Category: Jockey News
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.
07-04-2014
Our FEGENTRI representative 2011 Rachel King, who recently emigrated to work in Australia, was nominated by ARO for the Darley Ride of the Year 2013 and invited by Lara Sawaya to attend the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Darley Awards evening in Hollywood USA on 4th April.
To her delight, Rachel’s long journey was well worthwhile as she won! Many congratulations to Rachel on winning this prestigious award in recognition of her skills in the saddle. Huge thanks also to Lara Sawaya for her fantastic support of lady jockeys worldwide with her global ladies Arabian series which also strongly supports amateur clubs worldwide.
04-04-2014
The first of a 2-day race meeting was enjoyed in Oman today with the gentlemen’s race including GB Fegentri rider Freddy Tett. En route to the racecourse lunch was provided in a bedouin tent in the dessert.
Racing was followed by the Fegentri Gala Dinner in Muscat where Freddie Mitchell, last year’s gentleman representative for Great Britain, received his golden spurs for achieving the Fegentri World Championship for gentlemen.
04-04-2014
The Fegentri 2014 AGM was held in Al Bustan Palace in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, on Thursday 3rd April by kind invitation of Brigadier Abdul Razak Alshahwarzi, Commander of the Royal Cavalry, Oman. An opening ceremony presided over by the Sultan of Oman took place before the AGM when Fegentri President Madame Nathalie Bélinguier announced the recent sponsorship she had negotiated on behalf of Fegentri with Longines with a 5 year term. This sponsorship agreement asks for all host racecourses of Fegentri races worldwide to display Longines/Fegentri banners on-course and for winning horses to wear Longines/Fegentri rugs. 
All board members stood for re-election and with the retirement of France’s Baron Jean de Bretizel, France nominated their new amateur club President, Gérard de Chevigny. In addition Susan Leahy, President of the Irish Qualified Riders, put her name forward. After votes were cast, it was announced that all existing Board members stand (including Sarah Oliver of the AJA) and that Susan Leahy joins the Board for the new 3 year term. Many congratulations to Susan.
The Fegentri General Assembly will be hosted by Norway in 2015 and by Germany in 2016.
03-04-2014
A perfect preparation for Saturday’s Grand National bid with LONG RUN was enjoyed today by Sam Waley-Cohen when his new recruit WARNE carried him to victory in the Fox Hunter’s Chase.
Managing to avoid loose horses for most of the way around, WARNE gave a thrilling display leading from start to finish and passing the post 13 lengths ahead of last year’s winner, 14 year old TARTAN SNOW. Favourite MOSSEY JOE (winner of his last 5 races) finished in third place with his rider Damien Skehan picking up an 11 day whip ban.
This was a third success in this race for Sam, riding a horse purchased recently by his father Robert with three American friends who include Charlie Fenwick, the amateur who won the 1980 Grand National on BEN NEVIS.
Poignantly the victory resulted in the Waley-Cohen family being presented with the trophy that they themselves had presented to Aintree in memory of Sam’s brother. Thomas Waley-Cohen died aged 20 of bone cancer 10 years ago and Sam dedicated his success to him. Sam said “When we won the race with Katarino there was no owner’s trophy so we decided to give something in memory of Thomas. We have been trying to win it back ever since and I am so excited to be here and to have done that. Thomas lives and rides with me the whole time and it’s a great day.”
Downpatrick Trainer Brian Hamilton said that winning connections would probably bypass Punchestown now and aim for the Galway Plate. Many congratulations to them all.
17-02-2014
A nail-biting finish to the Amateur All-Weather Championship at Wolverhampton today was guaranteed with what has now become almost an annual tradition in the form of a battle between Serena Brotherton and Simon Walker for the title. Serena led the tables on 29 points with Simon not far behind on 26. However, after declarations on Saturday, Simon was jocked up to ride both favourites of each division but Serena had only one ride in the first. How drama then unfurled was beyond anyone’s imagination!
