MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
24-12-2008
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL AJA MEMBERS!
Year: 2008
CHELTENHAM CHRISTMAS CRACKER CELEBRATES CHAMPIONS
18-12-2008
The weather may have stopped racing at Cheltenham on Saturday 13th December but nothing was going to stop the AJA Christmas party held at the racecourse that evening to celebrate our Champions who braved the floods to get there!
The Champions Line Up: Emily Jones, Serena Brotherton, Nick Scholfield, Amy Ryan, Vice President Dr Philip Pritchard, Alyson Deniel and Joshua Moore.
Nick Scholfield, Champion National Hunt Amateur Gentleman Jockey 2007/8, is interviewed by Luke Harvey and thanks Paul Nicholls for his support. Nick rode 20 winners in the season, one ahead of his nearest rival, the previous season’s Champion Thomas Greenall. With racing abandoned, the Champion National Hunt Amateur Lady Jockey for 2007/8, Rose Dobbin, was unable to attend. Rose was also awarded the President’s Prize for the year, having ridden the most winners of any other amateur jockey in the season with 21 wins.
Amy Ryan, Champion Flat Amateur Lady Jockey 2008, receives her Champion’s Trophy from AJA Vice President Dr Philip Pritchard. Amy rode 6 winners in the season, with the runner-up slot being shared by three lady jockeys with 4 wins each, those being Serena Brotherton (who also won the Bathwick Series), Alyson Deniel (who also won the Queen Mother’s Cup) and Emily Jones. Alyson was awarded the Weatherbys’ Flat Ride of the Year Award for her ride at York.
Many congratulations to all of our champions!
Further pictures of the evening can be viewed on the AJA Group on FACEBOOK.
ROLL OF HONOUR
ALL-WEATHER CHAMPIONSHIP 2007-2008
CHAMPION AMATEUR RIDER Simon Walker Nicola Jefferson
NATIONAL HUNT CHAMPIONSHIP 2007-2008
GENTLEMAN CHAMPION AMATEUR RIDER Nick Scholfield Thomas Greenall
LADY CHAMPION AMATEUR RIDER Rose Davidson Jacqui Kidd
FLAT TURF
CHAMPIONSHIP 2008
GENTLEMAN CHAMPION AMATEUR RIDER Simon Walker Joshua Moore
LADY CHAMPION AMATEUR RIDER Amy Ryan Serena Brotherton
Alyson Deniel
Emily Jones
WEATHERBYS PRIZE
(most memorable ride) 2008 NH: Charlie Huxley
FLAT: Alyson Deniel
PRESIDENT’S PRIZE 2008 Rose Davidson
DANNY AND GEMMA TAKE FEGENTRI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNER-UP SLOTS FOR GREAT BRITAIN
07-12-2008
Very many congratulations to both Danny Cook and Gemma Gracey-Davison who have both done fantastically this season in representing Great Britain in the FEGENTRI series.
Danny (pictured above (left) with Donal Macauley (IRELAND) (centre) and Paul-Henri de Quatrebarbes (FRANCE) (right)) ended the FEGENTRI season in the runner-up slot over jumps with Donal Macauley Fegentri World Champion for the gentlemen riders and Paul-Henri de Quatrebarbes taking the runner-up slot on the Flat. This was a fantastic achievement for Danny, especially considering that he missed the first Fegentri race of the season in Belgium as well as not taking part at either Sandown or Switzerland.
Gemma Gracey-Davison also did fantastically well (pictured on the right above in Mauritius yesterday), also finishing in the runner-up slot to Ireland with Nadine Forde taking the Ladies World Championship. Considering the demands made on both Danny and Gemma back home with their successful amateur careers in the UK, they have done magnificently and we are very grateful to them for being such excellent representatives for Great Britain.
YOUR AJA NEEDS YOU – at the AJA Christmas Party!
02-12-2008
STOP PRESS!! PRICES SLASHED 50%!!!!!
We are determined to have a great party on 13th December at Cheltenham Racecourse!!
SAVE 50% ON TICKETS NOW SELLING AT ONLY £20 EACH!!
SAVE ON COST OF DRESS HIRE – LOUNGE SUITS WILL DO!!
HURRY AND CALL O1886 884488 AND BOOK YOUR TABLES NOW BEFORE THEY ALL SELL OUT!!!!!
DEADLINE FOR TICKETS NEXT TUESDAY 9TH DECEMBER!!
