'You'd struggle to find anyone with a bad word for him' - huge northern jumping figure John Wade dies at 80

Northern jump racing was in mourning on Wednesday after the death of John Wade at the age of 80. He made a huge contribution to the sport as an owner, trainer and sponsor.

Wade enjoyed numerous successes with horses carrying his familiar maroon and white silks, most notably perhaps Always Right, who finished third in the Scottish Grand National.

And he remained a highly supportive backer of Rebecca Menzies, who moved into his Howe Hills Stables a few miles from Sedgefield racecourse in 2016.

Menzies said: "John meant, and will always mean, so much to us, not only as our landlord but as an owner, our biggest supporter, our inspiration in so many ways and most importantly our friend.

"Our lives are stronger and better by knowing John and his presence will live on with us for the future as we continue to work hard, to gain more success in the sport that he loved.

"John knows we will uphold his standards and integrity as we look forward to many more years at Howe Hills. We know without him we wouldn't be where we are now and he will be sorely missed."

John Wade (third left) with jockey Brian Hughes and trainer Rebecca Menzies (right) after Stilo Blue Native won at Sedgefield in 2016Credit: John Grossick

Former champion jump jockey Brian Hughes rode 55 of the winners that Wade trained and said: "It's a sad, sombre feeling this morning. John was a big influence on my career – he was the first person to give me half a chance. When I was champion conditional, I probably rode most winners for him.

"I have nothing but admiration for him. He loved his racing, loved his horses. He loved people and people loved him. He's put plenty into the northern racing scene and helped a lot of people for a long time.

"You'd struggle to find anyone with a bad word for him."

Racing was a hobby rather than a business for Wade, who left school at 15, set up on his own two years later and ended up creating a multi-million-pound business.

Having started by repairing farm machinery then hiring out diggers and excavators, he went into the quarrying before expanding into demolition and land reclamation, skip hire, waste recycling, earthworks and waste disposal. "It was hard work but worth it," he once said.

His equine interests began when he taught himself to ride on ponies owned by a farmer in his village, went round the local shows and "won about 70 rosettes in one year".

He started hunting, competing in cross-country events, team chasing and point-to-points and rode a couple of winners under rules on horses he had in training with Arthur Stephenson.

"I enjoyed myself but realised I wasn't that good a rider and Arthur suggested I train some of my own," recalled Wade, who started off training a few pointers and ended up sending out nearly 200 winners.

Staying chasers were his forte, most notably Always Right who graduated from point-to-points to win the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster in 2011 and finish under a length third behind Beshabar in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr later that spring.

Always Right, in the familiar maroon and white silks of John Wade, in action at Kelso in 2013Credit: John Grossick

Other smart horses included Overflowing River, who twice won the 4m1f hunter chase at Cheltenham's evening meeting, and the Durham National winners General Hardi and Devil's Run.

Wade was a major sponsor at Sedgefield, where he backed a selling hurdle series for many years, as well as staging point-to-points and a pony racing day at Howe Hills. He also staged events that raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Air Ambulance, the Injured Jockeys Fund and Racing Welfare.

Among those who trained for Wade was Sue Smith, who said: "He was a special man. He's going to be sadly missed. He was very loyal to people and he raised a lot of money for charity."

He retired from training in 2016 and his last runner was a winner when Colorado Kid, owned by his longstanding assistant Maria Myco, took a staying handicap chase at Cartmel.

But he backed his successor as a supportive landlord, investing in facilities and horses at Howe Hills from where Menzies sent out Boomslang and Edgewell to win at Downpatrick when he visited Northern Ireland earlier this month.

Menzies said: "We are so grateful that we enjoyed a very special day at Downpatrick, with John and Maria enjoying a winner each in their own colours. John said it was a fantastic day and the best he could of hoped for, and we say back, it was the least we could do for you."