Michael shows he has the right Spirit

Those are the bare bones of this story, but there are more twists to Mike's tale than in Czech Repulic's notorious Grand Pardubice steeplechase.

Born into one of Worcestershire's best known farming families - his grandfather, the late Jack Fowler from Hanbury was supposed to be the role model for radio's Dan Archer - Mike learnt to ride almost as soon as he could walk, but gave it up for football and cricket at the age of 13.

"I did all the usual stuff like Pony Club, but all I was interested in was how fast me and my pony could go," he said.

"I left all the tack and cleaning to my mum, who quite rightly got fed up with it. So I decided to concentrate on sport and didn't start riding again until I was 18, when Julian Barnfield invited to ride alongside him as he hunted the Worcestershire hounds.

"I had a wonderful time jumping hedges and galloping and thought I could automatically become a point to point jockey. So I shortened my stirrups and off I went."

After several falls Mike says the world and his wife told his parents he would never make it.

He knows now he went about it the wrong way. He borrowed his grandfather's old boots and whip and a friend's breeches - none of which fitted him properly.

But he found a wonderful horse he called Spirit. Because the first time he rode her she turned herself inside out with a wonderful bucking bronco display.

In their first point to point, the Clifton on Teme Hunt meeting at Upper Sapey, horse and rider parted company at the first fence.

"She was doing about 150 mph and put in such a big jump I was launched into the stratosphere and didn't land until she had cleared the second jump," he laughed.

"It was certainly a baptism of fire, but it is a huge challenge just to get round these courses.

"Thank God at the end of 1995 National Hunt trainer Tony Carroll got hold of me and asked if I would ride out for him. He offered me £3 a lot, but I told him I didn't want the money - just for him to teach me how to race ride.

"He let me exercise Spirit on his gallops, but best of all, he took me to the races and told me what to look out for. Tony had so much to give and I owe an awful lot to him."

Mike says he was awe-struck to meet some of his childhood heroes, like former champion jockey Jonjo O'Neill

"I used to sit on the back of the settee pretending I was Jonjo and there he was talking to me. I couldn't believe it."

Within 12 months, he was "looking the part" in his own brand new boots and racing colours. In 1996 he finished third in the Worcestershire Hunt members' race and realised he was on the way at last. But it took him five years of hard work and dedication to ride a winner.

Kidderminster point to point trainer Penny Grainger has given Mike a lot of opportunities. He was especially pleased when he rode his first winner for owner Terry Cartridge, one of his grandfather's best friends.

Before he died, Jack Fowler only saw his grandson win one race, at the Croome and West Warwicks popular Easter Tuesday meeting at Upton-upon-Severn. But he remains Mike's driving force and his grandson is determined to emulate him and bring home the Lady Dudley Cup - the sport's Blue Riband race run on the Worcestershire Hunt day at Chaddesley Corbett in April - which Jack won twice more than fifty years ago.

Mike's first race under National Hunt rules was at Cheltenham, where he shared the changing rooms with racing luminaries like Richard Johnson and Norman Williamson.

"I was in total awe of them," he said. "I felt privileged to be there - not least because there was a shower and heating, which made a change from a tent.

"Point to point courses aren't known for their luxury facilities. Most of the year stock grazes over the fields you race in. It's all very amateur, but a real good crack."

When Mike won the West Midlands Novice Rider's Award he wrote a song about the horse instead of preparing an acceptance speech.

"I had been writing songs about the countryside and have taught myself the guitar. So it seemed the obvious thing to do. I think it went down quite well."

However, Mike's life changed dramatically with the onset of foo- and-mouth in 2001.

He had joined the family farm at Himbleton after leaving Worcester Sixth Form College armed with his A levels and together with his brother Richard and father John, looked after 800 sheep, store cattle and many acres of wheat and barley.

But when the dreaded disease struck, all the stock had to be slaughtered and the smell of the rotting flesh, which lay in the yard for a fortnight, is still fresh in his nostrils.

"It was terrible time. To go into the farmyard and hear absolutely nothing was extremely eerie. I know once you've gone through something like that, things can't get much worse, but it did make me think seriously about whether I wanted to continue in farming. I couldn't have gone through it again. Not on our family farm."

On the brighter side, Mike very nearly got into broadcasting when he was one of 20 short listed to help present the BBC programme Country File.

"They said I looked too young and should try Blue Peter. But I didn't really fancy that."

He then started doing some farm contract work for other people and rode horses to earn a living before deciding to join the Fire Brigade.

This was after an extremely successful 2002 season, when he rode three winners on the bounce and a total of nine winners in all. For a time he was leading the Novice Riders championship, eventually coming third.

"I had several friends who had joined the fire brigade and I thought it was a worthy job and one that I could combine with my point to pointing and hunting. I absolutely love it. Whereas when I am racing I have to think of myself, in the brigade it's all teamwork.

"My mates might have to save my life one day. The crack I get in my job equals the crack of the weighing room. Both push my adrenalin levels to the limit."

Although Mike is determined to win the much-coveted Lady Dudley Cup there's already been one win which means just as much.

