AMATEUR JUMP SEASON ROUNDS OFF AT STRATFORD

23-05-2009

The light may have been fading when Oliver Greenall and Danny Cook received their champagne from AJA Vice President Dr Philip Pritchard at Stratford this evening but the two stars of this year’s National Hunt amateur season have bright futures to look forward to.  Having turned conditional only 3 weeks ago, our NH Champion amateur runner-up (and current Fegentri World Champion runner-up) Danny Cook has already clocked up 5 wins as a professional, the latest being last night at Stratford.  

Meanwhile, Oliver’s winning streak has been unstoppable and he also enjoyed a winner last night in the Novice Hunter Chase on Dennis the Legend.   This brought his winning tally for the season to 30, a fantastic total and a huge achievement considering that Oliver never set out to win the Championship this season, but has picked up from where his elder brother Thomas left off.

(Interestingly, Thomas achieved the same amount of winners to claim his first NH Championship in 2004/5 and took the championship last season with 25 wins.  Having concentrated this season on point-to-pointing, Thomas is currently leading that national championship with Dave Mansell in close pursuit and currently only 4 wins behind him.)

Our lady NH champion amateur jockey for this season, Lucy Horner, is currently sidelined with concussion and was therefore unable to collect her champagne in person, as was Rose Dobbin, reigning champion amateur lady jockey and this year’s runner up who has now retired from the saddle to enjoy turning her attention to training.

Many congratulations to our fantastic champions Oliver and Lucy, their runners up Danny and Rose, and all our members who have enjoyed riding winners this season.  It was also excellent to see Jacqueline Coward at Stratford, who is making a slow but excellent and steady recovery from her head injury sustained at Wetherby back in the spring.  Jacqueline has her shoulder operated on next week, as does Dickie Barrett.  Good luck to all our members who are awaiting surgery or getting over injuries of which there seem to have been more than usual this season – get well soon and we all wish you a speed return to the saddle!

END OF SEASON AT STRATFORD WILL CELEBRATE OLIVER GREENALL AND LUCY HORNER AS NEW AMATEUR JUMP JOCKEY CHAMPIONS

21-05-2009

Lucy Horner has had a great season totalling 11 jump wins so far and being currently 5 clear of her nearest rival, reigning champion Rose Dobbin, Lucy’s championship looks safe.  There could be a battle on for the runner-up slot and Saturday evening’s fixture at Stratford will determine the final placings.

Oliver Greenall can also relax a little, with an impressive season behind him totalling 29 wins to date and is so far ahead of his nearest rival that no one can worry him.  This is a tremendous achievement after his nasty Cheltenham injury and follows Oliver’s previous season’s record breaking point-to-point feat.  Danny Cook remains well clear of the remaining winning jockeys this season to secure himself the runner-up slot.

 Many congratulations to everyone who has ridden a winner this season and especially to our new champions, Oliver and Lucy!

HOME-TEK GIVES ROSE HER CENTURY!

21-05-2009

Today saw not only the finale of the Ladies Home-Tek Hurdle Series at Wetherby with the series winner being rising amateur star Gina Andrews but also current champion lady amateur Rose Dobbin ride her 100th and final winner under Rules.  Rose announced her retirement following this spare ride (replacing this season’s soon-to-crowned amateur lady NH champion Lucy Horner who is currently sidelined with concussion).

Rose’s tally of 100 winners includes point-to-points and she hopes to have one more ride in a point-to-point at Hexham later this month, and then retire from the saddle to concentrate on her training career.

Rose said “I rode my first winner here at Wetherby on Ho Pang Yau in 2004.  I’ve had lots of great moments since then, notably beating the boys to become the leading amateur last year, two winners at Cheltenham and also a second at the Festival, and winning the Lanzarote on Rayshan.”

Many congratulations to Gina on winning this series and many thanks to Jamie Lennox and Home-Tek International for their generous sponsorship.  The top lady jockeys in the Home-Tek Hurdle Series 2009 are:

AJA AGM

01-05-2009

Members of the AJA are invited to attend the AGM which will be held on Monday 8th June at Weatherbys at 11.30 am.  Please advise if you are able to attend in order that catering can be arranged for you. 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF 

THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATIONOF GREAT BRITAIN LIMITED (‘THE AJA’)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2009 Annual General meeting of the AJA will be held on Monday 8th June at 11.30 am at Weatherbys, Sanders Road, Wellingborough, Northants. NN8 4BX when the following ordinary business will be considered:

1. to receive apologies for absence
2. to consider and if thought fit to approve and confirm the Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and to authorise the President to sign them
3. to receive and consider the report of the directors
4. to receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive
5. to receive and consider and if thought fit to pass a resolution adopting the accounts for twelve months ending 31 December 2008.  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
6. to consider and if thought fit to pass a resolution electing directors.

(a)  The following director retires at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with Regulations 26.1 and 26.2 and offers himself for re-election:

Nick Gaselee (nominated by Gay Kindersley and seconded by Ian Balding) 

Should any other person wish to stand for election as a director he or she is referred to the provisions of regulation 27

7 to re-appoint Dr L A Cotterill as auditors and to authorise the directors to fix their remuneration

Dated:  1st May 2009

By order of the board

……………………………………..

Sara Moore

Company Secretary

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.

