THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN

Month: March 2008

SIMON WALKER CROWNED NEW CHAMPION AMATEUR ALL-WEATHER JOCKEY AT WOLVES!

17-03-2008

Many congratulations to Simon Walker who has gone one better than his runner-up slot last season to take the 2007-2008 All Weather Amateur Jockey Championship.  Runner-up for this season is Nicola Jefferson.  Congratulations too to Lucy Burke who rode her first winner in the last amateur all-weather race of the season.  The final table is shown in the Championship Tables.

YORK’S QUEEN MOTHER’S CUP VALUE INCREASES FOR 2008

16-03-2008

Good news for lady jockeys this summer!  Following the disappointment of last year’s Queen Mother’s Cup lost to the weather, this year’s added value of the race is raised from £16,000 to £20,000.  We all look forward to it taking place on 14th June.  Many thanks to York racecourse and to Reg Griffin for their continued support and most of all to our cherished sponsor, Mrs Coral Samuel.

WEDNESDAY’S CHELTENHAM NATIONAL HUNT CHASE RESCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY

12-03-2008

Strong gales at Cheltenham Festival have led to Wednesday’s card being abandoned and re-scheduled with the National Hunt Chase now to take place as the first race of the day on Thursday 13th March at 12.30 pm. 

THE FESTIVAL 2008 REVISED ORDER OF RUNNING FOR THURSDAY 13TH AND FRIDAY 14TH MARCH
Third Day – Thursday 13th March (Old Course)

  12.30 The Peter O’Sullevan National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup Abt 4m
* 1.05 The Royal & SunAlliance Steeple Chase 3m abt ½f
* 1.40 The Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase 2m abt 4½f
* 2.20 The Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase Abt 2m
* 2.55 The Ryanair Steeple Chase 2m abt 4½f
* 3.30 The Ladbrokes World Hurdle Race Abt 3m
* 4.05 The Racing Post Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) 2m abt 4½f
  4.40 The Pertemps Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) Abt 3m
  5.15 The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase 3m abt 1½f
  5.50 The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) 2m abt ½f
Fourth Day – Friday 14th March (New Course)

  12.30 The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle Race 2m abt 4½f
* 1.05 The Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle Race 2m abt 4½f
* 1.40 The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) 2m abt 4½f
* 2.15 The JCB Triumph Hurdle Race 2m abt 1f
* 2.50 The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race Abt 3m
* 3.30 The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase 3m abt 2½f
* 4.05 The Christie’s Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 3m abt 2½f
  4.40 The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 2m abt ½f
  5.20 The Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle Race 2m abt 1f

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RIDE IN MALAYSIA ON 20TH MARCH?

05-03-2008

LADIES INVITATION RACE IN MALAYSIA 20th March

Would you like to enjoy the chance of a lifetime to ride under Rules in Malaysia? The AJA have received an invitation for two lady riders to ride at Selangor on 20th March. The itinerary is to arrive on 18th March in Kuala Lumpur, have a trial ride on 19th March, race  20th March, then some time for sightseeing and return home on 21st or 22nd March, whichever you prefer.

Sorry but you must pay for your own air fare (around £500) but everything else will be paid for by your host country and you will be very well looked after by the Malaysian Amateur Racing Association.

If you would like to enjoy racing in the Far East, please contact Sarah Oliver immediately.  (01886 884488 or e-mail sph.oliver@btopenworld.com All applicants will be given serious consideration!  You DO NOT have to have ridden any winners to accept this invitation but preference will be given to experienced riders.  Any winning rides abroad count towards your career total!  Our last trip in January saw Wendy Gibson ride her first winner on the flat, just beating Laura Gray into 2nd place, and both girls had a fantastic time!

DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH YOUR WEIGHT? GORDON CAN HELP!

03-03-2008

Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word is back and he wants YOU to take part! 

 Do you fancy a cooking lesson from Gordon? 

Then we want to hear from YOU!

Email fwordcooking@optomen.com 

Please include your name, a daytime contact number, a recent photograph of

yourself and a paragraph telling us why you deserve Gordon’s help.

FEGENTRI RECOGNISES POINT-TO-POINT WINS FOR RIDERS’ CRITERIA

03-03-2008

The General Assembly of FEGENTRI was held in Doha, Qatar on 26th February at the kind invitation of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club General Manager, Sami Jassim al Boenain.  The first ladies races of the Fegentri season were held on the following days with Gemma Gracey-Davison having her first taste of representing Great Britain, finishing unplaced.  David Turner also attended the GA to collect his silver spur for his World Flat Title of 2007.

 

It was agreed at the GA that not only should Arab race wins count towards the required 5 win total to give amateur jockeys eligibility to represent their countries but also that point-to-point wins should be given the same status, thereby enabling many more candidates to put themselves forward.  This was welcomed by both Great Britain and Ireland.

 If you are interested in riding abroad, please send your details and race riding history to Sarah Oliver at sph.oliver@btopenworld.com or contact the AJA office on 01886 884488.