quarterstaff

Wilson said: 'My wife used toride work for Ann Swinbank (Duffield), and when Quarterstaff's owner decided to sell him, Julie bought him and he has won three point-to-points, but this is his first win under Rules for us.

Left clear at the second last when Pittsburgh Phil blundered and unseated his rider, Quarterstaff looked sure to succeed until Robbo decided to have a going day and cut him down in the dying strides.

Each class, naturally, excels at different attributes and weapons - the Amazon is handy with the bow and quarterstaff, despite unfeasibly large bosoms, while the Dwarf is a master of stamina, skull bashing and wearing his beard like two shaving brushes.

An enigmatic sort, the winner had run a fine race over four miles at Kelso on his previous start and came through strongly from well off the pace under Fergus King to beat Quarterstaff by a neck.

"I've done open-air performances before and we rarely have to stop the show because of the weather," says performer Rachel Gartside optimistically wielding a realistic-looking quarterstaff. "It takes a lot to stop us."

Coming from off the pace, he was fourth jumping the last and with plenty to do, but he stayed on to collar Quarterstaff in the last couple of strides.

At one venue Parkes issued a challenge to Thomas Hesgate of Berkshire to engage in single combat at back sword, sword and dagger, sword and buckler, single falchion and quarterstaff.

A Cornish heckler (now who could have planned for that in Durham?) threatened to get the better of Annie Lees-Jones as wicked - but smiling - Baroness Hardup and I wondered why the actress's skills in "special forces knife fighting, Zulu stick fighting, kick boxing and tai chi as well as rapier, dagger, quarterstaff and unarmed combat" had not been better utilised.

Fortune was on the side of the Jim Goldie-trained gelding, whose task was made easier when clear leader Quarterstaff blundered and unseated his rider two out.

Sedgefield: 2.40 Only Words, 3.10 Damien's Choice, 4.10 Quarterstaff, 5.10 Cumbrian Knight.

Just In Time started at 1-4, but had to be hard-ridden to get the better of Quarterstaff by a length and three-quarters to make it three wins over

The seven-year-old, from the Mary Reveley stable, ran on strongly to beat the luckless Quarterstaff by nine lengths.

Julie Wilson, whose husband Chris rode fancied Quarterstaff, admitted hitting rider Adrian Wintle with a lead rein.

Hexham: 2.00 Scotmail Lad, 2.30 Gale On The Lake, 3.00 Quarterstaff, 3.30 Lord Of The Loch, 4.00 King`s Stride, 4.35 The Grey Dyer.