A WHOLE range of racing enthusiasts made their regular pilgrimage to the Cheltenham Racing Festival to cheer on local seven year old gelding ‘Tobefair’, which is half-owned by Lawrenny farmer Michael Cole, with the other 50% shared by 17 local supporters of racing and eager to see if their horse could make it eight wins in a row.

Sadly it was not to be because although ‘Tobefair’ looked in with a chance of winning the £95,000 Pertemps Hurdle for much of the race it tailed off on the run-in, but it will soon be back in the winners’ enclosure and continue the adventure for its co-owners centred on its steeple-chasing ability.

One such enthusiast is Tim Parry, who runs the Dyrham Service Station and shop in Robeston Wathan, alongside his brother Charlie, a solicitor in Cardiff, and both went with their mother Gill for a special day out that included hospitality and the chance to join a bus load who were up at 6am to make the journey to Cheltenham.

“It was a bitter-sweet day for us as a family,” admitted Tim, “because it was exactly a year to the day since my father Richard, who was known to all as Dickie, had passed away - but we went in the knowledge that he would have wanted us to have a good day.

“Dad was a good sportsman and a genuine character who sponsored local sport and was hugely respected.”

As to the race itself, Tim echoed the sentiments of all those involved as he told us: “Naturally we had hoped for a win but in the final analysis all we wanted was for him to get home safe with such daunting fences - and he did just that!”

Tim certainly followed his dad because he was a useful hooker with Llangwm and Haverfordwest, was a good coach, as well as playing football and cricket in his younger days.

Now a young-looking 41, Tim has enjoyed horseracing for years so when Michael Cole turned up to buy petrol and mentioned he had acquired a promising race horse and was looking for others to share the experience, Tim jumped at the chance.

“Charlie also took up an option, as did my old pal John Tennick, and we joined 14 others from the Lawrenny/Cresselly area and based on the Cresselly Arms at Cresswell Quay.

“Our horse was initially well trained by Lucy Jones and more recently by Paul and Deborah Hamer at Nantycaws - and it would be fair to say that ‘Tobefair’ didn’t exactly set the world alight.

“As a five year old it didn’t look the quality racehorse it is now but then it suddenly strung five wins together on the trot at Chepstow and Worcester (both twice) and Ffos Las."

That nicely set up Tim and Co for Cheltenham on the Thursday and the Pertemps Chase at 2.10pm but others in the high-class field passed him at a vital time - and they will never forget such a memorable day.

Tim’s other major sporting involvement over a much longer time is rugby, having set out at Narberth under the watchful eye of Bobby Simons.

“I also played for Tasker Milward School where Richard and Huw ones were terrific coaches of talented players like Darren John, Danny Field, Lee Dalton and Richard Hay - and also played for The Otters until I was 16 but then they didn’t have a team in my age group so I joined my school pals at Llangwm.

“There was a terrific camaraderie at Pill Parks and I captained a very good Wasps Youth team that included Daniel Bower, George Thomas and Steve McInally - and played for two seasons for the county youth team in which Karl Clash, Andrew Williams, Colin Picton, Steve Hamer and Eifion Gwynne were good players.

“We did well to reach the Welsh Counties Youth Cup Final against a Llanelli team in which Craig Quinnell was a star, and although we lost we certainly did well in the match played at The Gnoll in Neath.

“When I went in to the Llangwm first team I was well looked after by real characters by Ian and Chris Thomas, John Nutting, Michael John and Alan Masters, who all looked after this cheeky little hooker very well indeed!

“I played for Llangwm for five seasons and I was chosen to be vice-captain to Lee Davies but he dislocated his shoulder in the first game and so I led the team for the whole season and enjoyed it.”

Tim was approached by Haverfordwest and Narberth to play at a higher level and although he was very reluctant to leave The Wasps he decided to try his luck with The Blues - and was also made hugely welcome there as he played alongside outstanding players like Andrew Morgan, Johnnie Griffiths, Andrew Thicker, Peter Hughes, Steve Barnett, Nigel Griffiths, Phil Stoddart, Nigel Hancock, Phil Stoddart, Paul and Mark Busch.

“I really enjoyed the physical side of the game in the front row but I paid the price when I had to have three knee operations as well as having a nastily broken nose - so decided it was time to do some coaching, took my badges and started out with Haverfordwest Youth.

“We had some cracking players like current Welsh prop Rob Evans, Sam Parry, Carwyn and Llewellyn Jones, Adam and Matthew Clark, plus Ollie Reyland - and I’ve stayed good pals with all of them - especially my regular coffee-mate Evans!

“That team won the league, beating our old rivals Whitland, but lost to them in the cup, with James ‘Cub’ Davies playing an influential role for the Borderers.”

Tim also played cricket for Narberth, Haverfordwest and Llangwm at different times, having a top score of 70 plus and playing alongside Dan Field and Iain Williams in a Town team that won the Ormond Cup.

In schools’ cricket, organised by Hugh Nicklin, he kept wicket alongside George Thomas, Ross Martin, Darren Brick - and won a Welsh Schools’ title.

He also loved table tennis and played a bit of football for Narberth as a full back with a propensity for careless tackles!

But it was always rugby that Tim loved best and now horse-racing has captured his imagination - and although ‘Tobefair’ missed out at Cheltenham he will be back in action next season - and no one will be more eager than Tim Parry, who will show the same enthusiasm that he has brought to all his sporting activities!