Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The Society's base for the weekend is the magnificent Bovey Castle Hotel (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Bovey Castle was first opened as a hotel and golf resort by Great Western Railways in 1930 (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
This private restaurant is the venue for Friday evening's dinner (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The guest speaker at Friday evening's dinner is champion jockey and trainer Jimmy Frost (photo by Dena Howlett)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Saturday morning - off to the races at Newton Abbot! (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The racegoers have disembarked at Newton Abbot Racecourse, and Judi Ellis has custody of the Wessex Cup. Yes, it really does exist! (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Our member Tom 'Fitzroy Simpson' Atkinson needed no persuasion to pose with the Wessex Cup (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
And so to the horses. Can that be Silver Blaze approaching the photographer? (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
A close bond and absolute trust is essential between the horse and the handler (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Other bookmakers are available - but "Sherlock" has a certain appeal! (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Very stylishly dressed, Catherine Cooke is ready with her camera (photo by Dena Howlett)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
This is what Newton Abbot Racecourse is for! (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
It's exciting to see a race on that huge screen, but much more exciting to see it in the flesh, so to speak! (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
You can almost hear "the voice of racing", Sir Peter O'Sullevan himself, describing the progress of the race! (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Before the Silver Blaze Wessex Cup Hurdle Handicap gets under way, this group of Society members must decide which is the Best Turned Out Horse participating in the race (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Get your bets in for the Silver Blaze Wessex Cup Handicap Hurdle! (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
It's the Silver Blaze Wessex Cup (the time goes so quickly...) And they're off! (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Here they come, the runners in the 2023 Silver Blaze Wessex Cup! (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
They're coming to the final furlong! Who will win the 2023 Silver Blaze Wessex Cup? (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The Silver Blaze Wessex Cup is ready on the plinth, and the members of the Presentation Committee await the owners of the winning horse (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The owners of the winning horse - Good Impression, also judged Best Turned Out Horse! - collect the Wessex Cup (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Good Impression, worthy winner of the Wessex Cup, is treated to a cooling shower (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Back at Bovey Castle, the table is set for Saturday evening's celebratory dinner, appropriately named "The Silver Blaze Nosebag" (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The guest speaker at Saturday evening's dinner is "Dartmoor Paul" Rendell, one of the National Park's most experienced and knowledgeable Guides (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Bovey Castle looks magnificent at any time, but especially on a sunny day (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Sunday's events begin with a display of falconry by Martin Whitley (photo by Dena Howlett)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Martin Whitley and his wife Philippa run Dartmoor Hawking, a training school for falconers (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Martin Whitley is also master of the Dartmoor Falcons, one of only two organised mounted falconry groups in the country (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Martin Whitley's Dartmoor Hawking centre is also home to the Recycled Racehorses Falconry Team (photo by Catherine Cooke)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Today, though, the display consists of One Man and His Hawk, and it's spectacular (photo by Catherine Cooke)