Christmas Buffet Menu:
Traditional Roast Crown of Turkey with Christmas Trimmings and Rich Cranberry Gravy
Slow Braised Lamb Shank with Balsamic Glaze
Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Spinach, Shaved Parmesan and Toasted Pinenuts in a White Wine Sauce
Rosemary and Thyme Roasted Potatoes, Glazed Carrots, Shredded Brussels Sprouts
with Bacon Lardons and Onions, Baked Cauliflower Cheese
Chef’s Selection of Desserts
COME ALONG AND PARTY!!!
PHONE 01886 884488
OR 01933 304778
FRANCE INVADE FOLKESTONE!
02-12-2008
Since Folkestone Racecourse twinned with Pompadour Racecourse in SW France in 2006 both courses have taken pride in entertaining each other and celebrating the relationship at two meetings each year on either side of the Channel. This year Neil Mackenzie Ross, Folkestone’s Clerk of the course, added a new race to the card for English and French amateur jockeys, the Prix de Chateau de Pompadour Handicap Hurdle. Neil said, “We wanted to make a bit more of the Anglo/French theme and I thought that an amateur race for both English and French Jockeys would make a spectacle on the day. It was well supported at the entry stage, but I think the rain must have put off a few horses. However, the day was a great success and we intend to continue to build on this meeting”.
Photographed in the paddock before the race are: M Jean Cousteres (General Secretary, Le Club des Gentlemen-Riders et des Cavalières), Jean-Philippe Boisgontier, M Jean de Bretizel (Vice President, Le Club des Gentlemen-Riders et des Cavalières), Florent Guy, Cyril Coste, David Bellocq, Patrick Pailhes, Danny Cook, Brian Toomey.
French amateur jockey Cyril Coste rode his first winner outside France on DOCTORED, who was in front before the home bend and stayed on in the heavy ground to win by 21 lengths from fellow compatriate Patrick Pailhes on DRIZZI with Danny Cook for GB in third. Many congratulations to France on their victory and many thanks to Monsieur Francis Delord, President of Pompadour Racecourse, for his valuable sponsorship.
Nearly fifty supporters of Pompadour Racecourse made the journey to Folkestone where they have dual honorary membership. Emma Santer, General Manager at Folkestone Racecourse, said “Despite the cold weather and rain beforehand it all went really well. I think everyone enjoyed their stay and the French jockeys had a great time over the weekend! We have done a lot to raise awareness of Pompadour and have been receiving many enquiries about the return visit to Pompadour in July.”
If you would like to join the delegation who will be visiting Pompadour in July 2009, please contact Emma on 01303 266407.
AJA CHAMPIONS CHRISTMAS CHELTENHAM CRACKER! STRICTLY COME AJA DANCING SATURDAY 13TH DECEMBER!
27-11-2008
Make sure you are not disappointed by booking your tickets NOW (they are selling fast!) for our annual Champions Christmas Cracker to be held on Saturday 13th December in the Gold Cup Suite at Cheltenham Racecourse! TICKET HOTLINES: 01886 884488 OR 01933 304778
The Amateur Jockeys Association of Great Britain
request the pleasure of your company at their
champions christmas cracker
Saturday 13th December 2008
GOLD CUP SUITE
CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE
Amateur Champions Awards
Grand Auction
TICKETS @£20 EACH (WITH BUFFET).
COME AND CHEER YOUR CHAMPIONS AT THEIR NIGHT OF THE YEAR! LET’S PARTY! LET’S ROCK!
TICKET HOTLINE 01886 884488 OR CALL 01933 304778 NOW!! TABLES OF 10 AVAILABLE TO BOOK. HURRY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT (ROOM CAPACITY 350).
CHEQUES PLEASE TO BE MADE OUT TO AJA. TICKET APPLICATIONS CAN BE POSTED TOGETHER WITH PAYMENT PLEASE TO:
AJA, CREWS HILL HOUSE, ALFRICK, WORCESTER WR6 5HF
WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A NIGHT TO REMEMBER!
WINCANTON APPLAUDS ANTHONY KNOTT
20-11-2008
The second leg of the Hands and Heels Series proved to be a race to remember today at Wincanton. Congratulations to intrepid amateur jockey Anthony Knott on riding his first winner there after 28 years of trying!!
