Month: January 2012
25-01-2012
Cheltenham Festival have renamed the National Hunt Chase in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s 60 year reign. Now in its 142nd year, the 4 mile NH Chase is one of the oldest races at the Festival run as the opener on the Wednesday.
Cheltenham supremo Edward Gillespie said “The royal connection with Cheltenham is something that we are particularly proud of and we are delighted to be marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year by renaming the most historic race of the festival in her honour. In recent years, the National Hunt Chase has been restored to its former glory and is now the foremost novices’ chase for long distance steeplechasers. I am sure that the 2012 running will produce a thrilling spectacle amd highlight the talents of more big race winners of the future.”
The AJA are also particularly proud that one of our showcase races should be chosen to receive this prestigious title.
21-01-2012
Congratulations to Wincanton course specialists Miranda Roberts and Chesil Beach Boy trained by Miranda’s father John Coombe who made it a hat trick with a winning ride again today against professionals, having been victorious there also on Boxing Day and on 7th January.
To add to the day’s headlines, retired amateur jockey Anthony Knott made news as winning owner for all the wrong reasons, joining Nick Scholfield in the saddle on his return to the winner’s enclosure! This was great entertainment for his many Somerset friends but the stewards handed Anthony a £100 fine for improper conduct.
16-01-2012
In recognition of the memorable 2010/11 NH season which culminated in Sam Waley-Cohen winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Long Run (the first amateur since Jim Wilson and Little Owl 30 years ago) the BHA put aside £30,000 of that season’s amateur prize money won against professionals. Sam Waley-Cohen was asked to determine the distribution of these funds and chose £20,000 to be held by the BHA for investment in amateur races.
We are happy to announce that the first of 3 amateur races will take place on 15th February at Kelso. This will be 2 mile 6 furlong HANDICAP CHASE (Class 3) for 5 year olds and upwards rated 0-135 with a total prize fund of £12,000, £6,000 being provided via the BHA from prize money won by amateur jockeys whilst winning against professionals in 2010/11. The remaining 2 races have yet to be announced.
12-01-2012
Robert Cooper began today negotiating the road from Shropshire to the British Horseracing Authority’s headquarters in London to face the Disciplinary Panel before journeying on to Fontwell races. Having been referred to London by the Stewards at Uttoxeter following his victory on Elton Fox in a maiden hurdle on 31st December, he was given a 52 day ban for excessive use of the whip and for not allowing time for the horse to respond.
The New Year’s Eve victory had provided Robert with his first winner in 12 years for his guv’nor John Needham and he went on to ride another winner later that day. In response to his hefty ban, Robert rode his 3rd winner within a fortnight this afternoon to an enthusiastic Fontwell crowd and threw his stick away in defiance as he passed the winning post.
Robert said that he was “gutted” with his punishment but “rules are rules and you can’t break them. Obviously some were connecting but not intentionally but they didn’t look at it that way. I know I was way too many over, but it wasn’t intentional.” Robert’s ban will only apply on days when there are amateur races as dictated by current Rules of Racing, but with Hunterchase season fast approaching this will ease the punishment considerably for him.
The current whip rules state that the maximum number of whip usage during a race is 7 on the flat and 8 over fences.
05-01-2012
The year ahead has plenty on offer for some lucky lady jockeys with this wonderful series to look forward to thanks to Lara Sarawaya:
|
2012 Dates
|
Racecourse
|
|
12th January
|
Al Flaij Race Course, Muscat, Oman
|
|
27th January
|
Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
|
|
3rd March
|
Sam Houston, Texas
|
|
4th May
|
Cascade, Morrocco
|
|
19th May
|
Newbury, England
|
|
10th June
|
Hoppergarten, Berlin
|
|
7th July
|
Taby, Stockholm
|
|
26th August
|
Warsaw, Poland
|
|
3rd September
|
Craon, France
|
|
tbc November
|
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE
|
Each race will be a purebred Arabian Handicap for amateur lady riders, and a different jockey can participate in each race which makes this series very special to our members. Unlike the Fegentri World Championship which currently offers so much to one solitary jockey, this series offers many lady jockeys a thrill of a lifetime riding in exotic and unique places around the globe. Lara Sawaya, Festival Director to HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nayhan’s Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, has organised the series with a prize fund of £20,000 at Newbury (and similar prize levels worldwide), making this the most valuable ladies flat race in the world.
Helen Cuthbert has agreed to represent Great Britain in the first race in Oman and Pip Tutty will be representing us in Australia.
03-01-2012
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF
THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN LIMITED
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2011 Annual General meeting of the AJA will be held on Wednesday 25th January at 11.30 am at The Queens Arms Hotel, East Garston, Nr Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 7ET when the following ordinary business will be considered:
- to receive apologies for absence
- to consider and if thought fit to approve and confirm the Minutes of the previous AGM and to authorise the President to sign them
- to receive and consider the report of the directors
- to receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive
- to receive and consider and if thought fit to pass a resolution adopting the accounts for twelve months ending 31 December 2010. The accounts are now completed and copies will be available at the AGM. Alternatively, on receipt of a stamped addressed envelope, copies will be sent to members on written request
- to consider and if thought fit to pass a resolution electing directors. (a) Ian Balding has as from the date of the AGM resigned his office as director. (b) The following director retires at the AGM in accordance with Regulations 26.1 and 26.2 and offers himself for re-election: Philip Pritchard (nominated by Nick Gaselee and seconded by Richard Dunwoody) Should any other person wish to stand for election as a director he or she is referred to the provisions of regulation 27
- to re-appoint Dr L A Cotterill as auditors and to authorise the directors to fix their remuneration.
Dated: 3rd January 2012
By order of the board
Sara Moore
Company Secretary
A member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote in his stead. A proxy need not be a member of the company.
