THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com  created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

ALAN OUGHTON OF THE VALE

Copyright Valerie Martin 2002

First published in the Findon News in September 2002.

Alan Oughton started life as the son of a tailor from Horndean near Portsmouth.  He grew to be a lanky six-footer but in spite of this he had a successful career firstly as an amateur jockey after the Second World War, then a professional jockey and finally as a trainer in Findon.  

His career commenced in Lewes in West Sussex.  He rode for Don Butcher's stable in those days.  At the same time a girl from the well-known Rees racing family was riding out and schooling there.  This was Diane and her father was jump jockey "Bilbie" Rees, who won the 1922 Grand National on Music Hall.  The year prior to that her uncle, Fred Rees, had partnered Shaun Spadah to the Aintree winner's enclosure. 

Diane's brother, Bill, followed his father into the saddle and became National Hunt jockey to the Queen Mother and was later a Jockey Club starter. 

After marrying Diane in 1953, Alan Oughton turned professional in the 1954/55 season and moved with the Butcher contingent to Epsom and brought many winners home to the yard. 

He came in fourth on Eagle Lodge in the 1956 Grand National when Devon Loch inexplicably robbed the Queen Mother and Dick Francis of almost certain victory.  See my article Dead Cert in Findon.  

Alan played golf during the 1960s/70s at the Hill Barn Golf Course (established in 1935) situated on the southern slopes of Cissbury Ring.  He played along with Findon's Josh Gifford the then champion jockey and Paul Kelleway.  Another jockey who played golf fairly regularly at Hill Barn was Doug Barrott. 

Alan rode a total of 126 jumping winners, and three in amateur flat races.  He suffered several serious falls and it was one of these — a broken thigh sustained at Epsom —that put an end to his career as a jockey before he became a trainer.

After spending three years at Ditchling in West Sussex, he moved his interests in 1965 to the Victorian house at The Vale (on the A24 on the southern edge of Findon village). 

When the Oughtons took over at the Vale it was a chicken farm and there was also a greyhound track where a Mr. Scadgell ran his dogs.  All this had to go and was replaced by stabling.  From then on, Alan sent out a steady stream of winners.   In time, Patrick Hogan took over as Head Lad to Alan Oughton — he had known Alan from his riding days.   He says some great Christmas parties were held at The Vale in those days.

One of the stable's stars was a horse called Solimyth who broke a hind leg on the Folkestone course.  He was not put down but pinned and plated and made a complete recovery and was still winning at the age of 12.  Upon retirement, the older stager enjoyed the remainder of his life just up the A24 at Ashington — but came in if the weather was inclement.

By June 1972 Alan Oughton was suffering from cancer and had an eye and part of a cheekbone removed.  He returned home to Findon and sat in the sun and walked around the stables.  He appeared to be improving and his wife fed him on baby food and he gained 12 lbs but it was not to be and he lost the battle and died at the age of 43.

Continue if you would like to read about Diane Oughton of The Vale.

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created exclusively for documenting life in Findon.