So thrilled was Anthony at the taste of success that he saluted the crowd yards before the finish on his way to passing the winning post. Riding Wise Men Say with extra long leathers, he made smooth headway to pass his rivals in the home straight and his emotions got the better of him after he found himself in the lead having jumped the final flight of hurdles.
Turning in the saddle to wave a fist at the crowd with delight, Anthony then rode a finish before crossing the line and receiving a rapturous reception in the winner’s enclosure where racegoers rushed to greet their new hero of the turf. Even though the Stewards had to give Anthony a 7 day ban for use of the whip in this Hands and Heels race, nothing could spoil this victorious day for the winning jockey. Many congratulations to Anthony on a day that he will never forget!
JASON MCKEOWN’S CHELTENHAM VICTORY SNATCH CAUSES CONTROVERSY!
20-11-2008
The opening race of Cheltenham’s Paddy Power weekend – The Irish Times Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase – was packed with incident and caused much discussion amongst the media to bring an interesting start to the weekend.
Jason McKeown is a familiar name to many of us, having won last year’s Fegentri World Championship for Ireland only a few points ahead of our own David Turner. Always at the rear, he survived a bad blunder at the first ditch on Hoopy, losing both his whip and an iron in the process; in fact both legs were the same side of the saddle for a short while. Still in the rear at the third last, Jason managed to persuade Donal Devereux to lend him his whip (Donal having already decided to pull up King Harald at that stage). Once given a crack, Jason and Hoopy soon began to make good progress to stay on strongly and win going away.
Ian Chanin, rider of the second, was advised by connections to lodge an objection which was subsequently overruled and the places remained unalterred. As Alan Sweetman reported in The Racing Post: “There is no doubt that there are particular aspects of jockeyship that provide a special thrill for the spectator, such as a rider executing a gravity-defying recovery from a bad jumping mistake, or coping with a failure of equipment such as a slipped saddle or the loss of irons.
Sometimes, you see the genuinely unorthodox, and there was a case in point in Friday’s opener when Jason McKeown, who lost his whip when his mount Hoopy made a mistake early on, took a leaf out of the Lester Piggott manual by ‘borrowing’ another rider’s stick at a vital stage, helping to secure a victory against the odds.One could, of course, take a disapproving view of his action as irresponsible and possibly unfair, but the Cheltenham stewards adopted a more benign and sensible approach by giving him what was basically a token two-day suspension.It was an incident that added an extra bit of colour to an eventful day, and while one would not want this sort of thing to become commonplace, it was heartening to see there was no official overreaction.”
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FLAT AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALISED AT LAST!
08-11-2008
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Amy Ryan and Simon Walker for their tremendous achievements in winning the Amateur Lady Flat Jockey and Amateur Gentleman Flat Jockey Championships for 2008.
Amy ended the season with 6 wins, 2 ahead of her nearest rivals – past dual winning Lady Amateur Flat Champion and this year’s Bathwick Champion Serena Brotherton, Alyson Deniel and Emily Jones – who all were on the 4 winner mark each and share the runner-up slot.
Simon’s season ended with a winners total of 4, one ahead of his nearest rival Joshua Moore (Bollinger Series winner 2008) with 3 wins, and Joshua has therefore secured himself the gentlemen’s runner-up slot for 2008. This is a great achievement for Simon Walker, being his 4th amateur Flat title in the last 5 years.
MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CHAMPIONS
AND TO EVERY AMATEUR JOCKEY WHO HAS RIDDEN A WINNER THIS SUMMER – WELL DONE TO YOU!!
Serena Brotherton wins again but Alyson Deniel takes Sawfish Software’s Ladies Series 2008
29-10-2008
It was no coincidence that Ginny Hull, Marketing Executive of Sawfish Software, picked out James Given’s Dream of Olwyn in the paddock for the best turned out prize today at Nottingham for the Sawfish Software Ladies Series finale.
The filly was clearly feeling well and always travelling to give a dream ride to Serena Brotherton (shown above after passing the post), taking it up as they turned into the home straight and maintaining her gallop to scorch home clear of the remainder.
This win gave Serena valuable points in Steve Hull’s Sawfish Software Series, but not enough to deny Alyson Deniel retaining her lead to take home the series trophy.
Many congratulations to Alyson and to Serena, and a huge thank you to Steve Hull and Sawfish Software for such an exciting end to the season for the ladies with this series now having completed its second year.
Only one race now remains for this season, that being a mixed race at Musselburgh on 7th November.