Latest news with #DavidChester
News.com.au
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
The Awesome story behind the namesake of Blake Ryan's talented two-year-old
Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan will be at Rosehill on Saturday armed with his exciting two-year-old debut winner Just Awesome. The gelding's name will be instantly recognisable for racing fans and breeding scholars in particular. Enter the Magic Millions Sales Director David Chester who had a front-row seat for the original Just Awesome 's brief but spectacular career. 'I remember the late Ken Turner trained him and he was a pretty smart racehorse,'' Chester told Racenet. For the record, the son of Last Tycoon was foaled in 1990 and was a member of the same crop sired by the Breeders' Cup Mile winner as Mahogany, Lady Jakeo, Tracey's Element and Magic Of Money. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Just Awesome, unlike the modern-day version, was beaten on debut but hardly disgraced given it was behind Geoff and Beryl White's future Galaxy winner, Jetball. As for Just Awesome, his stakes-win came at Rosehill on August 27 in 1994 when Shane Dye steered the colt to a narrow victory in the Concorde Stakes. His race record and pedigree was enough to earn Just Awesome a place on the then revered stallion roster at Wakefield Stud which at the time, included Kala Dancer, who would go on to throw Melbourne Cup winner Subzero and the ill-fated Angst. 'The late Brian Agnew bought the horse as a stallion prospect to stand in the Hunter Valley,'' Chester explained. 'And he (Just Awesome) was at a farm at Beaudesert, I can't remember the name of it, but anyway it was 'gelding day' and I think they had about half a dozen horses to geld and they brought down Just Awesome. 'They never checked the brand. Anyway the vet took out one testicle and then he said 'are you sure this is the right horse?' 'And then all hell broke loose. They checked the brand and found out they'd taken a testicle out of Just Awesome.' • Kosciuszko build-up begins without defending champ Needless to say it was a big deal at the time, with the career of one of the nation's boom soon-to-be stallions almost over before it began. 'Brian rang me and he said 'David, can you help me sell the horse, I don't want him now','' Chester said. 'So I rang Fred Brown who had a property at Southbrook. 'He was quite a big client of (the Magic Millions), as a breeder and racehorse owner. John Size used to train for him when he trained in Brisbane; Fred was one of John's best clients. 'So I rang Fred and Fred said 'I like the horse, but Jesus David, let me talk to Reg Pascoe' who was the leading horse vet on the Darling Downs. 'Reg said 'Fred, first year you might have to just go a little bit easy on him but that testicle will develop and he will be able to cover as many mares as you want, it should not affect him at all later on.' Which is exactly what Brown did. Just Awesome covered a mere 56 mares in his first season in 1996. That number rose to 68 in the following season but then tragedy struck. Just Awesome died in April, 1998, leaving behind an eventful and ultimately unfulfilled career that only became evident as his limited number of offspring made it to the racetrack. 'He was a very good stallion,'' Chester said. 'He was sensational in what he did in the first couple of seasons. 'You couldn't believe it. Just everything he got could run.' According to figures supplied by Racing And Sports, Just Awesome's two (small) crops delivered winners of 318 races including five stakes-winners, led by Sound The Alarm who won the Group 1 Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year's Day in 2002. Vale Just Awesome (1990-1998), gone but not forgotten.
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Firefighters and passer-by killed by collapsing roof at RAF airfield
Two firefighters and a passer-by were killed when a roof collapsed during a blaze at a former RAF airfield, an initial post mortem has suggested. The fire on Buckingham Road, Bicester, on the evening of May 15, took the lives of two firefighters and a member of the public. Firefighters Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, and 57-year-old father-of-two, David Chester, who worked at the site, died while tackling the blaze. Mr Chester's family said last week that he was trying to help the two firefighters when he was killed. Thames Valley Police confirmed that post mortem examinations have been carried out on the three people who died following the fire. The preliminary findings from the post mortem examinations show that all three people died from multiple traumatic injuries. Two other firefighters who suffered serious injuries remain in hospital in stable conditions. Asst Chief Constable Dennis Murray said: 'Our thoughts remain first and foremost with the families, friends and colleagues of Jennie Logan, Martyn Sadler and Dave Chester, as well as the injured firefighters and their loved ones, following this tragic incident. 'Our initial investigations suggest that all three sustained injuries in line with those typically caused by the collapse of part of a structure. 'We will make no further comment on the post mortem's preliminary findings. This remains an unexplained death investigation and is being led by our Major Crime Unit, who continue to work with fire investigators and the Health and Safety Executive to ascertain the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the sad deaths of Jennie, Martyn and Dave. 'We again extend our deepest sympathies to everyone who has been affected by this incident.'
