Eldred Wilson
(1906 - 2000)
(1906 - 2000)
Major Eldred William O’Flaherty Wilson was born on June 10, 1906. He rode as an amateur from 1927 to 1961, achieving 27 winners under National Hunt rules and 61 in point-to-points. His racing colours were cerise, white hoop and armlets, check cap.
Major Eldred William O’Flaherty Wilson was born on June 10, 1906. He rode as an amateur from 1927 to 1961, achieving 27 winners under National Hunt rules and 61 in point-to-points. His racing colours were cerise, white hoop and armlets, check cap.
He rode his first two winners (left) under National Hunt rules on the same afternoon at West Norfolk Hunt’s Easter Monday fixture in 1929, landing the Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup on Side Aisle and the King’s Cup on Lady Belgian.
He rode his first two winners (left) under National Hunt rules on the same afternoon at West Norfolk Hunt’s Easter Monday fixture in 1929, landing the Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup on Side Aisle and the King’s Cup on Lady Belgian.
That marked the start of a great association with the course now called Fakenham. Eighteen of his 27 winners were gained at the Norfolk venue, including the Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup five times and the King’s/Queen’s Cup six times. Probably the best of his pre-war winners was Hardy Annual, who won the Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup in 1937. He also rode winners at two long-forgotten National Hunt venues, Hethersett and Bungay.
That marked the start of a great association with the course now called Fakenham. Eighteen of his 27 winners were gained at the Norfolk venue, including the Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup five times and the King’s/Queen’s Cup six times. Probably the best of his pre-war winners was Hardy Annual, who won the Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup in 1937. He also rode winners at two long-forgotten National Hunt venues, Hethersett and Bungay.
In wartime, he served in the Royal Norfolk Regiment from 1939 to 1945, rising to the rank of Major and being awarded the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.).
In wartime, he served in the Royal Norfolk Regiment from 1939 to 1945, rising to the rank of Major and being awarded the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.).
He took out a trainer’s permit in the early 1950s and enjoyed great success with his hunter chaser River Buoy, on whom he won a dozen races, seven of them at Fakenham including two Queen’s Cups, along with the Past and Present Hunters’ Chase at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting.
He took out a trainer’s permit in the early 1950s and enjoyed great success with his hunter chaser River Buoy, on whom he won a dozen races, seven of them at Fakenham including two Queen’s Cups, along with the Past and Present Hunters’ Chase at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting.
His other good horse was Essandem, whom he bought as a four-year-old in 1957 out of a Birmingham repository. It was money well spent, as the horse would go on to win 17 races for him, six of them with the owner on board. They included three renewals of the Queen’s Cup, twice with his owner in the saddle and once ridden by Colin Moore, plus the Ubique Hunters’ Chase at Sandown. Sadly, Essandem collapsed and died while walking back after dead-heating for first place in a race at Wye in May 1965. The Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Trophy was run in his memory at Fakenham’s Whit Monday fixture for many years.
His other good horse was Essandem, whom he bought as a four-year-old in 1957 out of a Birmingham repository. It was money well spent, as the horse would go on to win 17 races for him, six of them with the owner on board. They included three renewals of the Queen’s Cup, twice with his owner in the saddle and once ridden by Colin Moore, plus the Ubique Hunters’ Chase at Sandown. Sadly, Essandem collapsed and died while walking back after dead-heating for first place in a race at Wye in May 1965. The Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Trophy was run in his memory at Fakenham’s Whit Monday fixture for many years.
Major Eldred Wilson, who listed his recreation outside racing as farming, was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victoria Order (L.V.O.) in the Queen’s 1989 Birthday Honours list.
Major Eldred Wilson, who listed his recreation outside racing as farming, was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victoria Order (L.V.O.) in the Queen’s 1989 Birthday Honours list.
He lived at Harpley Dams House, Hillington, King’s Lynn, where he died, aged 94, on 3 July 2000. A memorial service for him was held on July 26, 2000, in the Church of St Mary The Virgin, Flitcham, Norfolk. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh sent a representative.
He lived at Harpley Dams House, Hillington, King’s Lynn, where he died, aged 94, on 3 July 2000. A memorial service for him was held on July 26, 2000, in the Church of St Mary The Virgin, Flitcham, Norfolk. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh sent a representative.
