Category: General News
20-11-2017
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF
THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN LIMITED
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2017 Annual General meeting of the AJA will be held on Monday 4 December 2017 at 12:00 noon at The Orangery, The Crown and Sandys Hotel, Main Road, Ombersley, Worcestershire WR9 0EW 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 2016. 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) Richard Burton (proposed by Bob Davies and seconded by Anthea Morshead)
(b) David Dunsdon (proposed by Bob Davies and seconded by Anthea Morshead)
(c) Emily Jones (proposed by Serena Brotherton and seconded by Annabelle Armitage)
(d) Fiona Needham (proposed by Bob Davies and seconded by Anthea Morshead)
(e) 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 Richard Dunwoody and seconded by Anthea Morshead.) 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 Andrew Winterburn Chartered Accountants as auditors and to authorise the directors to fix their remuneration
Dated: 20 November 2017
By order of the board
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.
28-09-2015
- Are you aged 18 to 29 and employed within the racing industry either as an amateur jockey or apprentice jockey or involved in some other capacity?
- Might you be interested in taking advantage of professional mentorship opportunities abroad?
- Would you be able to commit to a scholarship opportunity for up to 8 weeks?
- Have you finished at least one year or graduated from your home Racing Academy or other entity that provides horse racing or related industry workforce training?
If so, you may be interested in a unique opportunity that is available to over 20 students to become involved in an international student exchange programme, the Racing Scholarship Fund, which, thanks to the generosity of Sheikh Mansoor and under the leadership of Lara Sawaya, has been set up by IFHRA (International Federation of Horse Racing Academies) (includes the British Racing School and Northern Racing College).
The IFHRA Racing Scholarship Fund (RSF) is designed to benefit both students of IFHRA member racing academies and employers within the horse racing and related industries. Students will work abroad in real-world situations gaining experience and benefitting from mentorships which will be a long-term benefit to future careers. At the same time, future employers will also benefit from students who have experienced the IFHRA RSF and who have therefore gained training in the newest practices our industry offers.
This is an extraordinary opportunity to gain unique experience and broaden your horizons! If you would like to apply for one of these valuable places, you can contact either the BRS or the NRC or alternatively e-mail sph.oliver@btinternet.com immediately for further details and an application pack.
Hurry because the official closing date is 15th October. Please do not delay!
07-09-2015
Did you know that one of the benefits of AJA membership for any licensed amateur jockey (Flat, Jump or Point-to-Point licence holders included) is that you are entitled to 50% discount of subscription to Racing UK?
This in itself actually would cover the cost of AJA membership (currently £100 for 12 months) within a year!
This generous discount is in addition to the automatic insurance which all AJA members are entitled to upon joining.
If you would like to apply for the RUK discount, please download the form from the link below and post it to the AJA for it to be actioned for you.
RUK
14-05-2015
For any amateur jockey who has never visited the Channel Isles, an ideal opportunity now exists within our racing calendar! Sunday 12th July is Champion Hurdle Day at Les Landes and includes the AJA’s inaugural running of a 1m 2f flat handicap for 3 year olds and up rated 0-65. The race will be the 5th race on the card at 5:10 pm. We need trainer support for this race with limited horses available on the island so please persuade your trainer to enter and spread the word!
Les Landes is a popular racecourse with many English jockeys including amateur Freddy Tett who rode 6 winners there last summer and has already enjoyed a double there last weekend. Serena Brotherton also travelled over with City Ground last summer to provide Mick Easterby with his first-ever winner in Jersey.
For further details which include a travel allowance please contact Charlotte Francis at The Jersey Race Club tel: 01534 864136 or mob: 07829 863484.
01-04-2015
The third running of the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Series is looked forward to by The Amateur Jockeys Association who are delighted to announce this year’s calendar. The Series is open to amateur jockeys who are members of the AJA and who at the start of the 2015 Flat Season have ridden no more than 3 winners under the Rules of Racing (both Jump and Flat). This excludes Point-to-Point and Arab racing wins.
