Charles Hewitt
Charles Hewitt
Charles Hewitt
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Born in 1905, Charles Edward Hewitt worked for Cefni Park, Wrexham permit holder Lt.-Col. Roderick Fenwick-Palmer and rode 15 winners over jumps during the 1930s. Fourteen of those 15 wins were on horses owned and trained by Lt.-Col. Fenwick-Palmer, although, ironically, his one win for another trainer was the biggest of his career.
Born in 1905, Charles Edward Hewitt worked for Cefni Park, Wrexham permit holder Lt.-Col. Roderick Fenwick-Palmer and rode 15 winners over jumps during the 1930s. Fourteen of those 15 wins were on horses owned and trained by Lt.-Col. Fenwick-Palmer, although, ironically, his one win for another trainer was the biggest of his career.
Charles had his first ride at Bangor-on-Dee on April 25, 1930, when Suncourt, who was to prove such a useful asset over the next four years, finished third in the Wynnstay Handicap Chase. Almost a year later, he had his first win on the second day of Wetherby’s Easter fixture, April 7, 1931, when Maxtoi finished alone at the end of the Park Hill Selling Chase, his seven rivals all having failed to complete the course.
Charles had his first ride at Bangor-on-Dee on April 25, 1930, when Suncourt, who was to prove such a useful asset over the next four years, finished third in the Wynnstay Handicap Chase. Almost a year later, he had his first win on the second day of Wetherby’s Easter fixture, April 7, 1931, when Maxtoi finished alone at the end of the Park Hill Selling Chase, his seven rivals all having failed to complete the course.
After that initial victory, Charles rode two more winners that season, both in May. Suncourt obliged at Woore; then Sir Dennis, one of his few outside rides, landed the Godfrey Long Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Whit Monday, giving Charles his most valuable success.
After that initial victory, Charles rode two more winners that season, both in May. Suncourt obliged at Woore; then Sir Dennis, one of his few outside rides, landed the Godfrey Long Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Whit Monday, giving Charles his most valuable success.
He continued to ride the occasional winner throughout the 1930s, though never more than three in a season. He rode in no big races but did manage a double at Wenlock Hunt on May 5, 1933, landing the Lutwyche Maiden Hurdle on Vulnerable and the Bourton Handicap Chase on Suncourt. Altogether, he won six races on Suncourt.
He continued to ride the occasional winner throughout the 1930s, though never more than three in a season. He rode in no big races but did manage a double at Wenlock Hunt on May 5, 1933, landing the Lutwyche Maiden Hurdle on Vulnerable and the Bourton Handicap Chase on Suncourt. Altogether, he won six races on Suncourt.
Another stable stalwart was Ernest, who provided Charles with the final four victories of his career, the last of them as a 15-year-old when taking the Leslie Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Oswestry & Llanymynech on April 29, 1939, for the second time in three years. That was the fifteenth win of Charles’s career, meaning that he could no longer claim an allowance.
Another stable stalwart was Ernest, who provided Charles with the final four victories of his career, the last of them as a 15-year-old when taking the Leslie Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Oswestry & Llanymynech on April 29, 1939, for the second time in three years. That was the fifteenth win of Charles’s career, meaning that he could no longer claim an allowance.
He rode Ernest in his next, and final, race, when they finished second in the Ebbw Vale Handicap Chase at Newport on May 29, 1939, beaten by the odds-on favourite Teme Water, the mount of Fred Rimell. In doing so, horse and rider bowed out together, Ernest being Charles’s final ride. He did not renew his licence the following season.
He rode Ernest in his next, and final, race, when they finished second in the Ebbw Vale Handicap Chase at Newport on May 29, 1939, beaten by the odds-on favourite Teme Water, the mount of Fred Rimell. In doing so, horse and rider bowed out together, Ernest being Charles’s final ride. He did not renew his licence the following season.
Charles Hewitt’s wins were, in chronological order:
Charles Hewitt’s wins were, in chronological order:
1. Maxtoi, Wetherby, April 7, 1931
1. Maxtoi, Wetherby, April 7, 1931
2. Suncourt, Woore, Mat 14, 1931
2. Suncourt, Woore, Mat 14, 1931
3. Sir Dennis, Wetherby, May 25, 1931
3. Sir Dennis, Wetherby, May 25, 1931
4. Suncourt, Derby, February 23, 1932
4. Suncourt, Derby, February 23, 1932
5. Suncourt, Tarporley, April 6, 1932
5. Suncourt, Tarporley, April 6, 1932
6. Suncourt, Leicester, January 10, 1933
6. Suncourt, Leicester, January 10, 1933
7. Vulnerable, Wenlock Hunt, May 5, 1933
7. Vulnerable, Wenlock Hunt, May 5, 1933
8. Suncourt, Wenlock Hunt, May 5, 1933
8. Suncourt, Wenlock Hunt, May 5, 1933
9. Cottage Gorse, Ludlow, September 29, 1933
9. Cottage Gorse, Ludlow, September 29, 1933
10. Prince San, Woore, May 3, 1934
10. Prince San, Woore, May 3, 1934
11. Suncourt, Cartmel, May 21, 1934
11. Suncourt, Cartmel, May 21, 1934
12. Ernest, Ludlow, April 23, 1936
12. Ernest, Ludlow, April 23, 1936
13. Ernest, Cartmel, June 1, 1936
13. Ernest, Cartmel, June 1, 1936
14. Ernest, Oswestry & Llanymynech, May 1, 1937
14. Ernest, Oswestry & Llanymynech, May 1, 1937
15. Ernest, Oswestry & Llanymynech, April 29, 1939
15. Ernest, Oswestry & Llanymynech, April 29, 1939
Sir Dennis, Wetherby, May 25, 1931
Sir Dennis, Wetherby, May 25, 1931
Charles rode a double, Vulnerable and Suncourt, at Wenlock Hunt on May 5, 1933
Charles rode a double, Vulnerable and Suncourt, at Wenlock Hunt on May 5, 1933
Charles' final winner: Ernest, Oswestry & Llanymynech, April 29, 1939
Charles' final winner: Ernest, Oswestry & Llanymynech, April 29, 1939