WORLD RHINO DAY

White Rhino
(Photo : Lotus Head)

Friday 22 September 2011

Friday 22^nd September is World Rhino Day. It's a signal of the sad world we live in, where man's greed has placed one of the most ancient creatures on earth in danger of extinction.

At the Summerhill Stallion Day just over two months ago, it was Hartford's privilege, together with its associates in the Land Of Legends (www.landoflegends.co.za), to bestow upon the greatest rhino conservationist of them all, Dr. Ian Player, an Ingwazi Award, in recognition not only of his tireless (and remarkably successful) efforts to save the rhino, but for what he's done in the upliftment of all our lives in this region, and elsewhere.

World Rhino Day is special for anyone who lives where we do, and has the slightest understanding of the value of balance in the ecological scheme of things.

BJ BOTHA IS BACK

BJ Botha
(Photo : Keo)

THE SPRINGBOKS,
THE DURBAN JULY AND RACING'S GREATEST DAY OUT

This is not a rugby selector's statement; it comes from a hotelier. World Cup-winning Springbok tighthead prop, Brendan Botha and his lovely wife Tarryn, were back at Hartford again this week after his torrid Tri Nations tour to Australasia. In the peak of health, "BJ" assures us there are only a few small things wrong with the Springbok team at the moment, requiring a few "tweaks", and all will be well. Brendan and Tarryn are among a number of sporting fans of Hartford, including former Springbok rugby captains, Gary Teichmann and Francois Pienaar, coach Jake White, and former Proteas cricket captain, Shaun Pollock. Brendan also has the distinction of being an alumnus of that fine sporting institution, Durban High School, the most prolific school academy in the production of international cricketers in the world, though it has to be said, this man is a rare rugby Springbok.

Closer to home, we have a "horsey" weekend ahead with the greatest of the greatest, the Vodacom Durban July on Saturday, and "Racing's Greatest Day Out", the Summerhill Stallion Day, right here on the farm on Sunday. We'll be feeding close to 700 people from at least 14 different nations this weekend, and looking at Friday evening's guest list at Hartford, apart from the equine contingent, we have the return of one of television's most recognised personalities in Martin Locke, Isidingo's Carolyn Steyn and Vodacom man on the screen, Michael De Pinna, who will be entertained by Waterford's lyrical winemaker, Kevin Arnold. It takes all types to make up a race meeting!

For more information on the Summerhill Stallion Day please visit :

www.summerhill.co.za

HARTFORD HOUSE... IT IS LIFE'S EXCEPTION.

Hartford House, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
(Photo : Hartford House)

"...comfortable beyond dreams, yet innocent of pretence."

On a daily basis we’re receiving now, enquiries from around the world, prompted no doubt by the stream of pamphlets, brochures etc which fill your mailboxes with stallion propaganda at this time of year, as to when the Summerhill brochure will be on the street. It seems it has become coffee table material and archive stuff for many, but as always, it will be out at the beginning of August, and those attending our Stallion Day will be the first recipients. 

We will be teasing you however, with the occasional inserts, the first of which is a piece on Hartford House :

"We are lucky to live where we do, in a boundless, unconquered world, where the plains roll away to the great skies beyond. There are those who will tell you there is no other place quite like it. 

But we are equally fortunate in the people who came before us. Their footprints are everywhere at Hartford. The old manor house built by the family of the colony’s last Prime Minister, stands alone among the best homes of a splendid era. Built at a time when great wars were being waged by great nations for the spoils of our region, anybody who was anyone, knew the portals of this grand old dame.

Yet, long before the intrusion of these well scripted events, an ancient people lived here in quiet serenity among the plants and animals of our kingdom, and they built their abodes with the materials of the neighbourhood.

These are the people that gave birth to Ezulweni, a reversion to the methods of old, and a sensual interpretation of the way things were. The juxtaposing of Hartford House with Ezulweni provides our travelers with an insight into our colonial past, and a glimpse of the imaginations of our Zulu craftsmen, whose creative hands are embedded in the finishes.

In so many ways, Hartford stands apart for its originality. Its architecture, views, dining, sounds, scents, its racehorses and its people, are all exhilarating surprises, unique to this Zululand, to this property, and to Africa.

