Latest news with #Appleby
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
'How muscular dystrophy changed life on our Dufton farm'
A farmer living with a degenerative disease has shared how he adapted life on the farm to overcome the challenges of his Laidlow, 52, has muscular dystrophy - a progressive condition which causes muscles to sheep, climbing up and down a tractor and carrying out maintenance work at his farm in Dufton, near Appleby in Cumbria, may have become difficult tasks, but with support from his family and a few adaptations, he continues to run the business."I've got so much going for me in life at the minute and I live in such a beautiful place," he said. "You do get down thinking about the future from time to time, but really I've got such a good support." Mr Laidlow's condition means it is hard for him to handle sheep, but instead of giving up farming, they switched from textile sheep to Herdwicks, which are smaller and easier to handle for the rest of his family without his uses step ladders to get into his tractor and access to the farm has been changed to reduce trip hazards."When you're active all your life you don't want to stop, but you just need to adjust things," Mr Laidlow said."It's incredibly frustrating, you see something like a gap in a drystone wall, it used to take me half an hour to fix beforehand." 'Getting old quick' Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria's Mike Zeller at Breakfast, the father-of-three said he first noticed his symptoms at the start of the coronavirus lockdown, when he found it hard to get into the tractor or climb the stairs at night."I know when you get tired and a bit achy at night sometimes all of those are difficult, but it just seemed to be too consistent," Mr Laidlow he thought it was a result of being unfit and overweight, so he tried to address that and attended appointments with chiropractors and was one of those professionals who suggested his problems might stem elsewhere, which kickstarted the process of receiving a diagnosis."It was a shock obviously, because when you start reading up about it - it's the beginning of a lifechanging thing," Mr Laidlow said."But in the same breath - and I know it sounds stupid - I was a bit relieved that I was diagnosed with something, because I was thinking 'I'm getting old too quickly, I can't continue doing what I'm doing for a living'." Accessible countryside With support from his family and careful planning, he has adapted farm life to work for him, but also for others who may struggle with their daughter Katie, 18, who also works on the farm, said they worked to make footpaths on their land more accessible."We tried our best to replace stiles with gates," she said."Just simple things like making sure they're wide enough to allow wheelchairs and pushchairs - it does affect everybody really."The teenager recently ran the Manchester marathon in aid of charity Muscular event day was the first time she ran on roads, having trained on the farm, fields and surrounding fells."Living here with a hill in every direction I go in, I do think it helped me massively for running the marathon - I think it improved my overall stamina and endurance," she said. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Animal welfare charities get ready to celebrate awards at Appleby Horse Fair
STAFF from eight animal welfare charities who make up the Appleby Horse Project are making their final preparations. The annual gathering of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, which is the biggest in the UK, officially begins next Thursday, June 5, with the biggest days traditionally taking place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hundreds of horses are bought and sold at the event, which is also an important holiday for many Fairgoers. This year is the 10th anniversary of the Best at Appleby Awards, led by Redwings Horse Sanctuary with support from the rest of the animal welfare charity partnership. Redwings' vet Nicola Berryman is head judge of this year's competition and said: 'I've been working at Appleby since 2012 and have been helping to judge these awards since their inception 10 years ago. 'The response to the awards has changed so much over the years. We now have so many people bringing their horses to our golden tent on Salt Tip Corner that we're reverting to how we used to run them this year, where one of our vets must spot and approach you. 'The awards have become an incredible tool for building relationships, as we always hoped they would over time, and we can't wait to meet this year's winners and their owners.' The awards recognise the best horse health, happiness, and horsemanship at the Fair, with categories including Best Hoof Health and Best in Harness chosen by experts. Leading farrier and educator Dean Bland will be judging the Best Hoof Health Award, and Master saddler and harness maker Chris Taylor and Laurence Pearman will be judging the Best in Harness Award. The operational team, led by the RSPCA, will be putting on extra evening patrols after reports that horses were being overworked at that time of day last year. RSPCA chief inspector for Cumbria, Rob Melloy, oversees the operational team and added: 'Overworking is a key focus for us this year after it proved to be an issue at last year's Fair. 'We had a lot of reports from Fairgoers and the settled community that horses were being worked hard at night, so we'll be putting on extra patrols in the evening."
