THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN

Category: General News

RENEWAL OF AMATEUR RIDERS’ PERMITS

10-07-2004

Amateur Riders are reminded that Permits to ride expired on 30th June 2004. They are also reminded that the Jockey Club Assessment of Concussion protocol requires them to have a baseline test carried out at a regional testing centre.

Details of the protocol and regional centres have been sent to all current riders and those who have not yet undergone a baseline test should arrange an appointment without further delay. Applications will not be considered unless the rider has undergone the baseline test.

Application forms for Permits are available from The Licensing Department, The Jockey Club Office, 42 Portman Square, London. W1H 6EN Tel: 020 7343 3237 Fax: 020 7935 8703 E-mail: dbrett@thejockeyclub.co.uk

If you have any queries, please call Sarah Oliver or Sandy Murphy.

SUPPORT SPINAL INJURIES AT BRIGHTON ON TUESDAY!

10-07-2004

The AJA are helping to organise another charity race in aid of Spinal Injuries, this time at Brighton on Tuesday 13th July.

The race will take place at 5.30 pm at the end of the card and all proceeds from the sponsored riders will go towards Spinal Injuries.

NICKI WILSON MAKES IT THREE OUT OF THREE!

25-06-2004

Riding three winners on three different horses at three different racecourses in three consecutive days must be every amateur jockey’s dream, and this is exactly what Nicki Wilson achieved!After her winning ride last Saturday night at Warwick, Nicki said what a difference it made to ride the horses in their work at home so that she could get to know them well. Many congratulations to trainer Noel and to wife and amateur jockey Nicki!

BUCKS FIZZY START FOR BOLLINGER

23-06-2004

The first of this year’s 11 races of the Bollinger series was won in fine style by Michael Murphy at Newmarket on 5th June aboard BUCKS. Only three and a half years after taking up riding, Michael was recording his first every victory at his 32nd attempt. Michael said “I shall have to see but I may well retire now as I always said I would quite the saddle once I’d got a winner. The problem is once you have had a winner you think again!”The second race of the series, on 10th June at Newbury, was won by James Best on SANVIOVESE, who kept on finding more up the straight and won by 1 1/2 lengths from Simon Walker on EASTBOROUGH.Next Monday 28th June sees the 3rd race of the series at Musselburgh.

SARA CUMANI ENJOYS YORK!

22-06-2004

Francesca Cumani, wearing her mother’s colours, and finishing in 6th place, could only enjoy the rear view of her mother Sara fighting out the closest of finishes to win by a head from Court of Appeal (Lorraine Ellison) with Stallone (Nicola Wilson) 3/4 length in third.

Mephisto battled home in great style for Sara, earning hers the traditional perk of her weight in champagne, kindly sponsored by Pol Roger, which amounted to 36 bottles!

Sara rode in the colours made famous by Kilmore winning the Grand National in 1962.

HIGH DRAMA FOR BATHWICK TYRES!

22-06-2004

Although Gwen has ridden in point-to-points, she enjoyed her first ever success on her debut ride on the flat at Bath, always prominent on High Drama. The day got off to a good start when the horse won the best turned out, and things only got better for Gwen with High Drama, who stayed on well to win by 3/4 of a length from Hannah Grissel on Harik, with Emma Folkes 1/2 length back in third with Noble Calling.

CHARITY RACES HELP CHARITIES

21-06-2004

The weather was kind to us at firstly Newbury on Thursday 10th June and then Doncaster three days later, when the final race of each card was the charity race. As in previous years, the AJA were responsible for helping to organise these charity races.

Thursday’s race saw Catherine Dettori take the spoils on board Barney Curley trained Cristoford in Catherine’s first ever ride on the racecourse, cheered on by husband Frankie. Joining Catherine in raising money for Spinal Injuries, Spinal Research and Retraining of Racehorses were David Arbuthnot, Gerry Chesneaux, Maxine Cowdrey, Robin Gray, Georgina Hammond, Ian Lawrence, Leon Nurse, Jamie Osborne, Mark Thurgood, Peter Wegmann and Jo Winter.

3 days later, Jamie Osborne and Peter Wegmann gamely donned their racing silks again to raise yet more money, this time in aid of not only Spinal Injuries but also Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice and the Rehabilitation of Racehorses at Doncaster. They were joined by Mark Buckley, Scott Dixon, Ann Duffield, Jayne Gollings, Vicki Hall, Mark Lowry, Derek Shaw, Stephen Swiers and John Wainwright. It was a very tight finish with Scott taking 3rd place behind Jayne, with Stephen Swiers taking the honours.

Final figures are yet to be calculated for both days, but it is hoped that we will have raised over £150,000 overall for very worthwhile charities. Many thanks to all those who helped to make these days possible.

IMPORTANT NEW WHIP RULES FOR NH AMATEUR JOCKEYS!

27-05-2004

May 2004

TO: ALL AMATEUR JOCKEYS RIDING UNDER NH RULES FROM: DR PETER WEBBON, VETERINARY DIRECTOR

IMPORTANT NOTICE – PLEASE READINSTRUCTION H8 – WHIPS

As you are all now aware, shock absorbing whips have been mandatory in jump racing since last October. Only those designs approved by the Jockey Club’s Whip Panel are permitted for use. The panel is comprised of representatives of the Jockey Club (Paul Barton), JAGB (Mick Fitzgerald) and the National Equine Welfare Council (David Muir of the RSPCA).