As in previous years, The Amateur Jockeys Association will manage the series in consultation with the British Horseracing Authority. Jockey Coaches based at the Northern Racing College near Doncaster will also repeat their invaluable role walking the course with participating jockeys before each race to offer help and advice as well as providing invaluable feedback following weigh in with video support.
This year the series of 8 races culminates in the finale at Carlisle’s meeting on Wednesday 9th September. Points will be awarded to riders with 10 points for the winner, 6 for second, 4 for third and 2 for fourth. Also-rans will be awarded 1 point. In addition to winning connections being presented with Betfair trophies after each race, the winning series jockey will be presented with the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Series Trophy. The series winning slot was shared jointly last year by Phil Dennis and Joanna Walton.
The 8-race 2015 series is scheduled to take place as follows:
Saturday 4th July Nottingham
Wednesday 15th July Catterick Bridge
Wednesday 22nd July Leicester
Wednesday 29th July Redcar
Sunday 9th August Royal Windsor
Monday 10th August Thirsk
Bank Holiday Monday 31st August Ripon
Wednesday 9th September Carlisle
Barry Orr, Head of Public Relations at Betfair, commented today: ‘’This series has been well received and supported by all aspects of the racing community and we are happy to once again give it our backing. Many thanks to Sarah Oliver for her continued hard work in ensuring the 8 races are a success for all involved’’
Dawn Goodfellow, CEO of The Northern Racing College, said “The Northern Racing College are delighted to be supporting this series, which we see as providing an excellent educational opportunity for amateur riders, thus further driving up the already high standards that we enjoy seeing from British amateur riders.”
Sarah Oliver, CEO of the AJA, said “Enquries are already coming in for this series which is eagerly awaited by many of our members. Last year’s races proved as popular as ever and it was excellent to see 45 individual novice flat amateurs enjoy 84 rides between them on 8 different racecourses. In addition, three of the participating jockeys – the series joint-winner Phil Dennis as well as Dylan McDonagh and Megan Nicholls – went on to take out their apprentice licences. Since then Megan has enjoyed her first professional winning ride at Wolverhampton at the end of February for James Eustace.
Once again this series has provided a launching pad for the careers of young amateurs who often struggle to get rides through lack of opportunity. Thanks to the generosity of Betfair’s sponsorship, 2015 sees the series continue with 8 races offering race riding opportunities combined with education and training and for this we are extremely grateful.”
05-03-2015
Having raised over £1 million over the last 5 years for Cancer Research UK, Cheltenham Festival’s charity race is supporting a new charity familiar to us all this year – THE INJURED JOCKEYS FUND – on Thursday 12th March.
This year’s riders Clifford Baker 🙂 Lucy Charnock 
Simon Clare Phillip Clark James Collins Jono Mills Olive Murphy Andrew Nicholson Hayley O’Connor Emily Scott Rod Trow and Tommy Williams are all gaining full fitness in readiness for the race and at the same time fundraising like crazy at every opportunity. If you would like to support a particular rider, you can find them on Just Giving; if you would prefer to support the race in general, please visit www.justgiving.com/Chelt and any gift however small will really help. You know its for a brilliant cause AND WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! 🙂 Thank you so much
13-02-2015
Sandown Park plays host today to the Royal Artillery Gold Cup and amongst the 10 military amateur riders taking part is an extraordinary man. Guy Disney lost his right leg from below the knee whilst on active duty in Helmand Province in 2009 and he will make racing history today when riding BALLYALLIA MAN.
Guy’s journey back into the saddle on the racecourse has not been smooth as his jockey licence application was originally declined by the BHA. Since that time he has enjoyed riding in a charity race at Fakenham and has been able to satisfy the authorities that his artificial limb is up to the stresses and strains of race riding. Guy enjoyed 2nd and 3rd placed rides in the Combined Service point-to-point at Larkhill last weekend – a great warm up to today’s race. This afternoon Guy will become the first jockey ever to race ride under Rules with a prosthetic leg within the UK. We wish him every success.
