A HORSE racing enthusiast and noted poultry breeder celebrated her 100th birthday at the weekend.

Katherine Hill was born at Coatham, near Redcar, east Cleveland, on March 19, 1905.

After the First World War, her father, an Army major, built a house at Nunthorpe near the home of his friend and colleague, Sir Arthur Dorman, whose company built the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

It was at that house that Mrs Hill took a telephone message for Sir Arthur, who had come for tea with her family, and went back to the telephone with his reply.

On her return, he told her that she had held the fate of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in her hands for that moment.

She later married Cleveland iron-master and racing car enthusiast Leonard Hill, living at the Manor, in Carlton-in-Cleveland.

Included in her interests are history, France, sport, especially cricket, horses and horse racing. She has also written short stories and articles, and contributed to various journals.

She was a noted prize poultry breeder and much involved in the breeding, showing and judging of Siamese cats.

On her birthday, she was amazed to learn that articles she wrote under the name Kay Hill about Siamese cats were now published on the Internet.

She celebrated her birthday with her family, at Omega Barn Country Residence, Beadlam, near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, where she now lives.

One of her favourite presents was a framed photograph of her chestnut gelding, Gracious Son, winning at Hexham in 1950.