South Wales Guardian
23-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Big Mojo part of what looks set to be an informative Sandy Lane Stakes
The Mohaather colt was one of the emerging young sprint talents last term, winning the Molecomb at Goodwood before collecting placings in the Gimcrack, the Flying Childers and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He then returned to action in the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes at Ascot late last month and hit his stride instantly with a half-length victory. 'He's in very good order, he's been working really well at home,' said Appleby ahead of the six-furlong Group Two contest. 'We were very pleased to see him come out and win first time at Ascot, hopefully he can put up another good performance on Saturday. 'I should think we'll switch between five and six furlongs for the rest of the season, he looks to be equally effective over both. 'Hopefully he can go on from here and have another good season.' Adrian Murray's Arizona Blaze is another who has made a flying start, having already gained an all-weather win in March, a third-placed run over a trip that proved too far in the Red Rocks Stakes and victory in the Group Three Prix Sigy in France. He too has plenty to aim for over sprint distances and, like Big Mojo, will tee up a Royal Ascot bid at Haydock. 'He's great, he's been in very, very good order this year and we're hoping for a big run,' said Murray. 'He's a good horse, he's come on very well from two to three and he's a horse that thrives on his racing. 'He's an easy horse to train and this will be his prep run now before Royal Ascot. 'We're not quite sure whether he'll go over five or six there, we'll see how Haydock works out for us and go from there.' Richard Fahey's Powerful Glory was a Group Two winner as a juvenile when taking the Mill Reef in September, and now returns to action for the first start of his three-year-old campaign. 'We're pleased with him, he's wintered well and we're about to find out whether he can play with the big boys this season,' the North Yorkshire-based trainer said. 'Everything has gone to plan and this is the first chance we've had to run him without a penalty, because he had that Group Two win at Newbury, but it will be a good chance to see where we're at with him.' Charlie Appleby's eyecatching grey Symbol Of Honour was last seen winning the Listed Carnarvon Stakes in good style at Newbury only a week ago. Appleby told 'Symbol Of Honour put up a decent performance in the Carnarvon Stakes and bounced out of the race well. 'He can't run in the Commonwealth Cup, being a gelding, so this is one of the last chances to take on his own age group of sprinters. 'His confidence is up and we know six furlongs is the right trip for him. Big Mojo looks the one to beat, but we will give it a go.' Kevin Ryan's Ain't Nobody, William Haggas' First Instinct, Simon and Ed Crisford's Arabian Dusk, Charlie Johnston's Dash Dizzy, James Tate's Kullazain and the Richard Spencer-trained Candy complete the field.
