NICK SCHOLFIELD AND ROSE DAVIDSON CROWNED 2007/8 NH CHAMPIONS

25-05-2008

 Many congratulations to Nick Scholfield and to Rose Davidson for winning their respective Gentlemens Amateur and Ladies Amateur NH Championships!  Having crept up on Thomas Greenall’s lead following Thomas being sidelined with injuries sustained from a fall back in March, Nick began the week with Thomas on 19 wins, and Nick left it until his last day riding as an amateur on the last day of the amateurs’ season before going one better and taking the Championship with 20 wins.  In a fairytale beginning to his professional career, Nick then went on to ride a winner at Uttoxeter today in his first paying ride, and we wish him every success for his future as a professional jockey. 

Rose Davidson has had an incredible season, an unforgettable week with her engagement announced to long time partner Tony Dobbin and 4 winners in 4 days to make history by becoming the first lady jump jockey ever to exceed the gentlemen and become the most prolific winning amateur jump jockey of the season with 21 wins.  

Rose’s penultimate win of the season was the Cadale Ladies Finale at Wetherby, which obviously excluded gentlemen amateur jockeys from participating but counted towards her winning total.  The championships have always been, and will always be, decided in two categories, those being one for ladies and one for gentlemen.  This is essential whilst male and female races exist, counting towards each respective championship, such races being Towcester’s Volkswagen Touareg Gentleman’s Championship Hunterchase, Stratford’s Jon Pinfold Ladies Hunterchase and numerous ladies’ hurdle races.  In any case, the AJA could be accused of double standards if Rose was awarded the title of overall amateur champion when in the past there has never been such a title given to any overall winning champion gentleman.  This is therefore not a sexist issue but a historical one as there is no precedent for an overall champion. 

Well done to gallant runners up Thomas Greenall and Jacqui Kidd, and well done also to every member who has ridden a winner this season!  Many thanks to the many trainers who have supported amateur riders and to the racecourses themselves who have allowed us all to enjoy such a fantastic season.

BOLLINGER PROVIDES ANOTHER CORKING SEASON FOR THE GENTLEMEN!

21-05-2008

The 15^th year of sponsorship by Bollinger Champagne in conjunction with the Daily Telegraph begins on Friday at Newmarket with the first gentlemen’s flat race of their series for 2008 to be run over the Rowley Mile.

 The 2008 series consists of twelve races culminating in a finale at the prestigious Ascot Autumn Festival meeting on Friday 26th September. The Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series has undoubtedly helped to improve the standard of riding for gentlemen amateur riders.  Last year’s series winner, 20 year old Charlie Huxley, has gone on to win not only this year’s National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but also the Scottish Grand National at Ayr as an amateur jockey before recently taking out his professional jockey’s licence.  We all wish Charlie every success with his career. The remaining races for this year’s series are: 

NATIONAL HUNT CHAMPIONS TO BE CROWNED AT STRATFORD ON SATURDAY

21-05-2008

Rose Davidson rode a double today at Kelso and Sedgefield, confident in the knowledge that nobody can snatch the ladies NH title from her with 19 wins accrued so far this season.  Her nearest rival is Jacqui Kidd, winner of the Cadale Ladies Hurdle Series, on 8 wins, with Gemma Gracey-Davison third on 4 wins.

 The championship runs from 27th May 2007 until 24th May 2008

Meanwhile, the men’s title is not so clearcut.  With Thomas Greenall sidelined by a bad fall which damaged his liver back in March, he has had to watch his lead slowly diminish with Nick Scholfield creeping up on him and currently equalling his winning total of 19 wins.  Things could change over the next 72 hours with Nick only needing one more winner to take the Championship.  Josh Guerriero remains third with 13 wins for the season.

*  turned professional

BRITANNIA RULES IN GERMANY!

17-05-2008

Many congratulations to Ben Brisbourne and to Nicola Jefferson who represented Great Britain in the Fegentri World Cup of Nations in Baden-Baden, Germany, today.  Ben won the race and Nicola finished 2^nd.