Major Eldred Wilson’s winners under National Hunt rules were:
Major Eldred Wilson’s winners under National Hunt rules were:
1. Side Aisle, West Norfolk Hunt, April 1, 1929 (Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup)
1. Side Aisle, West Norfolk Hunt, April 1, 1929 (Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup)
2. Lady Belgian, West Norfolk Hunt, April 1, 1929 (King’s Cup)
2. Lady Belgian, West Norfolk Hunt, April 1, 1929 (King’s Cup)
3. Aisle, West Norfolk Hunt, April 6, 1931 (Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup)
3. Aisle, West Norfolk Hunt, April 6, 1931 (Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup)
4. Sphinx III, Hethersett, May 11, 1934 (Norfolk Open Hunters’ Chase)
4. Sphinx III, Hethersett, May 11, 1934 (Norfolk Open Hunters’ Chase)
5. Wise Don, West Norfolk Hunt, April 22, 1935 (King’s Cup)
5. Wise Don, West Norfolk Hunt, April 22, 1935 (King’s Cup)
6. Hardy Annual (above), West Norfolk Hunt, March 29, 1937 (Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup)
6. Hardy Annual (above), West Norfolk Hunt, March 29, 1937 (Prince of Wales’s Challenge Cup)
7. Sea Legs, Bungay, May 17, 1937 (Eastern Counties Open Hunters’ Chase)
7. Sea Legs, Bungay, May 17, 1937 (Eastern Counties Open Hunters’ Chase)
8. Shining Fight, West Norfolk Hunt, May 29, 1948 (Prince of Wales’s Cup)
8. Shining Fight, West Norfolk Hunt, May 29, 1948 (Prince of Wales’s Cup)
9. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, May 11, 1951 (Eastern Counties Foxhunters’ Chase)
9. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, May 11, 1951 (Eastern Counties Foxhunters’ Chase)
10. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, April 14, 1952 (Prince of Wales’s Cup)
10. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, April 14, 1952 (Prince of Wales’s Cup)
11. River Buoy, Wye, April 22, 1952 (Hunters’ Chase)
11. River Buoy, Wye, April 22, 1952 (Hunters’ Chase)
12. River Buoy, Uttoxeter, May 2, 1952 (Feilden Hunters’ Challenge Bowl)
12. River Buoy, Uttoxeter, May 2, 1952 (Feilden Hunters’ Challenge Bowl)
13. River Buoy, Market Rasen, May 10, 1952 (Limestone Hunters’ Chase)
13. River Buoy, Market Rasen, May 10, 1952 (Limestone Hunters’ Chase)
14. River Buoy, Worcester, March 2, 1953 (Worcester Hunters’ Chase)
14. River Buoy, Worcester, March 2, 1953 (Worcester Hunters’ Chase)
15. River Buoy (above), Sandown Park, March 13, 1953 (Past and Present Hunters’ Chase)
15. River Buoy (above), Sandown Park, March 13, 1953 (Past and Present Hunters’ Chase)
16. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, April 6, 1953 (West Norfolk Hunters’ Chase)
16. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, April 6, 1953 (West Norfolk Hunters’ Chase)
17. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, April 11, 1955 (Queen’s Cup)
17. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, April 11, 1955 (Queen’s Cup)
18. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, May 30, 1955 (Eastern Counties Foxhunters’ Chase)
18. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, May 30, 1955 (Eastern Counties Foxhunters’ Chase)
19. River Buoy (above) West Norfolk Hunt, April 2, 1956 (Queen’s Cup)
19. River Buoy (above) West Norfolk Hunt, April 2, 1956 (Queen’s Cup)
20. Merely a Mascot, West Norfolk Hunt, April 2, 1956 (West Norfolk Plate Hunters’ Chase)
20. Merely a Mascot, West Norfolk Hunt, April 2, 1956 (West Norfolk Plate Hunters’ Chase)
21. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, May 21, 1956 (Open Hunters’ Chase)
21. River Buoy, West Norfolk Hunt, May 21, 1956 (Open Hunters’ Chase)
22. Essandem, West Norfolk Hunt, March 30, 1959 (Queen’s Cup)
22. Essandem, West Norfolk Hunt, March 30, 1959 (Queen’s Cup)
23. Essandem, West Norfolk Hunt, April 25, 1959 (Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase
23. Essandem, West Norfolk Hunt, April 25, 1959 (Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase
24. Essandem, Market Rasen, May 9, 1959 (Centenary Hunters’ Chase)
24. Essandem, Market Rasen, May 9, 1959 (Centenary Hunters’ Chase)
25. Essandem, Sandown Park, March 30, 1960 (Ubique Hunters’ Chase)
25. Essandem, Sandown Park, March 30, 1960 (Ubique Hunters’ Chase)
26. Essandem, West Norfolk Hunt, April 18, 1960 (Queen’s Cup)
26. Essandem, West Norfolk Hunt, April 18, 1960 (Queen’s Cup)
27. Essandem , West Norfolk Hunt, May 22, 1961 (Open Hunters’ Chase)
27. Essandem , West Norfolk Hunt, May 22, 1961 (Open Hunters’ Chase)