Category: Jockey News
20-03-2009
We are delighted to announce Bollinger’s 16th year of loyal patronage of The Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series for Gentleman Amateur Riders. The champagne house generously supply the winning rider and runner-up in the series with Bollinger champagne as well as the winning owner, trainer and rider of each individual Bollinger race.
This year the series consists of 12 races culminating in the finale at the prestigious Ascot Autumn Festival on Friday 25th September. The Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series has undoubtedly contributed towards improving standards of race riding for gentlemen amateur jockeys, honing their skills to allow them to give a more polished performance in the saddle.
The following dates have been agreed for this year’s series:
Friday 22nd May Newmarket (Rowley Mile)
Saturday 30th May York
Thursday 11th June Newbury
Wednesday 24th June Salisbury
Thursday 25th June Warwick
Monday 29th June Musselburgh
Friday 24th July Newmarket (July Course)
Monday 3rd August Royal Windsor
Wednesday 5th August Pontefract
Friday 21st August Chester
Tuesday 8th September Goodwood
Friday 25th September Ascot
Points are awarded on a “Grand Prix” style basis with 10 points for the winner, 6 for second, 4 for third and 2 for fourth. The winner of the championship is presented with a case of Bollinger champagne. Past winners of the series are:
1994 Paddy Pritchard Gordon 2002 Tom Best
1995 Richard Johnson 2003 Simon Walker
1996 Michael Mannish 2004 Simon Walker
1997 Tim McCarthy 2005 Simon Walker
1998 Charles Hills 2006 Barry McHugh
1999 Les Jefford 2007 Charlie Huxley
2000 Ryan Moore 2008 Joshua Moore
2001 Tom Scudamore
The AJA are most grateful to Bollinger, and especially Simon Leschallas, for their unstinting support and highly value their generous sponsorship.
15-03-2009
It was a great week for the amateurs, and especially for the ladies with 3 lady jockeys winning on Monday: Claire Allen (Stratford Hunterchase); Lucy Horner (Taunton) and Zoe Lilly (Plumpton).
Cheltenham’s first day on Tuesday saw Nina Carberry win the Cross Country on Garde Champetre for Enda Bolger (pictured below) whilst Nathan Moscrop won the Hunterchase at Sedgefield.
Wednesday’s Huntingdon card saw the 2nd of Home-Tek’s ladies hurdle series won by Georgina Andrews. At Cheltenham, our biggest amateur races of the season were as spectacular as ever with Sam Waley-Cohen winning the newly scheduled first race of Wednesday, the National Hunt Chase, on the Million in Mind’s Tricky Trickster for Nigel Twiston Davies (pictured below).
The final race of the day, Weatherbys Champion Bumper, was won by Brian O’Connell on Philip Fenton’s Dunguib (pictured below).
Will Biddick rode the biggest win of his career against professionals for Venetia Williams on Thursday with Something Wells (pictured below) winning the Freddie Williams Festival Plate.
The Kim Muir was won by Jamie Codd on Character Building for John Quinn (pictured below).
Oliver Greenall, currently in leading position in the Gentlemen’s Amateur NH Championship for this season, was very unfortunate in fracturing ribs, puncturing a lung and bruising his spleen in the Pertemps Final when his horse Heathcliffe hung badly coming into the straight and unshipped him. He is now home following a spell in hospital and we all wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back in the saddle.
Friday’s Christie’s Foxhunters was won by Richard Burton on Cappa Bleu for Sheila Crow (pictured below). Meanwhile at Fakenham Georgina Andrews rode her second win of the week in the Hunterchase.
And finally on Saturday, Lucy Horner enjoyed her second win of the week at Wetherby for Chris Grant, extending her lead in this season’s NH Ladies Championship and Edward Glassonbury enjoyed winning the last race of the day there and his first winner under Rules, the pro-am bumper.
What a week! Very many congratulations to all winning amateur jockeys!!
08-03-2009
Whip rules reminder for Cheltenham jockeys
3.36PM 8 MAR 2009
THE BHA on Sunday called on riders to obey racing’s whip instructions at the Cheltenham Festival, which suffered a public relations setback 12 months ago when nine jockeys were found guilty of transgressing the rulebook.
Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh and Robert Thornton were amongst those professional jockeys called before the stewards at last year’s Festival, after which the British Horseracing Authority and Professional Jockeys Association met to seek solutions to the problem.
BHA spokesman Paul Struthers said: “Jockeys need to ride within the rules. They know what the rules are and they will be reminded what the rules are. If they break them, a suspension may take the gloss off their achievements.”
The BHA’s Head of Stewarding, William Nunneley, will brief jockeys at the start of each day
PLEASE NOTE:
There is a risk of MISSING THE FOXHUNTERS AT AINTREE should a jockey pick up a big whip ban at Cheltenham!