Great Britain now lead the Fegentri World Cup of Nations Series with 2 wins from 2 runs, Scott Dobson having won the first leg in Italy in March. 

It has been a good week for England with Danny Cook also having won in Madrid on Thursday for the gentlemen.  The Fegentri riders are getting used to listening to our National Anthem!

DANNY COOK REIGNS IN SPAIN!

15-05-2008

Representing Great Britain for his first ride of the Fegentri season, Danny Cook could not have wished for a better start, winning in great style today in Madrid.  Congratulations to Danny!  He and Gemma Gracey-Davison, his female counterpart, have now ridden one winner apiece so far this Fegentri season.

New Vice President and New Director welcomed at AJA AGM

15-05-2008

The Annual General Meeting of the AJA was held at Weatherbys on Tuesday 13^th May by kind permission of Dr Paull Khan when tributes were paid to the late Vice President John Ciechanowski who died recently. 

Director Dr Philip Pritchard was appointed Vice President and Bob Davies installed as Director to join fellow board members Ian Balding, Richard Dunwoody, Nick Gaselee and  President Gay Kindersley together with Vice President Bill Shand Kydd. 

A cheque was presented by the President to Richard Dunwoody to contribute toward the Richard Dunwoody South Pole Account which has so far raised £80,000 for Richard’s 3 favourite charities, Racing Welfare, SPARKS and Spinal Research.

DUKE OF BRISSAC INVITES 4 GENTLEMEN AMATEURS TO ANGERS

02-05-2008

This Sunday, 4^th May, David Turner, Phil Collington, Danny Cook and Richard Bandey will be representing Great Britain by riding in Angers thanks to an invitation from the Duke of Brissac to celebrate 30 years of his race which originated as the Richmond-Brissac Trophy.  A return match is currently being planned to take place in England in the autumn.

AMATEUR NH CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES SOON TO REACH CONCLUSION

01-05-2008

Whilst jumping’s pros said goodbye to their 2007/8 season at Sandown last week, NH amateurs continue their season which concludes at Stratford on Saturday 24^th May.  Nick Scholfield is enjoying loosening Thomas Greenall’s hold on the amateur men’s NH championship, reigning Champion Thomas currently sidelined following damage to his liver sustained in a fall back in March whilst heading the men’s table with 19 wins.  Nick’s win last Monday took his total to 18 as he continues to narrow the gap.  With 3 of our top amateurs having turned professional in the last few weeks (and good luck to Alex Merriam, Charlie Huxley and Harry Haynes), Josh Guerriero is the only other possible contender, currently lying 3^rd in the tables with 13 wins. 

Meanwhile Rose Davidson holds a clear lead of 17 wins to head the Ladies table, with Jacqui Kidd her nearest rival on 8, followed by Gemma Gracey-Davison on 4 having ridden a very patient but persistent and brilliantly timed race on Toni Al Cala having only his third run over fences at Huntingdon tonight and leaving her professional rivals including Champion jockey Tony McCoy in her wake.

UPDATE ON BETFAIR HURDLE SERIES AND CADALE LADIES HURDLE SERIES

01-05-2008

Congratulations to Nick Scholfield on winning the Betfair Series at Perth last week, gaining the most points in the series.   Full results of the Series are included in the Championship Tables on the left.  The weather played havoc with the series by claiming the Sedgefield hurdle fixture which was replaced by a Hunterchase later in the season.

Congratulations to Jacqui Kidd who has already secured the Cadale Lady Riders Hurdle Series by winning the first 2 of this year’s 3 ladies hurdle races.  Originally a series of 5, sponsor Kevin James won’t forget 2008 in a hurry as the weather claimed his first 2 races scheduled in January and February at Leicester and Catterick.  Even his 3rd race at Huntingdon looked in doubt but thankfully survived a double inspection in March.   The finale of the Cadale Series Is at Wetherby on 22^nd May.