20-02-2008
Thanks to the kind co-operation of both the BHA’s Racing Planning and Sedgefield Racecourse, we have been very lucky in having the lost fixture (ground frozen) of 19th February rescheduled, now to take place on 8th April and become the 5th of the 6 races in the series.
The series now looks like:
|
15th November
|
Taunton |
| 13th December |
Ludlow |
| 20th December |
Exeter |
|
19th February
|
Sedgefield LOST |
| 22nd March |
Newton Abbot |
| 8th April |
Sedgefield (rescheduled) |
| 23rd April |
Perth FINALE |
and the points table can be viewed within our Championship tables.
14-02-2008
Many congratulations to Wendy Gibson who rode her first flat winner in Ipoh, Malaysia, on 8th February, just beating her compatriate Laura Gray! Both lady riders had a wonderful trip out to KL and many thanks as always to the Malaysia Amateur Racing Association for their wonderful hospitality. It was great to see Laura bounce back after her horrific fall at Wolverhampton in December from which she miraculously escaped unscathed.
Congratulations also to Tom Weston who will be the gentleman representative for Great Britain for 2008 alongside Gemma Gracey-Davison who will represent the ladies. Gemma will enjoy her first race of the season in Qatar at the end of February when the Fegentri General Assembly will be held in Doha. David Turner will be attending to collect his silver spur for his fantastic achievement in 2007 by winning the Fegentri Gentleman Flat World Championship and the AJA board will be represented by Dr Philip Pritchard.
Great Britain will be hosting 4 Fegentri races in 2008 as follows:
Friday evening 6th June (Ladies Night) DONCASTER Ladies Flat Race
Sunday 13th July STRATFORD-ON-AVON Gentlemen’s Hurdle Race
Sunday 24th August GOODWOOD World Cup of Nations Race
Saturday 30th August SANDOWN Gentlemen’s Derby
Don’t forget – if you are interested in representing Great Britain and enjoying a ride abroad, please contact Sarah Oliver. For invitation races (of which there are a few per year) there is no criteria, although you cannot be considered unless you have some experience. Point-to-pointing experience can be taken into account. For Fegentri races (which earn points for the Fegentri scoreboard) you must have ridden a minimum of 5 wins under Rules and/or Arab racing, and point-to-point wins can only be of help.
14-02-2008
The AJA are delighted to announce that the BHA have very kindly agreed to offer AJA members 25 complimentary places per year on the Category B course as from April 2008.
The strict criteria for applicants remains intact and applicants will be treated on a first come first served basis. The ruling of 15 complete rides over obstacles under Rules or 20 placed point-to-point rides or a combination of the two will be enforced rigorously. Please note that all bookings must come through the LICENSING DEPARTMENT at the BHA.
We hope that this will take care of every AJA member’s needs and it is excellent to know that nobody’s career will be hindered in future by the high costs (£731 per person) of this course.
We are of course extremely grateful to the BHA for their loyal support of amateur riders.
07-02-2008
Following her move from Exeter to Odstock Spinal Injuries Unit near Salisbury on 21st January, Sarah Gaisford is getting on well with adapting to her new way of life.
Please give Sarah some moral support and send her a card at:
Avon Ward,
Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre
Salisbury District Hospital
Salisbury
Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
For a regular update on Sarah’s progress, visit the blog kindly set up by Lucy Johnson.
Please log onto friendsofsarahgaisford.blogspot.com
Plans are soon to be announced of a major fund raising campaign for Sarah involving every member of the AJA throughout Great Britain! Watch this space and see if YOU can help to make a difference to helping Sarah’s future.