Hartford has gained and regained from the cultures it celebrates. It is life’s exception. A place at the same time comfortable beyond dreams, yet innocent of pretence.

• Among a select group of Gold Achiever Award winners at the Indaba International Travel Show with Singita, The Cape Grace, Mala Mala, The Mount Nelson etc.
• The only KwaZulu-Natal restaurant in the nation’s Top Ten 2007/8 and 2008/9.
• Voted among Top Billing’s Top Six Luxury Hotels in South Africa 2008/9.
• Rated by House and Leisure as South Africa’s Top Restaurant in 2009/10.
• Fedhasa East Coast award for Best Restaurant.
• Diners’ Club Platinum Winelist  2002-2009.
• Proud member of the Land of Legends with Phinda Private Game Reserve; Wilderness Safaris Rocktail Bay; Fordoun Spa, Hotel and Restaurant (www.landoflegends.co.za)

Are you on Summerhill's mailing list? If not, please send your details to info@summerhill.co.za and we'll gladly ensure you get your personal copy.

3 NIGHTS AT HARTFORD HOUSE INCLUDING THE DURBAN JULY

"Please click above to view invitation..."

Come and join us at Hartford House
for the weekend 30 July - 2 August 2010

Friday :
Arrival at Hartford House.
Join the racing fraternity for dinner prepared by Jackie Cameron
paired with Waterford Wines.

Saturday :
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Greyville racecourse in Durban
where you will be treated to a full day in the Summerhill Stud Box on the finish line.
Transfer back to Hartford House.
Evening dinner in your room.

Sunday :
A leisurely breakfast followed by "Racing's Greatest Day Out,"
the Summerhill Stallion Day, with 14 nations in attendance.

Cost :
R 9,200 for two people sharing for the weekend
(Full Board)

For bookings, please contact Paula :

+27 (33) 2632713

paula@hartford.co.za
www.hartford.co.za 

Ardmore Ceramic Art - The Summerhill Collection

Summerhill Stallion Day
"The day after the Vodacom Durban July"

What has become as much a tradition as the Vodacom Durban July itself, the annual Summerhill Stallion Day dubbed "Racing's Greatest Day Out", is always a grand occasion where the who's who of racing descend on Summerhill Stud to pay homage to some of Africa's most exciting Thoroughbred Stallion prospects.

Quite fitting then that this year's event will witness the teaming up of two formidable forces in their own fields, in a celebration of excellence and dedication.

South Africa’s premier ceramic studio, Ardmore Ceramic Art, and South Africa’s Champion Thoroughbred Breeder, Summerhill Stud, will unveil an exciting new Ardmore ceramic collection inspired by the horses, people and nature at Summerhill.

The Ardmore artists have created Staffordshire-like everyday farm scenes including Summerhill Stallions walking the lands, yearlings being bandaged, foals being born and Ready to Run graduates galloping to victory.

Most of Ardmore’s 80 artists live in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal steeped in tradition, where music, song and dance prevail. After two successful London sales held in 2004 and 2007, Christie’s labeled Ardmore “a modern day collectable”. Collectors around the world love Ardmore’s distinctive style - a fusion of African, Western and Eastern form and design embellished with sculptural African fauna and flora and painted in a kaleidoscope of colour.

Ardmore’s talented artists create with passion and freedom and many have intuitively found their own style. The decorative collectibles have an elegant charm as has the work of the realists who are inspired by nature. The exotic naturalists add an artistic fantasy to their painting. Then, there are the free spirits whose sculpture and painting is expressive of their imagination and is without inhibition or apology. Lastly, the ‘Storytellers’ incorporate the human figure as they sculpt and paint Zulu cultural and social events.

A percentage of Ardmore sales is contributed to The Excellence Fund, a non-profit organization that also receives donations from many people worldwide. The Excellence Fund assists the artists to advance their education and skills training, and provides health care. In the current economic situation marked by rising unemployment and health care costs, the role of the Excellence Fund is critically important.

The artists are proud of their achievements and are known amongst their community as the “isgwili” (fortunate ones).

So if you’re going to be at the Summerhill Stallion Day on Sunday, you’re in for a real treat... where the ceramicists have traded in their zebra stripes for the racing thoroughbred.

Click above to view
this amazing ceramic collection