2012 amateur races confirmed at last
23-12-2011
The BHA have today confirmed the Racing Calendar for January to March 2012 and these are now listed on this site. The BHA apologise for the delay in publishing these race fixtures.
Year: 2011
Rachel King ends Fegentri season joint 4th
14-12-2011
Congratulations to Rachel King who enjoyed the final ladies race of the Fegentri season with the customary trip to Mauritius where she was unplaced and finished in joint 4th place overall, sharing this slot with France’s representative. Rachel enjoyed being part of the team to participate in the first ladies race ever in Macau in November as well as many other trips, details of which can be found at www.fegentri.com.
Rachel took an early lead in the ladies world championship at the start of 2011 with a winning ride in Qatar as well as enjoying some placed rides but her season was interrupted when she found herself unable to ride in our Fegentri ladies race in Nottingham in July as she had not renewed her amateur licence. However, she subsequently rode a winner in Cologne (Germany) and Istanbul (Turkey) which gained her some valuable points, but as in previous years Great Britain was denied the title with Rachel being drawn on a horse for the final race who was unplaced.
FEGENTRI & AMATEUR RACES ABROAD 2012
10-12-2011
Applications are invited from AJA members who are UK licensed amateur riders to represent Great Britain and ride not only in the Fegentri series 2012 but also in other international races. In 2008 our selected riders, Danny Cook and Gemma Gracey-Davison, were runners up to the Fegentri World Champions and in 2009 and 2010 Claire Allen and Ruth Jefferson also achieved this status.
You will need an understanding guv’nor and strong home support as Fegentri demands regular weekend trips abroad. You will also need stamina as travel, delays and time changes can sap your energy! All thoughts of turning professional will have to wait until the end of the Fegentri season (October for men, December for ladies). You must have ridden 5 wins under Rules and do 9 stone for ladies, 10 stone for lads. The AJA will cover travel expenses and the host nations will pay for accommodation abroad.
If you think that this is something that you would enjoy, please contact Sarah Oliver as soon as possible by completing and returning: applicationformfegentri2012.doc. E-mail sph.oliver@btinternet.com or call 01886 884488 for further details. These forms have been posted out to all AJA members. All applicants will be kept on file for future consideration of any invitation races and also for future representation. Applications for Fegentri 2012 close on 31st December 2011 but the sooner you send in your form the better!
Many support Issy & Dickie @ AJA Champions Ball
05-12-2011
Many thanks to everyone who came along and supported Isabel Tompsett and Richard Hawkins at the AJA Champions Dance on Saturday. It was wonderful to see such a great turnout and especially to have both Isabel and Richard with us – something beyond our wildest hopes not so long ago. A great mix of both the amateur and professional ranks were there to support our two injured jockeys who both continue to astonish us by continuing from strength to strength on their roads to recovery.
Isabel Tompsett greeted by Jonjo O’Neill
Richard Hawkins (centre) joined the celebrations
The incomparable Luke Harvey excelled as compere
Chris Martin, All-Weather Amateur Champion 2010/11, receives his cup and trophy from Mick Fitzgerald
Ryan Mahon, NH Amateur Champion 2010/11, receives his cup & trophy from Jonjo O’Neill
Gina Andrews, NH Lady Amateur Champion 2010/11 receives her trophy & cup from Andrew Tinkler who was able to attend the event being out of action with a broken hand. (Gina is of course also reigning Lady Point-to-Point National Champion.)
Robert Williams, Flat Amateur Champion 2011, presented with his prizes by AJA director & Ludlow supremo Bob Davies
Serena Brotherton, for the 5th time (& 3rd successive) Flat Champion Amateur Lady Jockey, presented with her cup and trophy by Carl Llewellyn
Carol Bartley received her runner up trophy from Aiden Coleman for the Flat Lady Championship 2011. (This was Carol’s first outing since breaking both arms and she is still unable to straighten her right arm.)
Emma Sayer received her Weatherbys Flat Ride of the Year award from AJA president Dr Phil Pritchard. Sadly Sam Waley-Cohen was unable to attend to accept his equivalent NH award for his win on Long Run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2011.
Sarah Oliver hands over one of the raffle prizes to past triple winning Champion Flat lady jockey Sarah Bosley whose husband Martin assisted with the auction.
Photo credit: AJA/Mike Charity
Folkestone celebrate Pompadour Day with amateur hurdle 28th November
21-11-2011
Folkestone Racecourse are once again kindly staging an amateur riders’ hurdle to celebrate Pompadour Day and strengthen ties with Pompadour Racecourse in France. Last year this race was lost to the snow when the runners were actually down at the start in a blizzard!
12 jockeys have been invited to ride in the race and we hope that trainers will be able to support the race by providing runners. Riders will be drawn by ballot by Weatherbys on Sunday morning. We have a rich talent of amateur jockeys in Great Britain and this type of race is a great way to showcase them and help them build up experience before some of them turn professional, as has recently happened in the case of both Harry Derham and Jack Quinlan.