The table below illustrates when the first date of suspension would be if picked up at Cheltenham. Bans commence on the 14th day after the suspension was imposed but Amateur jockeys only serve their bans on days when Amateur Jockeys races are scheduled to take place:
Offence taking place on Tuesday 10th March: First day 24th March: a ban of 7 days or more would result in missing the Foxhunters
Offence taking place on Wednesday 11th March: First ban 25th March: a ban of 6 days or more would result in missing the Foxhunters
Offence taking place on Thursday 12th March: First ban 26th March: a ban of 5 days or more would result in missing the Foxhunters
Offence taking place on Friday 13th March: First ban 27th March: a ban of 4 days would be automatically deferred away from a day when a Grade/Group 1 is scheduled.
05-03-2009
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Thinking about taking out your licence?
Already have your licence and looking to improve?
Then don’t get left behind…
The British Racing School in Newmarket is running a fully residential 3-day course for all aspiring amateur jockeys to include training with dedicated jockey coach Richard Perham and full use of their state of the art facilities.
Richard Perham, ex-professional jockey with a career total of over 450 winners, will help to significantly improve jockey’s position, balance and ability to ride a finish effectively using simulators, horses and video review techniques. “This course is ideal for those looking to take out their licence out and also any current amateur licence holder wanting to improve and get ahead of the game!” said Richard.
“Very encouraging and helpful. Facilities are fantastic and all staff are friendly” Anne, Course attendee
“Privileged to learn from Richard Perham as he is a real professional” Michael, Course attendee
“We can help improve your riding technique by using state of the art Dartfish Analysis Technology.”
The 3 day course involves:
- Riding at least 1 lot per day which is filmed and reviewed.
- Simulator training with our jockey coach, using the latest Dartfish technology
- Individual fitness assessment & advice to suit your needs.
- Diet & Nutrition advice from a leading sports nutritionist.
- Raceday / course procedures, BHA Security & Rules and Regulations
This annual course runs from 31st March to 2nd April 2009 and costs £450.00 inclusive of all tuition, food and accommodation.
For more information or to book a place on this course, please contact Clare Higgins on 01638 675907 or e-mail clare@brs.org.uk.
HURRY WHILE PLACES REMAIN AVAILABLE!
02-03-2009
With Simon Walker already safely retaining his All-Weather Championship for 2008/9 (with 26 points), today’s final two races at Wolverhampton determined the runner-up slot with an unusual final result.
The first division of Arena Leisure Catering’s race was won by Chris Martin, giving him his second win on the all-weather this season to share second place in the tables with Michelle Bryant, Oliver Greenall and Patrick Millman (all on 10 points).
The second division was won by Will Biddick, better known for his point-to-pointing and jump racing successes, which took his all-weather seasonal tally to 6 points. With none of today’s placed riders being top scorers this season, the runner-up slot for this season is shared for the first time ever by no less than 4 amateur jockeys, all on 10 points each!
Congratulations to everyone who has enjoyed riding a winner this season, and especially of course to Champion Amateur Jockey Simon Walker and the four championship runners up.
28-02-2009
Congratulations to Lucy Horner on her win on The Reverend at Kelso today in the hunterchase when only 4 of the original field of 10 managed to complete. Owned by The Reverend Fiona Sample, The Reverend completed a double in the week for Lucy who won Tuesday’s Home-Tek Ladies Hurdle at Catterick and takes her two ahead of her nearest rival Rachael Green to lead the ladies NH table with 6 wins so far this season.
27-02-2009
Reigning champion amateur Simon Walker has safely retained his All-Weather Championship title for 2008/9 with four winning rides this season (20 points) as well as 3 seconds (6 points) and with only one race of the season remaining, to be held at Wolverhampton on Monday next, 2nd March, he leads the table on 26 points, 16 ahead of his nearest rivals.
Very many congratulations to Simon, who has an incredible record on the dirt. He was Champion Runner-Up in 2004/5 (to Scott Dobson) and 2006/7 (to Simon Pearce) and has claimed this Championship no less than three times: in 2005/6, again in 2007/8 and now for the third time in 2008/9.
The battle is on for the runner-up slot with Michelle Bryant, Oliver Greenall and Patrick Millman all on 10 points each (2 wins each) and Ben Morris on 9 points. Ben Brisbourne and Joshua Moore are on 8 points and Marie King on 6 points. All will be decided in our last amateur race of this season on the All-Weather on Monday!
