LUCY’S PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED AT KELSO!

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. 

AMATEUR ALL-WEATHER TITLE RETAINED BY CHAMPION SIMON WALKER WITH ONE RACE OF THE SEASON REMAINING

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 23^rd 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  

Drama with launch of Home-Tek Ladies Hurdle Series at Catterick

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.

AJA DIRECTOR RICHARD DUNWOODY CONQUERS MOUNT ACONCAGUA

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

RACHEAL KNELLER WINS AWARD

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!