Kelso Race Course Winners
Champion Ground Staff of the Year Award Presented at Scottish Borders National Day
Brian Meikle and Bill Watt
Not only was it one of the biggest race days of the year for Kelso Racecourse, but on Sunday 8th December at Scottish Borders National Day sponsored by Persimmon Homes, they were also presented with their ‘Champion Ground Staff of the Year’ Award. Brian Meikle, the Head Grounds Man, had the honour of accepting the award from Bill Watt the Managing Director of Watt Fences and a joint sponsor of the award with Pitch Care.
Commenting Brian said: “I am incredibly proud to have won this award and I am very grateful to Logan Knox, David Greer and our two hard working helpers, Ally Neil and Connor Armstrong, in what really was a team effort. The award is a massive credit to all the hard work that we have put in over the years.”
The Ground Staff at Kelso Race Course are constantly striving to better the racing conditions. Brian has been working at Kelso since November 1995 and has seen five separate drainage schemes undertaken in that time, together with numerous sand-banding schemes to improve the consistency which is all important in achieving the best race times under the different going experienced during the winter months – consistency is the key to giving horses the confidence to stretch out and run to the best of their ability.
Bill Watt commenting on the sponsors decision to award Kelso the Champion Ground Staff Award said:
“When it came to the Innovation aspect of these awards, the sponsors felt there was a clear winner. Kelso took the brave move to make significant alterations to their track layout. It is always difficult to introduce change, especially in something so traditional as horseracing. The Course Executive had to be convinced and the racegoers had to be persuaded that the changes would have great benefit – not only producing more exciting racing but improving the flexibility on racing lines and the consistency of the racing surface, having a dramatic impact on course presentation during the winter and allowing an increase in the fixture list. It is to their credit that all the work was done professionally and with little fuss.”
The grounds at Kelso Racecourse really are a team effort, with help coming from John Souter, who was previously the founder of Souter Sports. He is now a Private Independent Consultant has been very influential in the considerable improvement to the turf husbandry.
Blair Young of Aitkens has also been an invaluable advisor improving the grass seed and fertiliser treatments. The Clerk of the Course, Hazel Peplinski, who is a key member of the team, has been instrumental in the new layout of the course and fence.
The Racecourse has made considerable investment in machinery and now owns its own Toro mower. The mower is self-propelled and front mounted and with greatly improved cutting ability which is hugely responsible for the improvement in the sward. Along with their own Verti-drainer which is responsible for improving the soil structure particularly on the landings, take-offs and golf crossings.
Along with Brian Meikle the Kelso Grounds Staff are made up of Logan Knox who started at the Racecourse in 2007 having served his time as an Engineer, David Greer, who started on an Employment Scheme and who is now an invaluable full time member of the team. There are three part time members of the team Allistair (Alli) Neil, Andrew Hogarth, Connor Armstrong and Raymond Elliott together with Linda Gibson who assists Gillian Meikle.
Kelso has been voted as Britain’s Friendliest Racecourse, and is a National Hunt Racecourse staging jumps racing from October through until May. The next meeting, The Final Fling, will take place on 29th December.
Further information about Kelso Race and Kelso Racecourse can be found on www.kelso–races.co.uk Ashley can be contacted: [email protected]