DANNY COOK SUBMITS TO OLIVER GREENALL IN CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE

28-04-2009

Having represented Great Britain and become Fegentri World Champion Runner-Up last year, Danny Cook has enjoyed pole position most of this jump season in the amateur tables.  That was before Oliver Greenall warmed to the task and they have played a game of cat and mouse streets ahead of their rivals, being the only two gentlemen jockeys to earn double figures this season.  Two weeks ago Danny was on 18 wins and Oliver 17.  That was before a fantastic fortnight for Oliver during which Danny had to sit out a 12 day ban (following the Huntingdon wrong course incident) and watch from the sidelines as Oliver  has ridden 6 winners including Amicelli at Cheltenham and a double at Perth which included Laertes in the Highlands National.

Unable to call upon the horsepower of his fellow jockey to give a sustained battle to the line, Danny has decided to turn professional before the end of the season and takes out his professional licence today.  We wish him good luck in his professional capacity.  It is excellent to see the amateur route provide a schooling ground for such a talented and promising jockey.

Meanwhile, with Oliver’s nearest rival now being Donal Devereux on 9 winners, it looks likely that we should all be offering many congratulations to Oliver on his tremendous achievement, especially considering the nasty injury he sustained recently at Cheltenham when bruising his spleen.  The champions will be presented with their usual magnums of champagne at Stratford on Saturday 23rd May.  Lucy Horner  currently leads the ladies on 11 winners, her nearest rivals being  Georgina Andrews and Rose Dobbin on 5.

AJA SPONSORED RACES HELP JOCKEYS TRAVEL!

21-04-2009

The AJA were delighted to kick start this year’s flat season for amateur jockeys with races at Doncaster on Sunday 29th March for gentlemen jockeys and on Saturday 18th April for the ladies.

With KING’S RANSOM (Trevor Woodside) taking a very long lead from early on, DIRECTOR’S CHAIR (Ross Birkett) was always up with the leading bunch and was ready to pounce when KING’S RANSOM started to come back to the field.  DIRECTOR’S CHAIR responded to his jockey’s driving and dug deep to hold on from the late challenge of runner up TOP SEED with KING’S RANSOM back in third. 

This was an important win for Ross as it was his 5th win under Rules and therefore qualifies him to enjoy riding abroad in Fegentri races, which was also enjoyed a few years ago by his mother, trainer Julia Feilden.

By coincidence, the result of the ladies 7f race on Saturday was also of significance for the winning rider Wendy Gibson.  SMARTY SOCKS came off the pace and kept on well on the firmish ground to lead inside the final furlong and make an interesting day for his owner who was also in the middle of moving house!   This also gave Wendy her 5th win in her career and both Ross and Wendy will now represent Great Britain in Baden-Baden, Germany, on 16th May in the Fegentri World Cup of Nations when they will wear the unique Union Jack silks.  Many congratulations to them both!

THE THRILLS AND SPILLS OF RACING

07-04-2009

Get well soon to Andrew Kinirons who unfortunately sustained a broken leg in the novice chase at Market Rasen on Sunday when only one horse safely negotiated the first fence safely and was gifted the race, finishing alone from the 4 runner field.  Andrew was operated on yesterday in Lincoln and we all wish him a good recovery.

The previous weekend Andrew (based with Sue Smith) together with Ruth Jefferson represented Great Britain in Pisa in the Fegentri World Cup of Nations where they finished 4th and 6th respectively.

TRUST FUND REPAYS GREENALL WITH VICTORY IN FOXHUNTERS

02-04-2009

Thomas Greenall followed in his father’s footsteps today and enjoyed the most prestigious of his career wins at his family’s local course when winning the Foxhunters at Aintree. A field of 29 went to post and, with no fallers at the first, Strong Weld and Brooklyn Breeze took them along at a strong gallop on the lively ground.  With 20 horses completing, nine of the runners were still there with a chance at the penultimate fence.

 Richard Barber’s 11 year old Trust Fund had crept into contention to lead two out and responded gamely to Thomas Greenall’s niggling to stave off the late challenge of Claire Allen and last year’s winner Christy Beamish, who finished four lengths away a gallant second.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL AJA MEMBERS FOR AINTREE!

30-03-2009

Car passes will be posted out to all AJA members riding at Aintree following declarations.  

Please note that the address held at Weatherbys AJA Membership Desk will be used unless otherwise advised so please call the AJA if you have moved recently and make sure that your records are updated!!

Good luck to all amateur jockeys! 

Danny Cook makes it a double at Plumpton

23-03-2009

With the start of the Flat season looming and a welcome addition to the gentlemen’s calendar kicking off the season on Sunday next at Doncaster, interest in the NH Championships intensified today when Danny Cook rode a beautifully executed double at Plumpton for the second time in his career.  His first visit to the winner’s enclosure was on the winner of the seller, Mrs Young’s Strategic Plan, and then for his guv’nor David Pipe he took the 3 mile Handicap Chase on Freeze Up.  This closes the gap on current leader Oliver Greenall, currently sidelined following his nasty fall at Cheltenham, to one, with Oliver still retaining the lead in the Championship table with 17 winners.

Meanwhile Lucy Horner extended her lead on her rivals in the Ladies Championship last week with a winner taking her total tally so far this season to 9 winners, 5 ahead of her nearest rival Rachael Green.