Glasgow Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Big Mojo part of what looks set to be an informative Sandy Lane Stakes
The Mohaather colt was one of the emerging young sprint talents last term, winning the Molecomb at Goodwood before collecting placings in the Gimcrack, the Flying Childers and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He then returned to action in the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes at Ascot late last month and hit his stride instantly with a half-length victory. 'He's in very good order, he's been working really well at home,' said Appleby ahead of the six-furlong Group Two contest. 'We were very pleased to see him come out and win first time at Ascot, hopefully he can put up another good performance on Saturday. 'I should think we'll switch between five and six furlongs for the rest of the season, he looks to be equally effective over both. 'Hopefully he can go on from here and have another good season.' Adrian Murray's Arizona Blaze is another who has made a flying start, having already gained an all-weather win in March, a third-placed run over a trip that proved too far in the Red Rocks Stakes and victory in the Group Three Prix Sigy in France. He too has plenty to aim for over sprint distances and, like Big Mojo, will tee up a Royal Ascot bid at Haydock. 'He's great, he's been in very, very good order this year and we're hoping for a big run,' said Murray. 'He's a good horse, he's come on very well from two to three and he's a horse that thrives on his racing. 'He's an easy horse to train and this will be his prep run now before Royal Ascot. 'We're not quite sure whether he'll go over five or six there, we'll see how Haydock works out for us and go from there.' Richard Fahey's Powerful Glory was a Group Two winner as a juvenile when taking the Mill Reef in September, and now returns to action for the first start of his three-year-old campaign. 'We're pleased with him, he's wintered well and we're about to find out whether he can play with the big boys this season,' the North Yorkshire-based trainer said. 'Everything has gone to plan and this is the first chance we've had to run him without a penalty, because he had that Group Two win at Newbury, but it will be a good chance to see where we're at with him.' Charlie Appleby's eyecatching grey Symbol Of Honour was last seen winning the Listed Carnarvon Stakes in good style at Newbury only a week ago. Appleby told 'Symbol Of Honour put up a decent performance in the Carnarvon Stakes and bounced out of the race well. 'He can't run in the Commonwealth Cup, being a gelding, so this is one of the last chances to take on his own age group of sprinters. 'His confidence is up and we know six furlongs is the right trip for him. Big Mojo looks the one to beat, but we will give it a go.' Kevin Ryan's Ain't Nobody, William Haggas' First Instinct, Simon and Ed Crisford's Arabian Dusk, Charlie Johnston's Dash Dizzy, James Tate's Kullazain and the Richard Spencer-trained Candy complete the field.
Rhyl Journal
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Big Mojo part of what looks set to be an informative Sandy Lane Stakes
The Mohaather colt was one of the emerging young sprint talents last term, winning the Molecomb at Goodwood before collecting placings in the Gimcrack, the Flying Childers and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He then returned to action in the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes at Ascot late last month and hit his stride instantly with a half-length victory. 'He's in very good order, he's been working really well at home,' said Appleby ahead of the six-furlong Group Two contest. 'We were very pleased to see him come out and win first time at Ascot, hopefully he can put up another good performance on Saturday. 'I should think we'll switch between five and six furlongs for the rest of the season, he looks to be equally effective over both. 'Hopefully he can go on from here and have another good season.' Adrian Murray's Arizona Blaze is another who has made a flying start, having already gained an all-weather win in March, a third-placed run over a trip that proved too far in the Red Rocks Stakes and victory in the Group Three Prix Sigy in France. He too has plenty to aim for over sprint distances and, like Big Mojo, will tee up a Royal Ascot bid at Haydock. 'He's great, he's been in very, very good order this year and we're hoping for a big run,' said Murray. 'He's a good horse, he's come on very well from two to three and he's a horse that thrives on his racing. 'He's an easy horse to train and this will be his prep run now before Royal Ascot. 'We're not quite sure whether he'll go over five or six there, we'll see how Haydock works out for us and go from there.' Richard Fahey's Powerful Glory was a Group Two winner as a juvenile when taking the Mill Reef in September, and now returns to action for the first start of his three-year-old campaign. 'We're pleased with him, he's wintered well and we're about to find out whether he can play with the big boys this season,' the North Yorkshire-based trainer said. 'Everything has gone to plan and this is the first chance we've had to run him without a penalty, because he had that Group Two win at Newbury, but it will be a good chance to see where we're at with him.' Charlie Appleby's eyecatching grey Symbol Of Honour was last seen winning the Listed Carnarvon Stakes in good style at Newbury only a week ago. Appleby told 'Symbol Of Honour put up a decent performance in the Carnarvon Stakes and bounced out of the race well. 'He can't run in the Commonwealth Cup, being a gelding, so this is one of the last chances to take on his own age group of sprinters. 'His confidence is up and we know six furlongs is the right trip for him. Big Mojo looks the one to beat, but we will give it a go.' Kevin Ryan's Ain't Nobody, William Haggas' First Instinct, Simon and Ed Crisford's Arabian Dusk, Charlie Johnston's Dash Dizzy, James Tate's Kullazain and the Richard Spencer-trained Candy complete the field.