The 2008-2009 Amateur All-Weather Racing Championship
(from 23rd March 2008)
Results up to Sunday 22nd February 2009
NAME 1st (5 points) 2nd (2 points) 3rd (1 point) TOTAL
Mr Simon Walker 4 3 – 26
Miss Michelle Bryant 2 – – 10
Mr Oliver Greenall 2 – – 10
Mr Patrick Millman 2 – – 10
Mr Ben Morris 1 2 – 9
Mr Ben Brisbourne – 3 2 8
Mr Joshua Moore 1 1 1 8
Mrs Marie King 1 – 1 6
Miss Georgina Andrews 1 – – 5
Mr Kyle Apark 1 – – 5
Mr Scott Dobson – 2 1 5
Mr Jonathon Featherstone 1 – – 5
* Rhys Flint 1 – – 5
Miss Nicola Jefferson 1 – – 5
Mr Chris Martin 1 – – 5
Mrs Margaret Morris 1 – – 5
Mr Lee Newnes 1 – – 5
Miss Sally Randell 1 – – 5
Miss Emily Stead 1 – – 5
Mr Dale Swift 1 – – 5
Miss Chloe Boxall – 1 1 3
Mr Joseph Akehurst – 1 – 2
Miss Rebecca Bastiman – 1 – 2
Mr Alan Berry – 1 – 2
Miss Sarah-Jane Bradley – – 2 2
Miss Faye Bramley – 1 – 2
Mr David Byrne – 1 – 2
Miss Emma Folkes – 1 – 2
Miss Elizabeth George – 1 – 2
Miss Wendy Gibson – 1 – 2
Miss Alison Hutchinson – 1 – 2
Miss Emily Jones – 1 – 2
Mr Philip Thomas – 1 – 2
Miss Clare Twemlow – 1 – 2
Mr Will Biddick – – 1 1
Mr Ross Birkett – – 1 1
Miss Serena Brotherton – – 1 1
Mr Danny Cook – – 1 1
Miss Hayley Davies – – 1 1
Mr Donal Devereux – – 1 1
Mr Mikey Ennis – – 1 1
Mr David Eustace – – 1 1
Miss Stefania Gandola – – 1 1
Miss Gemma Gracey-Davison – – 1 1
Mr Stephen Harrison – – 1 1
Mr Sean McBride – – 1 1
Miss Hayley Moore – – 1 1
Mrs Miranda Roberts – – 1 1
Mr David Turner – – 1 1
Mr John Willey – – 1 1
* turned professional
24-02-2009
A maximum field of 16 runners went to post for new sponsor Home-Tek’s first ever sponsored ladies race at Catterick today. Their series was originally planned to be launched at Leicester in January but bad weather meant a rescheduling of the series which now includes Market Rasen to complete the five races.
Drama early on in the race saw Jacqueline Coward (pictured above) take a nasty fall when parting company with favourite Ras Laffan which knocked her unconscious. Lucy Horner capitalised on leading the field from early on and went on to extend her lead with the penultimate and final hurdles omitted and sprinted to the line to win by 6 lengths from Gemma Gracey-Davison in 2nd and Tina Jackson 3rd.
An air ambulance delayed racing by taking Jacqueline to nearby Middlesbrough Hospital and we all wish her a speedy recovery and swift return to the saddle. Many congratulations to Lucy Horner who now leads the ladies in the series which travels next to Huntingdon on 11th March.
11-02-2009
AJA Director Richard Dunwoody summitted Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the second highest of the seven summits (6,962 metres), and the highest mountain in the world outside Asia at the end of January. Aconcagua, which has already claimed the lives of six people this year, has only 40% atmospheric pressure at the top, meaning that altitude sickness is common.
Towards the summit up the ‘Canaleta’ route Richard was taking up to six breaths per step, the summit itself being a nine hour haul.
The expedition, led by polar adventurer, Henry Cookson, took 14 days with temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees centigrade.
Surprisingly, near the top at the same time were the owners of Boscean Chieftain a horse Richard won on three times in 1994!
This was Richard’s second attempt to conquer Aconcagua having first tried in 2003.
Richard said: “I’m delighted to have now finally achieved this with a great team of people and led by Henry Cookson, who did an excellent job in getting me to the top!”.
Richard will take on his next major challenge, for charity, in the UK in May 2009 this year.
For further information please contact Liz Ampairee info@lizampairee.com 0773 333 1945
10-02-2009
Currently sidelined with a broken collarbone, Racheal Kneller has been cheered up by the news that she has won The Stable Staff Association’s Champion Flat Jockey of 2008 award. With 2 winners and 5 placed horses from 16 rides in 2008, this is a tremendous achievement for Racheal and it is wonderful to see her receive the recognition that she so obviously deserves. Many congratulations to Racheal and get well wishes for a speedy recovery and return to the saddle!
