Guy keeps fighting all the way with a win!

The last 12 months has been a test of strength for Maitland harness racing horseman Guy Chapple.

Being diagnosed with bowel cancer, Chapple admits it has been a rollercoaster ride of a journey.

One part of his life that has helped him get through the tough times are his horses.

“I first found out I had bowel cancer about 12 months ago,” said Chapple.

“I had a couple of symptoms, went to the doctor and found a tumour there.

“I had radiation therapy and chemotherapy for six weeks and then an operation to remove the tumour and then did another six months of chemotherapy after that.

“I lost a fair bit of weight, around 13 kilos, but I’m starting to put that back on.

“I have another scan in December and hopefully everything is clear.

“Some days are good, some days are bad but the horses have been a good distraction.

“They make you get up out of bed every day and give you purpose.

“You can’t give up, you just have to be positive and have a good support team.”

And that is exactly what Chapple has acknowledged with the support from his family and friends being paramount through this time.

“Adam Hamilton got in contact with me because he went through something very similar and he’s been really good,” said Chapple.

“It’s something completely different that you go through and it can be pretty hard, so to be able to talk to someone that has experienced it is comforting.

“My family have been really good and my wife Ange has been so strong.

“I’ve been really proud of Mitch too and the way he’s looked after the horses.

“He works full-time fixing radiators and has been looking and working all of the horses as well . . . he’s done an enormous job.

“I couldn’t be prouder . . . it is a lot of work but he stepped up to the mark and done an incredible job.

“In the last 12 to 13 months he’s had about 17 two-year-old winners and not even big stables get that many two-year-old winners in a year.”

One of those two-year-old wins was at Newcastle on Monday.

Fittingly, Mitch Chapple trained the winner Roclea Image and it was Guy’s first drive back since February.

“It was great to be back and get a winner too,” said Chapple.

“I mainly drove the horse because Mitch had to work but I’ll do a bit of driving here and there when I can.”

Roclea Image has provided two wins for the stable this season while fellow two-year-old stablemate Chappy Streetnorth has won three races.

Both horses are being aimed at the Breeders Challenge True Blue Final at Menangle on November 6.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink