THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN
07-06-2014
Congratulations to James Harding who enjoyed a repeat of 12 months ago when winning with BALMORAL CASTLE this evening at Goodwood for Hughie Morrison. This was James’s second winner of the season, having won recently at Newbury.
05-06-2014
The Amateur Jockeys Association are delighted to welcome the return of the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Series for 2014. The Series is open to amateur jockeys who are members of the AJA and who at the start of the 2014 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.
The Amateur Jockeys Association will manage the series in consultation with the British Horseracing Authority. In addition Jimmy Bleasdale, Jockey Coach based at the Northern Racing College near Doncaster, will be in attendance to walk the course with the participating jockeys before each race and to offer them help and advice.
This year the series has grown from 6 to 8 races culminating in the finale at Carlisle’s meeting on Wednesday 27th August. 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.
Races are scheduled to take place as follows:
16th July Catterick Bridge
23rd July Leicester
30th July Redcar
10th August Royal Windsor
11th August Thirsk
15th August Nottingham
25th August Ripon
27th August Carlisle
Barry Orr, Head of Public Relations at Betfair, commented today ‘’We are delighted to once again back the Amateur Jockeys Association flat series. The increase to eight races is a testament to a fantastic first year for the series and jockey participation levels have been excellent.’’
Dawn Goodfellow, CEO of The Northern Racing College, said “The Northern Racing College is delighted to be providing jockey coaches again for this second Betfair Amateur series. We believe it offers an excellent opportunity and incentive for amateur riders to develop their race riding skills and very much look forward to being involved.”
Jimmy Bleasdale, Jockey Coach, said “I am looking forward to this season’s Amateur Novice Series sponsored by Betfair. I hope it is as exciting as last year and takes us to the wire in the finale event at Carlisle again.”
Sarah Oliver, CEO of the AJA, said “We were delighted that Betfair’s inaugural series was so popular amongst both jockeys and trainers, giving 43 individual novice amateur jockeys 78 rides on 6 different UK racecourses. This series proved itself as a launching pad for the careers of young amateurs who often struggle to get rides and since last year at least 2 participating jockeys have turned professional. Thanks to the generosity of Betfair’s sponsorship, 2014 sees the series extended to 8 races which offer race riding opportunities together with education and training.”
28-05-2014
With only 2 days left of the amateur season, a thrilling battle to the line for both championships is in store! Tomorrow night’s racing at Wetherby will see Steven Crawford ride for his brother with IZZINI in the first, victorious for Steven a few days ago. Harry Bannister then has 3 rides to enjoy later in the evening. Meanwhile at Worcester Lucy Gardner has a ride which might give her the chance to equal current leader of the ladies table Ally Stirling.
2013/2014 NATIONAL HUNT GENTLEMAN AMATEUR JOCKEYS CHAMPIONSHIP
The championship runs from 8th June 2013 until 30th May 2014
|
Results up to Tuesday 27th May 2014 |
|
|
Mr Harry Bannister |
11 |
|
Mr Steven Crawford |
10 |
|
Mr Kit Alexander |
8 |
|
Mr Sam Waley-Cohen |
7 |
|
Mr Michael Legg |
6 |
|
Mr Will Biddick |
5 |
|
Mr Tom Hamilton |
5 |
|
* Callum Bewley |
4 |
|
Mr Paddy Gerety |
4 |
|
Mr Mark Wall |
4 |
|
Mr Alex Edwards |
3 |
|
Mr Bradley Gibbs |
3 |
|
Mr Jamie Hamilton |
3 |
|
Mr Robert Hawker |
3 |
|
Mr Tom Weston |
3 |
2013/2014 NATIONAL HUNT LADY AMATEUR JOCKEYS CHAMPIONSHIP
The championship runs from 8th June 2013 until 30th May 2014
|
Results up to Tuesday 27th May 2014 |
|
|
Miss Ally Stirling |
7 |
|
Miss Lucy Gardner |
6 |
|
Miss Gina Andrews |
5 |
|
Mrs Alex Dunn |
5 |
|
Miss Lizzie Kelly |
5 |
|
Miss Catherine Walton |
5 |
|
Miss Claire Hart |
4 |
|
Miss Alice Mills |
4 |
|
Miss Jane Williams |
4 |
|
Miss Bridget Andrews |
3 |
* turned professional
27-05-2014
If you are a competent rider and would like to ride in a charity race at Newmarket on the July Course on 16th August and can raise £2,500 in aid of Racing Welfare, the race is over 8 furlongs (weight 11 stone 7 lbs) please e-mail sph.oliver@btinternet.com as soon as possible for an application form.
06-05-2014
Well done Freddy Tett finishing 2nd in Dusseldorf last week when riding for GB! The Omani rider’s tack slipped in the closing stages of the race and he fell directly into Freddy’s path but fortunately for all concerned Freddy managed to steer around the prostrate jockey! You can clearly see the number cloth under the horse’s belly in the photo below. Freddy is now in 4th position in the men’s world rankings.
Alice Mills was also busy last week having just returned from riding in the Maryland Hunt Cup the previous weekend (where, with only 4 finishing, she pulled up her horse when he tired after the 16th). She rode for GB in Budapest, Hungary this weekend courtesy of the Austrian Amateur Club and finished 4th, which puts her also in 4th position overall in the ladies world rankings. Here is a recording of the ladies race: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MNAYGqYk_Mc
29-04-2014
Please will all jockeys note that as from the new date of 1ST APRIL 2015 a revised BHA specification for skull caps, safety vests and whips will come into force:
PART 1
Skull caps and safety vests
Design of skull cap
1. A skull cap is approved by the Authority if it meets (BS) EN 1384: 2012, CSN EN 14572: 2005, BS EN 14572: 2005, PAS 015: 2011 or CSN EN 1384: 2012.
2. The skull cap must not have a chin cup, cradle or draw lace.
3. The chin strap must pass under the jaw and be attached to the harness by a quick release buckle.
4. The skull cap must not have metal hooks.
Fitting of skull cap
5.1 The skull cap must be of the correct size for the Rider and must be correctly fitted and fastened.
5.2 The face harness must be correctly adjusted and the chin strap fastened at all times when the Rider is mounted on a horse.
Design of safety vests
6. A safety vest must conform to (BS) EN 13158: 2009 or CSN EN 13158: 2009.
7. A safety vest must not be
PART 2
Whips
8. As regards a whip carried in a flat race
9. As regards a whip carried in a steeple chase or hurdle race
10. The minimum diameter for a whip is 1 centimetre.
11. The overall weight must not exceed 160 grams.
12. The contact area of the shaft must be smooth, with no protrusion or raised surface, and covered by shock absorbing material throughout its circumference such that it gives a compression factor of at least 6 millimetres.
13.1 The only additional feature that may be attached to a whip is a flap.
13.2 If a flap is attached, it must comply with the following requirements
18-04-2014
An historic Good Friday saw Musselburgh include a mixed amateur race in their first ever day’s racing on this Bank Holiday which resulted in a day to be remembered for amateur Hattie Heal. Having made the long journey from Somerset with her mother’s BALLYHEIGUE trained by Liam Corcoran for only her 5th ride under Rules, Hattie just held on to win by a short head in a thrilling finish. Many congratulations to connections.
16-04-2014
With the retirement of Nick Gaselee at the beginning of the year, the AJA are delighted to announce that former amateur rider Mrs Anthea Morshead is to join their board of directors made up of Dr Philip Pritchard (President), Bill Shand Kydd (Vice President), Bob Davies, Richard Dunwoody and Sara Moore (Company Secretary).
Clerk of the Course at Cartmel as well as Assistant Clerk at York Racecourse, Anthea said “It is an honour to have been asked to join the Board of the AJA, through whom I gained huge experience and had a lot of fun when I rode as an amateur. I look forward to helping the current and future amateur riders do the same.”
13-04-2014
Congratulations to amateur jockey Ross Birkett, son of Newmarket trainer Julia Feilden, who has set a new Guiness World Records title for the Fastest Marathon dressed as a jockey, reaching the finish line in 3 hours 8 minutes and 30 seconds.
This was a huge achievement for Ross, who broke his foot only 6 weeks ago! He wore breeches, silks, a helmet and goggles and had to carry a whip for the entire 26.2 miles and his time was incredible. Well done Ross!
08-04-2014
So far this year in this fantastic Ladies Pro/Am Arabian Series Great Britain has been represented in Oman (Michelle Edden), Australia (Aly Deniel won), St Moritz (professional Lucy Alexander 2nd) and Texas (Joanna Walton). The 5th race of 2014 takes place in Casablanca, Morocco on Friday 11th April and we will be represented by Serena Brotherton. The series then moves on to Toulouse a week later.
Conditions of this series now ask for ladies with at least 5 wins to be able to ride at 9 stone. Winners can be either Arab racing, point-to-pointing or under Rules, or a combination of these. Girls who have already ridden in the seres are ineligible. If you are eligible and would like to ride in this series please e-mail sph.oliver@btinternet.com as soon as possible.