Category: Jockey News
20-01-2010
Applications are invited from all UK amateur riders to represent Great Britain and ride in the Fegentri series 2010.
In 2008 both our chosen riders, Danny Cook and Gemma Gracey-Davison, were Fegentri World Vice Champions and in 2009 Claire Allen followed in Gemma’s footsteps and also achieved this status which was a tremendous achievement. (Unfortunately Ian Chanin, our 2009 Gentleman representative, was unable to complete the 2009 series through injury but still managed to take 4th place.) Both Claire and Ian are best known for their point-to-point successes and they both rode their first Flat winners abroad and thoroughly enjoyed the whole Fegentri experience. Danny and Gemma have now turned professional but regard their unique experiences with Fegentri as greatly beneficial to their future careers.
All ladies Fegentri races are on the Flat but the gentlemen’s races include a few over hurdles and fences so lads must have some jump wins under their belts, preferably under Rules. You will need an understanding guv’nor and strong home support as Fegentri demands regular weekend trips abroad. All thoughts of turning professional will have to wait until the end of the Fegentri season (October for men, December for ladies). You must have 5 wins under Rules to your credit but consideration will be given to Point-to-Point and Arab wins. You must be able to do 9 stone for ladies and 10 stone for lads. All expenses will be met by the AJA.
If you think Fegentri is something that you would enjoy and would like to be considered, please complete the Fegentri application form below and return it to the AJA. You can also contact Sarah Oliver with any queries by e-mailing sph.oliver@btinternet.com or calling 01886 884488. Application forms have been posted out to all AJA members so that those without internet access will not be ignored. All applicants will be kept on file for consideration for all future invitation races and also for future representation. Applications for 2010 close on 31st January.
Application Form FEGENTRI 2010
07-01-2010
| Friday |
Bangor |
Abandoned |
|
Fontwell |
Abandoned |
|
Lingfield |
AW – Standard; “track is raceable and the forecast is favourable”; INSPECTION 6.30am FRIDAY |
|
Southwell |
AW – Slow |
|
Wolverhampton |
AW – Standard; snow has been removed from track which is being worked; INSPECTION 8.30am FRIDAY |
| Saturday |
Sedgefield |
Abandoned |
|
Wincanton |
Abandoned |
|
Punchestown |
Abandoned |
|
Ffos Las |
Abandoned |
|
Kempton |
AW – Standard |
|
Lingfield |
AW – Standard |
| Sunday |
Hereford |
Abandoned |
|
Leopardstown |
Abandoned |
|
Southwell |
AW – Slow |
| Monday |
Ayr |
Abandoned |
|
Taunton |
Abandoned |
|
Wolverhampton |
AW – Standard |
|
Kempton |
AW- additional fixture |
| Tuesday |
Leicester |
Track frozen and covered in snow; forecast to remain very cold and frosty with snow showers |
|
Newcastle |
One foot of snow on course at present, with odd snow showers expected; likely to remain cold for next four days; INSPECTION 12pm SUNDAY |
|
Lingfield |
AW – additional fixture |
|
Southwell |
AW – Slow |
| Wednesday |
Doncaster |
Snowbound and cold temperatures are forecast to continue; “prospects do not look good” |
|
Kelso |
15 inches of snow on the course; temperatures reached a low of -12°C on Wednesday night. Inspection likely on Monday morning |
|
Southwell |
AW – additional fixture – all-bumper card |
|
Kempton |
AW – Standard |
|
Lingfield |
AW – Standard |
| Thursday |
Catterick |
Course covered in eight inches of snow; forecast to remain very cold with a few snowshowers |
|
Towcester |
Course frozen solid and covered with five inches of snow; forecast to remain cold with severe overnight frosts and low daytime temperatures |
|
Thurles |
Track still frozen and unraceable; hoping temperatures will begin to rise after the weekend; “running the hurdle races and a bumper on Thursday and six chases on Friday as the chase track will need longer for the frost to come out of the ground” |
|
Southwell |
AW – Slow |
|
Wolverhampton |
AW – Standard |
26-12-2009
The exciting Long Run, having his first run in this country following a fantastic early career in France, made little of the opposition to take the Feltham Novices Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day under Sam Waley-Cohen riding for his father Robert.
The 4 year old, having already enjoyed 2 Grade I successes amongst his victories in France, was enjoying his first run for trainer Nicky Henderson and in spite of some jumping errors which included misjudging the penultimate fence, he pinged the last to score by 13 lengths.