Last year the Panel met at Kempton to carry out checks and weigh all the whips in use that day. It became apparent that the majority of whips supplied by David Matthews were overweight and lacked the shock-absorbing characteristics of the design he had earlier submitted to the Whip Panel for approval. In March David Matthews appeared before the Disciplinary Panel. He was found to have brought racing into disrepute and fined as a result of his manufacturing whips and marking them with an approval number in the full knowledge that they were not of the same standard as his approved design.

As I said when I wrote to you in September last year, the revised design and the establishment of the Whip Panel represented a potential breakthrough for racing with regards to nullifying criticism of the use of the whip in racing. However, this has been put in jeopardy by the whips supplied to jockeys which do not meet the standard of those approved by the panel. Consequently, we have been given no option but to tighten up our checking procedures and to further clarify Instruction H8 which deals with the design of approved whips.

The amended Instruction came into effect at the start of the 2004-5 jumps season. It stipulates that:- the maximum weight for a whip is 160gms.- the shock absorbing material must have a compression factor of at least 6mm.- the contact area of the whip must be smooth with no protrusion or raised surface (such as stitching of lettering.

To ensure that the whips in use meet the specifications laid down in the Instruction, Clerks of Scales will periodically check on whips using a set of callipers (to test the compression) and a set of scales.

If, once the Instruction is up and running, your whip is checked and does not meet the required specifications, the Clerk of the Scales will notify you that you are not permitted to use that whip in a race. The Clerk of the Scales will also mark the whip in question so that it is easily identifiable. If a rider continues to use a whip which has failed the test he will be reported to the Stewards. I would point out that the Clerks of Scales will be policing this sensibly and with flexibility where appropriate.

We have had to take these steps to ensure that all jockeys are using approved whips and that nobody is gaining an unfair advantage by using something different. We acknowledge that with wear and tear the standard of some whips vary and the Clerks of Scales will also ask a rider to replace a whip if it has deteriorated to the extent that it no longer passes the test.

We recognise that there may be additional costs for those who bought whips in good faith from a manufacturer only to find out that the design was not consistent with that approved by the Jockey Club. We understand your frustration but the measures are, I’m afraid, necessary because the manufacturers have misled us and we need to ensure a level playing field for all concerned. If a whip you have paid for, with an approved mark, fails to meet the standards when tested on course we recommend that you take the matter up with the manufacturer.

Currently, the only approved manufacturer is Robert Patton (whips marked JCPA 01/a and 01/b). I have attached his supplier list and we have also sent it to the valets. We are also in correspondence with other potential manufacturers and will let you know either directly or through the JAGB should other whips be approved by the Panel.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Peter Webbon
Director of Veterinary Science and Welfare

SUPPLIER LISTOLD MILL SADDLERY110 Larne RoadBallycarryCarrickfergusCo. Antrim BT38 9JNContact: Robert PattonTel: 02893 353268Fax: 02893 353111Web: www.saddlery.bizEmail: info@oldmillsaddlery.co.ukUK RACING79 Byfield RoadWoodford HalseNr. DaventryNorthamptonshire NN11 3QSContact: Jim DraperTel: 01327 261512RACEDAYPO Box 5908Woodford HalseNr. DaventryNorthants NN11 3ZJContact: Gary SpencerTel: 01327 262148Fax: 01327 262271WOODLANDS LEISURE WEARUnit 1 Northfield FarmGreat SheffordNewburyBerks RG1 7DQContact: Billy, Andy or NorrisTel: 01488 648820Fax: 01488 648771STABLEWARE LTDRockleyNr. MarlboroughWilts SN8 1RTContact: Joy PennTel: 01672 512382GIBSON SADDLERS LTDSales Paddock LaneNewmarketSuffolkCB8 9AXContact: Karl ButcherTel: 01638 662330HARLEY EQUESTRIAN24 Station RoadWoodford HalseNr. DaventryNorthants NN11 3RBContact: Tracy Habgood Tel: 01327 260818E J WICKSNewbury StreetLambournHungerfordBerkshire RG17 8PBContact: Mr M BentickTel: 01488 71766WHITEROSE SADDLERY62-64 CastlegateMaltonNorth Yorkshire YO17 0DZContact: Chris or WendyTel: 01653 697440Fax: 01653 697440 MANGAN & WEBB SADDLERYDigbeth StreetStow in the WoldGloucestershireGL54 1BNT: 01451 831245www.manganandwebb.com

Training Seminar at Cheltenham

27-05-2004

A Training Seminar for new Amateur Riders wishing to ride under The Rules of Racing will be held at Cheltenham on Tuesday, 29th June 2004 and costs £104.00 including lunch and refreshments.Application forms to reserve places on the Training Seminar are obtainable from the Course Administrator, The British Racing School, Snailwell Road, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7NU. Tel: 01638 665103. Fax: 01638 560929. E-mail: courses@brs.org.uk

New NH amateur champions!

23-05-2004

Following the last day of the Championships for both the Gentleman and Lady NH Amateur Jockey at Stratford on the evening of Saturday 22nd May, Owyn Nelmes just held on to the title from Nick Williams, winning the men’s championship by 17 wins.

Rilly Goschen took the Ladies Championship with 6 wins, with Emily Jones the runner-up with 4 wins in a close battle for the 2nd place, as three other ladies (Tabitha Cave, Tina Jackson and Charlotte Tizzard)have also ridden 4 wins each this season. However, Emily led with 5 seconds, one of them gained on the deciding night.

Please note that all Hunterchase winners ridden after 22nd May will count towards the new (next) 2004/2005 season.