Category: General News
25-01-2006
The Amateur Jockeys Association are delighted to announce the 2006 Bathwick Tyres Ladies Derby Series, which has expanded to include races at not only Bath racecourse but also Newbury and Salisbury. This allows sprints to be included for the first time, a previous impossibility when confined to the notoriously tricky twists and turns of Bath.
The 2006 series is made up as follows:
Bath Race no 1 17th May 1m 2f
Newbury Race no 2 10th June 1m 2f
Salisbury Race no 3 13th June 6 furlongs
Bath Race no 4 17th June 1m 2f
Bath Race no 5 28th June 1m 2f
Salisbury Race no 6 15th July 6 furlongs
Bath FINAL Race no 7 20th August 1m 3f
Now in its fifth year, this series gives a unique opportunity for amateur lady jockeys to focus on a great challenge.
In the tradition of this exciting series, points will be awarded after each race to the first 6 lady jockeys on a 7-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The Bathwick Tyres Ladies Derby, the richest amateur ladies race in the European racing calendar, will conclude the series on 20th August, when the series winner will be awarded a prize holiday by Wayne and Sarah Clifford of Bathwick Tyres.
Past winners of the Ladies Derby are:
2002 Chrissie Hannaford
2003 Sara Cumani
2004 Chrissie Hannaford
2005 Francesca Cumani
20-01-2006
As a result of the AJA Paper submitted to the Industry Committee in 2005, the AJA are delighted to announce that, following the subsequent introduction of NH pro-am bumpers which now include Category A amateur riders, the BHB have kindly agreed to Category A amateur licence holders riding in pro-am jump races previously confined to Conditional jockeys and Category B amateur licence holders, providing that the Category A licence holders have had either 12 completed point-to-point rides or 8 completed rides under NH Rules.
The AJA are most grateful to the BHB for their support of these proposals and look forward to seeing these new opportunities put to good use by our Category A members.
20-01-2006
The AJA are delighted to announce that Bollinger Champagne have confirmed that the following racecourses will host this year’s Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series:
Newmarket (Rowley Mile) – Friday 26th May
Newbury – Thursday 15th June
York – Friday 16th June
Warwick – Sunday 2nd July
Musselburgh (E) – Monday 3rd July
Newmarket (E) – Friday 28th July
Windsor (E) – Monday 7th August
Pontefract – Wednesday 9th August
Goodwood (E) – Saturday 19th August
Chester – Friday 25th August
Ascot – Friday 22nd September FINAL
The AJA are most grateful to Bollinger Champagne for their legendary loyal support and we all look forward to another great season ahead. The question is, can Simon Walker, triple Bollinger champion over the last 3 successive years, make it a fourth championship in a row?!
19-01-2006
Helen of Troy, the hair care and health care manufacturer, are pleased to announce their sponsorship of the Helen of Troy Ladies Hurdle Series 2006.
This series consists of 5 races shared between 5 different courses and spread over 4 months with points being awarded for the first 6 placed jockeys in each race. The lady jockey with maximum points at the end of the series will be awarded the Helen of Troy Champions’ Trophy.
“Helen of Troy has been involved in sponsorship of lady jockeys since 2003 and it gives us great pleasure to announce this new series” said Kevin James, Senior Vice President of HoT.
Lady jump jockeys are not presented with many races confined to their own sex during the racing calendar and this series will undoubtedly raise their profile both within The Amateur Jockeys Association and the racing industry in general.
The series begins on 1st February at Leicester followed by Huntingdon, Warwick and Towcester, and culminates with the series final at Wetherby on their Ladies Evening of Saturday 1st June.
1st February Leicester
15th March Huntingdon(Ladies Champion Hurdle)
21st March Warwick
8th May Towcester
1st June Wetherby FINAL (Ladies night)
This series is open not only to Conditional lady jockeys and Category B lady licence holders but also to Category A lady licence holders providing that those Category A lady riders have either completed 12 point-to-point races or completed 8 race rides under Rules.
16-01-2006
DONCASTER FLAT FIXTURE OF 23RD MARCH RELOCATES TO LINGFIELD
With Doncaster racecourse now closed for redevelopment for 2006, the ladies flat race scheduled for 23rd March has been reallocated to Lingfield. (The following day’s Doncaster meeting has been reallocated to Southwell and the Saturday meeting of 24th March – the Lincoln – has been reallocated to Redcar.)
15-01-2006
Taking a commanding lead from early on in the race and putting in a foot perfect performance, the 8 year old KACEEN gave David Dunsdon a great ride in the amateur riders’ chase at Pau, France, on Sunday 15th January. With a variety of obstacles that included a lake and double banks, the partnership led from early on and as the pace quickened, so did they to lead all of the way to the line. Congratulations to David on a great ride!
15-01-2006
It was excellent to see Oliver Williams ride his first winner under Rules when he took part in the Hands and Heels hurdle race at Wetherby on Saturday 14th January. With Oliver and Gerard Tumelty the only two amateur jockeys taking part in this race along with conditionals, Gerard was also in the frame finishing third. Congratulations to Oliver on a great ride!
The afternoon was certainly well represented by amateurs, with both Gerard Tumelty and Robert McCarthy going on to ride winners on the card. Congratulations to all concerned.
10-10-2005
Congratulations to Richard Tierney who won the first NH bumper of the season which allows Cat A riders to compete against Cat Bs and Conditionals.
This was especially good news for Richard as he has only recently returned to the saddle after breaking his leg which kept him out of action for 6 months.
Only 17, Richard won the Racing Post Weekender Novice Rider’s Award 2005 with 3 wins from 6 rides point-to-pointing. Richard is delighted at this bumper win as it should help him towards gaining his Cat B licence later in the year and is of course his first win under Rules.
Many thanks to everyone at the BHB for programming these new bumpers to give our Category A members many more opportunities to race ride and therefore help them to gain their Cat B licences. There are 36 more bumpers left this season which will have similar conditions.
10-10-2005
The AJA Northern Dinner Dance is to be held on 15th October at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Wetherby, organised as always by Serena Brotherton, Carol Williams and Kelly Harrison.
7.30 pm for Dinner 8.00 pm prompt Disco until 1.00 am
Tickets price £35 each are available from:
Carol Williams: 07734 303862 (m)
Kelly Harrison: 07830 394311 (m)
Serena Brotherton: 07740 257110 (m)
07-10-2005
Saturday 8th October sees the first NH flat race in which our Category A members can join Category B members and Conditional jockeys to ride in a bumper. This change in the Rules is a direct result of our request in the AJA paper submitted to Race Planning for such race conditions and it is a welcome addition to our racing calendar, opening up more opportunities for our Category A members to race ride and gain experience, thereby assisting them in gaining their Category B licences.
There are in fact 37 such NH bumpers scheduled this season alone and we are enormously grateful to everyone at the BHB for accommodating our request.