Simon duly won the first division for Richard Phillips with Fair Breeze, Serena finishing a length and a half behind in 2nd with Miles of Sunshine. The award of 5 points to Simon and 2 to Serena put them on level points going into the final race of the season, with Serena only able to sit it out in the weighing room and watch Simon ride the favourite. However, Simon was ultimately to be denied any points with Jamie Hamilton winning the 2nd division for James Given with Goldmadchen and Simon finishing 6th. The championship was therefore shared between the two for the first time in its history.
Many congratulations to our newly crowned All-Weather Champions Serena Brotherton and Simon Walker!
Picture credits: AJA
11-02-2014
Many congratulations to old adversaries Serena Brotherton and Simon Walker who continue their ding-dong battle to the line right up to the last race of the All Weather season for amateur jockeys which ends at Wolverhampton next Monday. Over the past few weeks both jockeys, who have regularly featured at the head of the tables in this championship as well as on turf, have fought for the lead position and their current ranking guarantees a thrilling climax to the amateur season:
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Miss Serena Brotherton
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5
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1
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2
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29
|
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Mr Simon Walker
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5
|
–
|
1
|
26
|
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Miss Hollie Doyle
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1
|
2
|
1
|
10
|
|
Mr Graham Carson
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1
|
1
|
1
|
8
|
|
Miss Jenny Powell
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
8
|
|
Mr Ross Birkett
|
1
|
1
|
–
|
7
|
|
Mr Phil Collington
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–
|
3
|
–
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6
|
|
Miss Katie Margarson
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1
|
–
|
1
|
6
|
|
* Nick Slatter
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1
|
–
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1
|
6
|
|
Miss Harriet Bethell
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1
|
–
|
–
|
5
|
|
Miss Becky Brisbourne
|
1
|
–
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–
|
5
|
|
Miss Laura Dempster
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1
|
–
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–
|
5
|
|
Miss Michelle Edden
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1
|
–
|
–
|
5
|
|
Mr Will Featherstone
|
1
|
–
|
–
|
5
|
|
Miss Rachel King
|
1
|
–
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–
|
5
|
01-02-2014
The 2nd race of 2014’s HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Arabian World Championships took place today. Many congratulations to ALYSON DENIEL who enjoyed a winning ride on Conderosa Millennium Silver whilst representing Great Britain in Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia (known locally as “The Heath”).
This was a fantastic achievement for GB! Many congratulations also to UAE representative Anoud Al Suwaldi finishing 2nd in only her 2nd ride and to France’s Blanche de Granvilliers finishing 3rd. It was announced by Lara Sawaya that 2 professional lady jockeys will have rides in each of the races for 2014 alongside amateur ladies.
Many thanks must go to His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak and Lara Sawaya for this incredible opportunity given to one of our lady jockeys to represent Great Britain abroad and many thanks also to Team NARA Australia and Caulfield Racecourse for hosting this race. The next race in the series will be for professional lady jockeys only racing on snow in St Moritz on 23rd February, followed by Texas on 8th March when we hope to receive an invitation for another of our lady amateur jockeys to participate.
28-01-2014
Many congratulations to Alex Dunn who enjoyed her first double of her training career at her local racecourse Taunton today with Helium and Come On Annie.
Riding against professionals, Alex had to adopt very different racing tactics to enjoy both successes. Her first win was the result of a battle to the line with runner-up Chesil Beach Boy and she had to work hard in a driving finish to force Helium’s head in front. By contrast, waiting tactics and immense patience allowed Come On Annie to pass her rivals including long time leader Midnight Request.
Alex said “We’ve now had 9 winners in the last year and things are going really well as all 16 boxes at the yard are full. Newmarket trainer Michael Bell is my cousin and I’m desperate to beat one of his in a Flat race one day, although we might struggle to have one good enough for that at the moment.”
Picture credits: AJA
