallops at David Pipe’s racing stable followed by a raceday
49: Cheltenham Festival 2014, opening day for four people, includes Club admission, car park pass, lunch and afternoontea, with complimentary champagne on arrival and wines, beers and soft drinks throughout the afternoon
50: Dorothy Clive Garden, Shropshire, tickets for two
51: Saddle signed by AP McCoy