05-02-2015
With the All-Weather season soon to reach its climax, this season has just 3 races left for amateur jockeys (Wolverhampton 7th & 16th February and season finale for the first time at Southwell on 25th March). With the professional season’s final raceday scheduled at Lingfield’s extravaganza on Good Friday 3rd April, this brings our corresponding seasons as near together as possible. Current positions are:
Multiple champion Simon Walker has dominated much of this season but he is being given a good run by Joanna Mason (below) who is enjoying her best season to date on this surface.
Serena Brotherton has leapt up the tables recently following her win at Southwell on Tuesday with AMAZING BLUE SKY for Ruth Carr (below) and joins Ross Birkett in third place (10 points).
Serena and Simon have been old adversaries for this championship title for the past few years and both currently share the 2013/14 title having finished last season on equal points! Following her win, Serena said “I was struggling for most of the way but then he came back on the bridle and I was left in front sooner than I intended. It wasn’t a great race but he’s a grand old horse.” (Now a 9 year old, Amazing Blue Sky was making his 107th start on the Flat and his 113th in total following a recent spell over jumps, and this was his 11th Flat win!)
01-01-2015
As from 1st January 2015, the cost of AJA annual membership (which gives a full 12 months cover from whatever date you join) will rise from £90 pa to £100 pa. AJA membership automatically insures its members for riding out anywhere worldwide.
AJA membership cost represents fantastic value for money, being available to anyone under 70 years of age, regardless of whether or not they are a licensed jockey.
Please note that cover is for temporary disability only, and there is no cover for permanent disability, third party or death. Benefit is for £150 to be paid after the first 35 days incapacitated for up to a maximum of 52 weeks.
08-02-2011
Congratulations to BRENDAN POWELL on riding his first winner under rules in the first division of Southwell’s All-Weather for his father Brendan senior today. The trainer said: “He’s had a couple of hundred rides flapping in Ireland and this is all he’s ever wanted to do.”
The second division was a repeat of last year’s race with Jackie Kiely enjoying visiting his favourite track, beating Bright Sparky to score for the 10th time at Southwell! This win was significant for jockey CHRIS MARTIN, giving him 5 points to leap ahead of current leader SIMON WALKER in the Amateur All-Weather Championship with only two days All-Weather racing of the amateur season remaining (12th and 21st February, both at Wolverhampton). The current table is as follows:
|
Results up to
9th February 2011
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|
|
NAME
|
1st (5 points)
|
2nd (2 points)
|
3rd (1 point)
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr Chris Martin
|
3
|
2
|
–
|
19
|
|
Mr Simon Walker
|
3
|
1
|
–
|
17
|
|
Miss Becky Brisbourne
|
1
|
1
|
–
|
7
|
|
Mr Freddie Mitchell
|
1
|
1
|
–
|
7
|
|
Mr Brendan Powell
|
1
|
1
|
–
|
7
|
|
Miss Pernilla Harmansson
|
1
|
–
|
1
|
6
|
|
Mr Justin Newman
|
1
|
–
|
1
|
6
|
|
Mr Joe Coffill-Brown
|
1
|
|
|
5
|
|
Mr Oliver Greenall
|
1
|
–
|
–
|
5
|
|
Mr Stephen Harrison
|
1
|
–
|
–
|
5
|
|
Miss Lucy Horner
|
1
|
–
|
–
|
5
|
|
Mr Marcus Price
|
1
|
–
|
–
|
5
|
|
Mr Declan Queally
|
1
|
–
|
–
|
5
|
|
Mr Jack Quinlan
|
1
|
–
|
–
|
5
|
|
Mr Robbie Williams
|
1
|
–
|
–
|
5
|