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Family of firefighter killed in blaze at ex-RAF base in Bicester pay heartfelt tribute to 'loving husband, son, and brother' with 'unwavering bravery'
The family of a firefighter who was among three killed in a horror blaze in Bicester have paid tribute - describing him as 'the true definition of a hero'. Martyn Sadler, 38, died after a fire engulfed Bicester Motion - a former RAF base - alongside firefighter Jennie Logan, 30, and businessman David Chester, 57, last Thursday. Mr Sadler was a firefighter for Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service but also worked with the London Fire Brigade. Two other firefighters suffered serious injuries and are in hospital in a stable condition, Thames Valley Police said. In an emotional tribute, Mr Sadler's grieving family said he was 'born to be a firefighter'. 'Coming from a strong fire service family it was always in his blood, but it was significantly more than that with him, it was his life,' they added in a statement released by police. 'The passion and dedication he had for the job was outstanding. 'From as early as he learnt to walk and talk, his days were filled with episodes of Fireman Sam or London's Burning and as soon as he was old enough to join the fire cadets his career began. 'He achieved way beyond his dreams and nothing would ever put a bigger smile on his face. 'He was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle and all-round family member, an amazing friend, a committed colleague and the true definition of a hero. 'Our world has fallen apart and our hearts are completely broken, but somewhere in amongst it all we are immensely proud of him and his unwavering bravery.' On Tuesday the force said the fire had been brought under control and the area made safe. Police are investigating the cause of the blaze and are treating the deaths as unexplained. It comes after Ms Logan's family also paid tribute yesterday, describing her as a 'force to be reckoned with'. 'When Jennie's pager went off, there was no stopping her,' Ms Logan's mother, father and sister Emilie said in a joint tribute. 'Never did we think that when running out the door last Thursday, to give it her all, like she always did, it would be for the final time.' Mr Chester, from Bicester, died after helping fire crews 'without hesitation', his family said in a tribute. 'Dave was always known as the man you went to when you needed any sort of help. This is exactly what happened on Thursday evening, he saw firefighters needing assistance and helped without hesitation,' they said. 'He was not a victim but a hero, he died the way he lived - helping others and putting them ahead of himself. 'Although he is no longer with us, he will always be in our hearts and his legacy will continue.'
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Firefighter killed in Bicester blaze ‘inspired by Fireman Sam'
A firefighter who died after a blaze at a former RAF base in Oxfordshire was inspired by Fireman Sam, his family have said. Martyn Sadler, 38, died alongside firefighter Jennie Logan, 30, and member of the public David Chester, 57, following the incident at Bicester Motion last Thursda y. Mr Sadler's family said in a statement released by Thames Valley Police on Wednesday that he was 'born to be a firefighter'. 'Coming from a strong fire service family it was always in his blood, but it was significantly more than that with him, it was his life,' they added. 'The passion and dedication he had for the job was outstanding. 'From as early as he learnt to walk and talk, his days were filled with episodes of Fireman Sam or London's Burning and as soon as he was old enough to join the fire cadets his career began. 'He achieved way beyond his dreams and nothing would ever put a bigger smile on his face. 'He was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle and all-round family member, an amazing friend, a committed colleague and the true definition of a hero. 'Our world has fallen apart and our hearts are completely broken, but somewhere in amongst it all we are immensely proud of him and his unwavering bravery.' Two other firefighters suffered serious injuries in the blaze and are in hospital in a stable condition, Thames Valley Police said. On Tuesday, the force said the fire had been brought under control and the area made safe. Police are investigating the cause of the blaze and are treating the deaths as unexplained. In a statement previously released by the force, Ms Logan's mother, father and sister Emilie paid tribute to her 'bravery and fearlessness' as they described her as a 'force to be reckoned with'. 'When Jennie's pager went off, there was no stopping her,' the family added. 'Never did we think that when running out the door last Thursday, to give it her all, like she always did, it would be for the final time.' Mr Chester, from Bicester, died after helping fire crews 'without hesitation', his family said in a tribute. 'Dave was always known as the man you went to when you needed any sort of help. This is exactly what happened on Thursday evening, he saw firefighters needing assistance and helped without hesitation,' they added. 'He was not a victim but a hero, he died the way he lived – helping others and putting them ahead of himself. 'Although he is no longer with us, he will always be in our hearts and his legacy will continue.'
The Independent
21-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Family hail ‘hero' firefighter killed in Bicester blaze
The family of a firefighter who died following a blaze at a former RAF base have hailed him as a 'hero'. Martyn Sadler died along with fellow firefighter Jennie Logan, 30, and 57-year-old David Chester, a member of the public, after the incident at Bicester Motion on Thursday. The Oxfordshire business park was built on the site of RAF Bicester, which was home to Bomber Command in World War II. Mr Sadler's family released a statement through Thames Valley Police on Wednesday. The 38-year-old was 'born to be a firefighter', it said. He came from 'a strong fire service family' and being a firefighter was his 'life', the family said. 'The passion and dedication he had for the job was outstanding. 'From as early as he learnt to walk and talk, his days were filled with episodes of Fireman Sam or London's Burning and as soon as he was old enough to join the fire cadets his career began. 'He achieved way beyond his dreams and nothing would ever put a bigger smile on his face.' Mr Sadler's family described him as a loving husband, son, brother and uncle. 'He was ... an amazing friend, a committed colleague and the true definition of a hero,' the statement said. 'Our world has fallen apart and our hearts are completely broken, but somewhere in amongst it all we are immensely proud of him and his unwavering bravery.' Two other firefighters suffered serious injuries in the blaze and are in hospital in a stable condition, Thames Valley Police said. On Tuesday the force said the fire had been brought under control and the area made safe. Police are investigating the cause of the blaze and are treating the three deaths as unexplained. In a statement previously released by the police, Ms Logan's mother, father and sister Emilie paid tribute to her 'bravery and fearlessness' as they described her as a 'force to be reckoned with'. 'When Jennie's pager went off, there was no stopping her,' they added. 'Never did we think that when running out the door last Thursday, to give it her all, like she always did, it would be for the final time.' Mr Chester, from Bicester, died after helping fire crews 'without hesitation', his family said in a tribute. 'Dave was always known as the man you went to when you needed any sort of help. This is exactly what happened on Thursday evening, he saw firefighters needing assistance and helped without hesitation,' they said. 'He was not a victim but a hero, he died the way he lived – helping others and putting them ahead of himself. 'Although he is no longer with us, he will always be in our hearts and his legacy will continue.'