Sam Waley-Cohen said after the race “He’s a fantastic horse, a really good horse and an exciting horse, its good to be on him.”
24-12-2009
22-12-2009
CHELTENHAM has added another race to the third day of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival with a charity Flat race for lady riders joining the six scheduled races.
The race will take place following Thursday’s scheduled races headed by the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and the money raised will go towards this year’s chosen sponsor for Ladies’ Day, Cancer Research UK.
Georgie Browne, partner of Paul Nicholls, is one of those scheduled to compete and she said: “I am thrilled to be Ladies’ Day Ambassador for 2010 and riding in a Flat race will be one of the highlights of what I am sure will be a memorable day.”
Applications are being taken for the 1m5f race, which will have a maximum of 12 runners and is open to any lady riders, licensed or not, providing they raise a minimum of £5,000 in sponsorship each.
For race conditions and an application form please e-mail Sarah Oliver @ sph.oliver@btinternet.com or call 01886 884488. Applications close on 15th January 2010.
17-12-2009
Congratulations to Oliver Murphy who kicked home his first career winning ride at Bangor yesterday on his mother’s LIFE LONG in the bumper.Congratulations also to Laura Griffiths today at Exeter when enjoying her first career win in the opening Handicap Hurdle, storming home on Steve Curran’s CAPTAIN SMOOTHY.
06-12-2009
Many congratulations to Claire Allen who has retained Great Britain’s runner-up slot in the Fegentri Ladies World Championship which was won last year by Gemma Gracey-Davison. The ladies 2009 Fegentri season concluded in the heat of Mauritius today whilst many AJA members were enjoying the cooler environs of the point-to-point at Cottenham, more usually associated with Claire who was National Ladies Point-to-Point Champion in 2007.
This year’s Fegentri Ladies World Championship was won by Nadine Gratz of Germany with Catherine Burri of Switzerland in third place.
Many congratulations to Germany on sweeping the board with both World Championships, Marian Weissmeier having won it for the gentlemen and in so doing becoming the youngest ever German amateur to do so. Meanwhile GB’s gentleman representative Ian Chanin continues to recuperate from his broken leg and hopes to return to the saddle in February.
From left: Susanna Santesson (General Secretary Fegentri), Nadine Gratz (Germany), Claire Allen (GB), Catherine Burri (Switzerland), Nathalie Belinguier (President Fegentri)
26-11-2009
Reigning NH Amateur Champion Lady Jockey LUCY HORNER has been forced to hang up her boots for the foreseeable future owing to an old eye injury. Lucy rode 11 winners last season to take the ladies title, 4 ahead of Rose Dobbin from whom she took the lady jump jockey’s crown.
With not only a career total of 28 jump wins under her belt in Great Britain but also wins over timber in the United States and in cross-country races in France (Le Touquet and Dieppe), Lucy has made a great success of her amateur career in a variety of climes.Chris Grant’s TOM’S TOYBOX was one of Lucy’s most high profile rides, giving her three wins and 4 placed rides last season. Lucy remembers her greatest day’s racing when she had the opportunity to ride and be placed in a Grade II Chase and says it was “nice to mix it with the big boys”.
We all wish Lucy every good wish for the future and hope that with the advancement of medical science the day will come when she might be able to consider a return to race riding.
25-11-2009
Thanks to a request from the AJA, we are delighted to report that the BHA have very kindly agreed to increase the current Category B course funding of 26 places per year to 36 places per year (to be completed at either the British Racing School (Newmarket) or The Northern Racing College (Doncaster)) as from 2010.
This is really welcome news to all aspiring Cat A amateur jockeys with an eye to progressing their riding careers and we are most grateful to the British Horseracing Authority and to both racing colleges for all of their help and support.
25-11-2009
Weatherbys have announced Sam Twiston-Davies and Georgina Andrews as Gentleman and Lady Amateur Jockey Newcomers of the Year and the Veteran Amateur Jockey of the Year prize for 2009 is awarded to Anthony Knott for his memorable win at Wincanton which received media attention worldwide.
In addition the AJA President’s Prize 2009 is awarded to Will Biddick for his triumph against professionals at the Cheltenham Festival with Something Wells.
Award winners will be presented with their prizes at the AJA Christmas Craic at Elcot Park, Newbury on Saturday evening for which tickets are still available at £25 per head (which includes a 3-course dinner) by simply calling 01886 884488.