Only four days before the 2002 Worcestershire Member's race, Mike was ruing the fact he hadn't even got a ride. Then the phone rang and local trainer and jockey Martin Weston asked him if he would like to ride Caught at Dawn.

Although his grandfather Jack lay dying, Mike told him he hadn't got to go anywhere too soon.

"The race is steeped in history for my family so it was important for me to win before my grandfather passed away," he explained.

"Somehow I just knew I would win. I rang my mother and asked her to tell him I would be home with the cup. And I did. Although he was unconscious we dipped a sponge in champagne and he sucked it. He knew all along that I had won and he made a supreme effort to wait for me. He died just two hours later."

There is one more thing Mike can add to his CV. He was approached by fashion magazine Marie Claire to do a fashion shoot describing the social lives of young men who live and work in the countryside.

"When they asked me where I would take a young lady on a date, I replied to a theatre in the West End. I think they were quite surprised," he laughed. "I reckon they had the local pub more in mind.

"But while it was flattering to take part, I did the shoot to promote the countryside I am passionate about. Especially hunting, shooting and fishing."

So there you have him. Mike Keel, farmer, fireman, songwriter, singer, model and ace point to point rider. Anything else need doing?

POINT-TO-POINTS 2004

Saturday, February 28

North Hereford Hunt Point-to-Point

Whitwick Manor

Tel: 01568 611 166

Sunday, February 29

Tanatside Hunt Point-to-Point

Eyton on Severn

Tel: 01938 850 300

Sunday, March 7

Ross Harriers Point-to-Point

Garnons

Tel: 01989 780 255

Sunday, March 21

South Hereford Hunt Point-to-Point

Garnons

Sunday, March 28

Ledbury Hunt Point-to-Point

Maisemore Park, near A417, 3 miles north west of Gloucester

First Race 1.00 pm

Entry charges: £10 per car plus driver plus £5 per person thereafter

Race Cards £2.50

Tel: 01531650646 or e-mail: viv.grundy@cmail.co.uk

Saturday, April 10

Ludlow Hunt Point-to-Point

Bitterley

Tel: 01584 819 689

Saturday, April 10

North Staffordshire Hunt Point-to-Point

Sandon

Tel: 01630 653 087 / 01538 399 199

Monday, April 12

North Shropshire Hunt Point-to-Point

Eyton on Severn

Tel: 01952 740 259

Monday, April 12

North Cotswold Hunt Point-to-Point

Paxford, just outside Paxford village, 2 miles east of Chipping Campden

First Race 2.00 pm

Entry charges: £20 and £15 per car. Race cards £2.50

Tel: 01386852207 or e-mail: robert@symond.freeserve.co.uk

Tuesday, April 13

Croome & West Warwickshire Hunt Point-to-Point

Upton-upon-Severn, near A38, 8 miles south of Worcester

First Race 2.00 pm

Entry charges: £8 per head. Race cards £2.50

Tel: 01905 345 377

Saturday, April 17

Worcestershire Hunt Point-to-Point

Chaddesley Corbett, adjacent to A448 between Bromsgrove and Kidderminster

First race 2.00 pm

Entry charges: £8 per head (TBC). Race cards £2.50

Tel: 01886812285 or e-mail: CJB@gherbertbanks.freeserve.co.uk

Saturday, April 24

United Hunt Point-to-Point

Brampton Bryan

Tel: 01588 650 412

Sunday, April 25

Clifton-on-Teme Hunt Point-to-Point

Upper Sapey, at Wolferlow, 6 miles north of Bromyard, near B4203

First Race: 2.00 pm

Entry charges: TBC. Race cards £2.50

Tel: 01885 482 354

Sunday, April 25

Atherstone Hunt Point-to-Point

Clifton on Dunsmore

Tel: 01530 270 252

Sunday, May 2

Radnor and West Hereford Hunt Point-to-Point

Coldharbour

Tel: 01568 612 324

Monday, May 3

South Shropshire Hunt Point-to-Point

Eyton on Severn

Monday, May 3

Warwickshire Hunt Point-to-Point

Ashorne

Tel: 01788 891 965

Monday, May 3

North Ledbury Hunt Point-to-Point

Maisemore, near A417, 3 miles north west of Gloucester

First Race 2.00 pm

Entry charges: £10 per car plus driver plus £5 per person thereafter

Race Cards £2.50

Tel: 01886 880 355

Saturday, May 8

Wheatland Hunt Point-to-Point

Chaddesley Corbett, adjacent to A448 between Bromsgrove and Kidderminster

First Race 2.00 pm

Entry charges: TBC. Race Cards £2.50

Tel: 01746 714 205 or email: croftfarm@talk21.com

Saturday, May 15

Golden Valley Hunt Point-to-Point

Bredwardine

Tel: 01497 820 710

Monday, May 31

Albrighton Woodland Hunt Point-to-Point, Chaddesley Corbett, adjacent to A448 between Bromsgrove and Kidderminster

First Race 2.00 pm

Entry charges: £8 per head (TBC). Race Cards £2.50

Tel: 01562 881 771

Friday, September 24

West Midlands Point-to-Point Annual Dinner & Dance

At Cheltenham Racecourse

Tickets are available from: Pauline Wallis

Tel: 01886880355.