THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN

Month: January 2006

BATHWICK TYRES GET A GRIP ON THE LADIES!

25-01-2006

The Amateur Jockeys Association are delighted to announce the 2006 Bathwick Tyres Ladies Derby Series, which has expanded to include races at not only Bath racecourse but also Newbury and Salisbury. This allows sprints to be included for the first time, a previous impossibility when confined to the notoriously tricky twists and turns of Bath.

The 2006 series is made up as follows:

Bath Race no 1 17th May 1m 2f

Newbury Race no 2 10th June 1m 2f

Salisbury Race no 3 13th June 6 furlongs

Bath Race no 4 17th June 1m 2f

Bath Race no 5 28th June 1m 2f

Salisbury Race no 6 15th July 6 furlongs

Bath FINAL Race no 7 20th August 1m 3f

Now in its fifth year, this series gives a unique opportunity for amateur lady jockeys to focus on a great challenge.

In the tradition of this exciting series, points will be awarded after each race to the first 6 lady jockeys on a 7-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The Bathwick Tyres Ladies Derby, the richest amateur ladies race in the European racing calendar, will conclude the series on 20th August, when the series winner will be awarded a prize holiday by Wayne and Sarah Clifford of Bathwick Tyres.

Past winners of the Ladies Derby are:

2002 Chrissie Hannaford

2003 Sara Cumani

2004 Chrissie Hannaford

2005 Francesca Cumani

GOOD NEWS FOR CAT As

20-01-2006

As a result of the AJA Paper submitted to the Industry Committee in 2005, the AJA are delighted to announce that, following the subsequent introduction of NH pro-am bumpers which now include Category A amateur riders, the BHB have kindly agreed to Category A amateur licence holders riding in pro-am jump races previously confined to Conditional jockeys and Category B amateur licence holders, providing that the Category A licence holders have had either 12 completed point-to-point rides or 8 completed rides under NH Rules.

The AJA are most grateful to the BHB for their support of these proposals and look forward to seeing these new opportunities put to good use by our Category A members.

BOLLINGER ANNOUNCE 2006 SERIES

20-01-2006

The AJA are delighted to announce that Bollinger Champagne have confirmed that the following racecourses will host this year’s Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series:

Newmarket (Rowley Mile) – Friday 26th May

Newbury – Thursday 15th June

York – Friday 16th June

Warwick – Sunday 2nd July

Musselburgh (E) – Monday 3rd July

Newmarket (E) – Friday 28th July

Windsor (E) – Monday 7th August

Pontefract – Wednesday 9th August

Goodwood (E) – Saturday 19th August

Chester – Friday 25th August

Ascot – Friday 22nd September FINAL

The AJA are most grateful to Bollinger Champagne for their legendary loyal support and we all look forward to another great season ahead. The question is, can Simon Walker, triple Bollinger champion over the last 3 successive years, make it a fourth championship in a row?!

HELEN OF TROY LADIES HURDLE SERIES ANNOUNCED

19-01-2006

Helen of Troy, the hair care and health care manufacturer, are pleased to announce their sponsorship of the Helen of Troy Ladies Hurdle Series 2006.

This series consists of 5 races shared between 5 different courses and spread over 4 months with points being awarded for the first 6 placed jockeys in each race. The lady jockey with maximum points at the end of the series will be awarded the Helen of Troy Champions’ Trophy.

“Helen of Troy has been involved in sponsorship of lady jockeys since 2003 and it gives us great pleasure to announce this new series” said Kevin James, Senior Vice President of HoT.

Lady jump jockeys are not presented with many races confined to their own sex during the racing calendar and this series will undoubtedly raise their profile both within The Amateur Jockeys Association and the racing industry in general.

The series begins on 1st February at Leicester followed by Huntingdon, Warwick and Towcester, and culminates with the series final at Wetherby on their Ladies Evening of Saturday 1st June.

1st February Leicester

15th March Huntingdon(Ladies Champion Hurdle)

21st March Warwick

8th May Towcester

1st June Wetherby FINAL (Ladies night)

This series is open not only to Conditional lady jockeys and Category B lady licence holders but also to Category A lady licence holders providing that those Category A lady riders have either completed 12 point-to-point races or completed 8 race rides under Rules.

DONCASTER FLAT FIXTURE OF 23RD MARCH RELOCATES TO LINGFIELD

16-01-2006

DONCASTER FLAT FIXTURE OF 23RD MARCH RELOCATES TO LINGFIELD

With Doncaster racecourse now closed for redevelopment for 2006, the ladies flat race scheduled for 23rd March has been reallocated to Lingfield. (The following day’s Doncaster meeting has been reallocated to Southwell and the Saturday meeting of 24th March – the Lincoln – has been reallocated to Redcar.)

DAVID DUNSDON SCORES AT PAU

15-01-2006

Taking a commanding lead from early on in the race and putting in a foot perfect performance, the 8 year old KACEEN gave David Dunsdon a great ride in the amateur riders’ chase at Pau, France, on Sunday 15th January. With a variety of obstacles that included a lake and double banks, the partnership led from early on and as the pace quickened, so did they to lead all of the way to the line. Congratulations to David on a great ride!

OLIVER WILLIAMS RIDES FIRST WINNER AT WETHERBY!

15-01-2006

It was excellent to see Oliver Williams ride his first winner under Rules when he took part in the Hands and Heels hurdle race at Wetherby on Saturday 14th January. With Oliver and Gerard Tumelty the only two amateur jockeys taking part in this race along with conditionals, Gerard was also in the frame finishing third. Congratulations to Oliver on a great ride!

The afternoon was certainly well represented by amateurs, with both Gerard Tumelty and Robert McCarthy going on to ride winners on the card. Congratulations to all concerned.