Roger Penny, owner of top hunter Earthmover

Roger Penny, in whose colours Earthmover won two Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chases, died earlier this year at the age of 87.

Somerset born and bred, Penny loved horsepower in all forms, be it steam engines, farm machinery or heavy earthmoving equipment, but also shire horses and thoroughbreds. He established Pennys Group in his back garden in the early 1960s, hiring out tractors to local farmers and contractors, and steadily grew the business into a multi-million pound venture with a two-acre industrial site near the point-to-point course at Ston Easton. Along the way, ever eager to try a venture, he owned a garage and a golf course, but he was also a ready contributor to charity.

The company he founded is now involved in demolition and construction, waste management, plant (machinery) hire and the sale of materials such as aggregates, stone and sand. Civil engineering projects in which Pennys Group played a key role include the new Severn Bridge, the A4 road out of Bath and a pond at Highgrove, while specialist roles include the dismantling of railway bridges.

Penny made a shrewd move when agreeing to buy Earthmover from Richard Barber, himself a legend of the sport, who in addition to a success in Aintree’s Foxhunters’ Chase saddled four winners of Cheltenham’s famous hunters’ chase, the first being Rushing Wild in 1992. In that same year Earthmover had been sold as a yearling by his breeder to bloodstock agent David Minton, acting for  Tim Vestey who planned to pinhook the horse as a store.

As a four-year-old Earthmover lined up in Doncaster’s Spring Sale where Barber brought the hammer down with a bid of 7,500gns. The following February, wearing Penny’s colours for the first time, the then five-year-old made a winning debut in a 12-runner maiden at Great Trethew and his career was under way.

Earthmover duly won six more point-to-points over the following two seasons under Polly Curling and then Polly Gundry and the last-named also won four hunters’ chases on the horse. However, when seven-year-old Earthmover lined up in the Foxhunters’ Chase at Cheltenham, Joe Tizzard, who was on the cusp of turning professional, was given the ride. The pair were clear at the top of the hill and won easily.

Richard Barber (right) joins Joe Tizzard and Roger and Catherine Penny after Earthmover’s Foxhunters’ Chase win in 1998

Earthmover spent the rest of his career with Paul Nicholls, initially winning handicap hurdles and chases – and also being placed in graded races over both types of jumps – before returning to hunters’ chases at the age of 12.

His wins-to-runs ratio immediately picked up and although only fourth to Kingscliff in the 2003 Foxhunters’ Chase under Christian Williams he then went on a run of success under Rilly Goschen, culminating in a second Foxhunters’ Chase victory. He was 13: there had been a remarkable six years between his two successes in the famous race.

Penny owned numerous other horses, usually including the word ‘Earth’ in their name, few more promising than Earth Leader who in 2019 rose up the ladder of pointing for trainer Rose Loxton before landing two hunters’ chases. He suffered a fatal injury soon after being transferred to Nicholls’ stable. Earth Planet and Earth Company won hurdle races for Nicholls and Philip Hobbs respectively, while We Move Earth won three point-to-points for Richard Barber. When Barber retired his grandson Jack trained the point-to-pointers Earth Storm and Earth Power.

President of both the Mid-Somerset and Frome Shows and a big supporter of the Bath & West Show, Penny loved the agricultural life. His grandson Tom Brimble, who now heads Pennys Group, said: “He looked after his staff and customers, and when he did something he did it wholeheartedly. He loved shire horses, so he owned 16 of them for breeding and showing.”

Penny’s widow, Catherine, to whom he was married for 65 years, said: “His philosophy was that you work damn hard. His work was his baby, but he loved people and helping them out. After he died I received so many cards, some from people he had known 50 years ago, saying how he had given them good advice or helped them out.”

Roger Penny with Catherine, his wife of 65 years, and grandson Tom Brimble

Penny was pre-deceased by two sons, but is survived by Catherine, a son and a daughter, six grandchildren – of whom Tom, Joe and Ed are involved in Pennys Group – and by six great grandchildren.

His family plan to retain ownership of Earth King, who is in training with Neil Mulholland, and Royal Jewel with Hobbs and Johnson White.