THE HYTHE AMATEUR RIDERS HANDICAP HURDLE
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1 |
Mark O’Hare |
Mark has ridden 17 winners under rules as well as 146 point-to-point winners. |
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2 |
Cyril Coste |
Cyril won this race at Folkestone in 2008 and has had 17 jump wins as well as 4 flat wins. |
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3 |
Robbie Henderson |
Robbie is attached to Alan King’s yard and has had 11 winners under rules as well as 17 point-to-point wins. |
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4 |
Patrick Paihes |
Patrick has ridden 92 winners under rules as well as 35 wins on the flat. |
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5 |
James Ridley |
James has had 3 winners under rules and 10 point-to-point wins. |
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6 |
Mikey Ennis |
Mike is attached to David Pipe’s yard and has ridden 6 winners under rules and 17 point-to-point winners. |
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7 |
Phil York |
Phil is a Folkestone specialist and has ridden 24 winners under rules and 203 point-to-point winners. |
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8 |
Nick Slatter |
Nick has ridden 1 winner under rules and 16 point-to-point winners. |
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9 |
Tom Bellamy |
Fresh from his win at Cheltenham recently, Tom has ridden 3 winners under rules and 5 point-to-point wins. |
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10 |
Oliver Murphy |
Oliver has ridden 5 winners under rules including 2 recently and also 13 point-to-point winners. |
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11 |
Philip Prince |
Philip has ridden 3 winners under rules and 8 point-to-point winners. |
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12 |
Ben Poste |
Ben has ridden 5 winners under rules and 12 point-to-point winners. |
SKY 405 7:30 PM TONIGHT: SAM & LONG RUN
07-11-2011
The Last Amateur | Sky Sports | Shows | Sky Sports News | Don’t Miss Features
www.skysports.com
A MUST SEE – 405 @ 7:30 SAM WALEY-COHEN & LONG RUN SPECIAL REPORT
Come dancing for Richard and Isabel!
04-11-2011
This year the AJA Champions Cheltenham Christmas Dinner Dance will be dedicated to raising funds for both ISABEL TOMPSETTand RICHARD HAWKINS who continue to recover from serious head injuries sustained earlier this year.
The AJA request the pleasure of your company
Champions Christmas Dance for Isabel & Richard
Saturday 3rd December 2011
CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE GOLD CUP SUITE
BLACK TIE * 7:30-1:30 * MUSIC & DANCING
tickets @ £50 each include 3-course dinner
top class raffle & auction
Amateur Champions Awards
TICKET HOTLINE: 01886 884488 or 01933 304778
Tables of 10 available
Cheques payable to AJA can be posted to
Crews Hill House, Alfrick, Worcester. WR6 5HF
HUNTER’S LODGE HOTEL
STABLE LADS ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE AT CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE WALKING DISTANCE FROM GOLD CUP SUITE!
CURRENT TARIFF
- Single room, B & B £24
- Twin room B & B £44
- Triple room B & B £60
- Quad room B & B £66
For more details and reservations, please call 01242 513345 or 500822
Nico de Boinville 3rd for GB in Fegentri Mens World Championship
17-10-2011
Very many congratulations to Nico de Boinville who has achieved 3rd place in the men’s Fegentri World Championship following the final race of the season hosted by Switzerland in Maienfeld yesterday.
This was a considerable achievement with very limited invitations this season and Nico was an excellent diplomat for British racing, carrying out his ambassadorial role with aplomb.
BHA WHIP REVIEW – A MUST READ!!!!
06-10-2011
THE BHA REVIEW ON USE OF THE WHIP COMES INTO EFFECT ON MONDAY NEXT 10TH OCTOBER!
- 5 hits in the final furlong/after the last obstacle are the maximum number of hits that are acceptable.
- 7 hits (flat) 8 hits (jump) in the whole race are the maximum number of hits that are acceptable.
- Excessive frequency – minimum suspension of 5 days for 1 hit over the permitted maximum and a further 2 days for every hit thereafter.
- Penalties for other breaches of Schedule (B)6 part 2 have been increased.
- Repeat offences will result in at least a doubling of the suspension.
- Group 1 and Grade 1 exemptions will not apply to whip offences.
- Every time a rider’s whip makes contact with his horse with his whip hand off the reins will be considered as a hit regardless of how, where or with what force the whip is used.
- Any offence which warrants a suspension of more than 20 days before previous offences are taken into account will be referred.
- Any offence which warrants a suspension of 42 days having taken previous offences into account will be referred.
- Penalties imposed by the Disciplinary Panel have been increased considerably.
The full BHA review of the use of the whip can be viewed by this link: http://www.britishhorseracing.com/whip-review/WhipReview.pdf
Ollie Garner wins Tom Halliday scholarship
24-09-2011
Many congratulations to Oliver Garner who has been awarded the Tom Halliday scholarship for 2011.
The Tom Halliday Award was set up by Market Rasen Racecourse in 2005 following the tragic death of conditional Tom Halliday. The award was designed to help young and up and coming conditional jockeys and this is the first time that it has been awarded to an amateur jockey. The award offers a promising young jockey support in a number of ways including sponsorship, coaching, media training and access to other areas of advice to support his or her career.
The racecourse works closely with partners such as The Northern Racing College to provide the scholar with necessary courses and advice for their future career. Past winners have been:
2005 Phil Kinsella
2006 Michael O’Connell
2007 David Culinane
2008 James Halliday
2009 Oliver Williams
2010 Joe Cornwall
Pip Kirkby, Market Rasen’s MD, said “This award means a lot to those who receive it and we very much intend to include the views of senior jockey Dominic Elsworth, a long time friend of the Halliday family, as well as James Halliday in making the decision as to who should be the next scholar.
Photo credit: AJA