INTERVIEW
different events on the mainland and
the Island, from Thursday to Sunday certainly paid off.
Among his triumphs were winning
the All National and the Isle of Wight
Showjumper of the Year titles and
countless foxhunter competitions.
In the process, he also managed to
qualify many horses for Horse of the
Year Show at Wembley.
In later years, he also enjoyed being
involved in course-building for various
shows around the country.
So why did he decide 18 months ago
to change direction?
“It’s undoubtedly a very tough and
disciplined sport and you have to be
mega-fit and of course you do get
hurt. Over the years, like most riders,
I’d had a collarbone injury and rib
problems and at 65 I decided it was
time to make a change”.
When it came to it, he didn’t have
to look far to see what would replace
showjumping in his life.
Crab and lobster fishing had been a
long-time hobby so it was no hardship
for him to take to the water as a
“I’ve won so many
classes that I’ve lost
count, I certainly
had a good innings
in the sport, and
enjoyed every
minute of it”.
way of earning a living, running
a commercial fishing boat from
Bembridge three days a week.
Along with his wife Diane he’s
opened up a delightful fresh
produce shop at Delysia Farm,
selling his catch of the day as well
as home-reared ducks, poultry
and eggs, home-grown fruit and
vegetables and seasonal game.
What the Days don’t produce
themselves, they buy in from local
producer friends - whilst their jams and
preserves are expertly made by John’s
amazingly busy 97 year-old mother-in-law
Katy Burrell.
“We are really enjoying ourselves,” he says.
“We could go bigger with the business,
but we don’t want to - we want to keep it
unique, hands-on, small and personal”.
Meanwhile, horses will continue to figure
in John’s life in a big way. He still has his
favourites Ganzy Man and Nex M, and he
and Diane hack out 2-3 times a week.
“It’s nice to do it to relax now,” he says.
“We’ve got lovely hacking country around
here and the beach to go at”.
The couple also enjoy going to events at
Hickstead, as invited guest spectators.
Diane is also a good horsewoman - in
fact, appropriately enough, the couple met
at a horse show, when Diane was working
as a housekeeper to Princess Alexandra.
Ultimately she moved to the Island, worked
as his groom, and the couple married 24
years ago. “The best thing we ever did”
according to John.
“She is a very good horsewoman” he
says, “a good rider on the flat”. Which is
quite some compliment, coming from the
Island’s undisputed showjumping ace.
24
www.visitilife.com