Many congratulations to our newly crowned Lady Flat Champion Amateur Jockey Sarah Bowen who has enjoyed a fantastic season culminating in 6 wins to give her a clear lead and win her first championship.
In close pursuit, many congratulations to joint runners up Brodie Hampson and Joanna Mason who signed off the season with 4 wins each.
It has been an unusual season not only with such recent wet weather but also with a spate of injuries sustained by Carol Bartley, Helen Cuthbert, Aly Deniel, Abbie McCain and Cath Walton sidelined for various lengths of time to name just a few. It also saw the retirement of Emma Sayer mid-season following her victories at both Ascot and Carlisle.
Well done to all the ladies who enjoyed winning rides and thanks to all trainers, owners and racecourses who have supported them thoughout the summer.
18 year old Caolin Quinn enjoyed a night to remember when winning with his first ever ride under rules at Kempton on Tuesday evening.
Partnering SARIM for Warren Greatrex, he tucked his horse behind the leaders until a couple of furlongs from home. Driving his horse forward, they led a furlong out to hold on bravely and deny Serena Brotherton a double (with her earlier success at Southwell) by half a length, with Becky Smith a further length and a quarter third on her regular ride BLUE MEDICI.
This was a polished performance by the young jockey illustrating the invaluable experience gained as an Irish pony racing graduate. Congratulations to Caoilin and to winning connections!
The race was not without drama, both Simon Walker and Serena Brotherton showing their mastery of the saddle and surviving in turn a really nasty heel clipping incident. Thankfully nobody came to grief.
Sometimes, as with the proverbial London buses, the amateur racing calendar goes through a barren patch and then 2 races are scheduled for the same day. So it was last Tuesday when Southwell hosted an all-weather race over a mile and 6 and Kempton ending their evening all-weather meeting with a handicap for amateurs over a mile and a half.
The only amateur jockey to brave both races 4 hours and 160 miles apart was Serena Brotherton who began her quest for a double in fine style with a facile win aboard Michael Appleby’s RESTIVE, easing up and winning by 11 lengths. Sophie Smith on GRANDSCAPE was second, with Molly Presland finishing third but subsequently disqualified after weighing in light and Pat Millman taking that place with KEITH.
Sadly the race was marred by the dramatic loss of Dave Evans’s RISK MITIGATION who fell when challenging 3 furlongs out and sustaining a fatal injury. Jo Mason thankfully was uninjured.
Well done to winning connections and to Serena on a great start to her quest for a double before she headed south for Kempton!
The final ladies race of the season survived the weather (unlike the previous 3 scheduled ladies races) and saw 16 go to post on the heavy ground at Nottingham on Wednesday.
Congratulations to Alice Stevens who, fresh from enjoying her first ever win under rules over hurdles at Exeter recently, was experiencing her first ever ride on the flat and ultimately her first ever flat winner!
Partnering Oliver Greenall’s diminutive GAMESTERS ICON, this was also a four-timer for the gamest of mares. Having tracked the leaders and taken it up as they turned into the home straight, the pair were headed 2 furlongs out only to rally again inside the final furlong and deny Lottie Crane on BOMBERO by 3/4 of a length with Antonia Peck a further couple of lengths 3rd aboard SHE’S A NOVELTY.
Many congratulations to winning connections on a great finale to the ladies season!
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN LIMITED
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2018 Annual General meeting of the AJA will be held on Thursday 28 November 2019 at 12:00 noon at The Terrace Room, The Welcombe Hotel, Warwick Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 0NR 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 2018. 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
The following director retires at the AGM in accordance with Regulations 26.1 and 26.2 and offers himself for re-election: Bob Davies (nominated by Anthea Morshead and seconded by Richard Dunwoody).
to re-appoint Andrew Winterburn Chartered Accountants as auditors and to authorise the directors to fix their remuneration
Congratulations to our top lady jockey Brodie Hampson on a great win at Hereford today aboard Archie Watson’s JUGE ET PARTI in the maiden hurdle, thereby riding out her 5 lb claim – a huge achievement.
Always handy, the partnership led from two out to stay on well and score by 4 1/2 lengths. Well done Brodie!
