THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN

Category: Jockey News

A Jockey’s Must Read: Let’s take Brain Injuries Out of Racing

14-06-2013

 

CONCUSSION FACTS

CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS

  • Concussion is a brain injury that alters the way your brain functions;
  • Concussion can occur from a blow to the head/body following helmet/helmet contact and/or contact with the ground, object or another athlete;
  • Most concussions occur without being knocked unconscious;
  • Severity of injury is unknown until symptoms resolve and brain function is back to normal;
  • All concussions are not created equally. Each athlete is different, each injury is different and you should be evaluated by medical staff.
  • Confusion
  • Headache
  • Amnesia/difficulty remembering
  • Balance problems
  • Irritability
  • Dizziness
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Feeling sluggish/groggy
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Nausea
  • Sensitivity to noise
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Double/fuzzy vision
  • Slowed reaction time
  • Feeling more emotional
  • Sleep disturbances

 

 

Why Should I Report my Symptoms?

Your brain is the most vital organ in your body: Training or racing while still experiencing symptoms can prolong the time it takes to recover and return to racing.  Unlike other injuries, there may be significant consequences to ‘racing through’ a concussion.  Respective brain injury, when not managed properly and promptly, may cause permanent damage to your brain.  Symptoms may worsen with physical or mental exertion (lifting, reading, riding, etc.)

 

Report it: Never ignore the symptoms!

Get Checked Out: Your concussion should be managed by the BHA’s Concussion Protocol which involves undergoing a neurology examination and a COGSPORT test before being cleared to ride by the Chief Medical Adviser.

Take Care of Your Brain: Traumatic brain injury can cause a wide range of short or long term changes leading to problems with memory and communication, personality changes, depression and early onset dementia. Concussions and conditions resulting from repeated brain injury can change your life and your family’

For all queries call the BHA Medical Department on 

020 7152 0138

LICENCED TO RIDE

14-06-2013

RENEWAL OF AMATEUR RIDERS’ PERMITS

Amateur Jockeys are reminded that Permits to ride expire on 30th June 2013. The Licensing Department of the British Horseracing Authority will be sending out renewal applications before the end of this month.

First time applicants and those renewing on every 5th anniversary of their first permit must submit a comprehensive medical report completed by the applicant’s own Doctor (GP or otherwise) who has access to the applicant’s full medical records.  For those making a first application a medical report will not normally be required if such a report has been submitted in conjunction with an application for a Rider’s Qualification Certificate within the previous 12 months from the date on which the application for an Amateur Rider’s Permit is made. (Contact the Medical Department for any queries and for medical forms).

 

Any applicant for a permit aged 55 years or over must be examined annually as to his/her fitness to race ride by the Authority’s Chief Medical Adviser in addition to submitting the medical report completed by their own Doctor. Contact Helen Pavitt on 020 7152 0138 or hpavitt@britishhorseracing.com for clinic dates.

Please note that if you are due to complete a medical report you will also be expected to complete a baseline concussion test prior to the renewal of your Permit.

All Amateur Riders who have had 25 rides or more will be required to complete a further Baseline Concussion Test prior to submitting your application.

Our NH Season concludes this Friday at Stratford

04-06-2013

The battle for the NH Amateur Jump Championships reach their conclusion on Friday evening at Stratford-upon-Avon when both the gentleman and lady amateur champions will be presented with a magnum of champagne by AJA President Dr Philip Pritchard.  Current rankings are as follows:

2012/2013 NATIONAL HUNT GENTLEMAN AMATEUR JOCKEYS CHAMPIONSHIP

The championship runs from 1st June 2012 until 7th June 2013

 

Results up to Tuesday 4th June 2013

NAME

TOTAL POINTS (1 WIN 1 POINT)

Miss Lucy Gardner

12

Miss Emma Sayer

8

Miss Catherine Walton

7

Mrs Alex Dunn

5

Miss Ally Stirling

5

Miss Bridget Andrews

5

Miss Harriet Bethell

3

Miss Gina Andrews

2

Miss Lizzy Butterworth

2

*  Sam Drake

2

Miss Lizzy Kelly

2

Miss Rachel King

2

Miss Alice Mills

2

Miss Chloe Boxall

2

2012/2013 NATIONAL HUNT LADY AMATEUR JOCKEYS CHAMPIONSHIP

The championship runs from 1st June 2012 until 7th June 2013

Results up to Tuesday 4th June 2013

NAME

TOTAL POINTS (1 WIN 1 POINT)

Mr Nico de Boinville

16

Mr Conor Shoemark

10

Mr Steven Crawford

8

Mr Sam Waley-Cohen

7

Mr Jack Barber

6

Mr Will Biddick

6

Mr Mikey Ennis

6

Mr Nick Slatter

6

Mr Jamie Hamilton

5

Mr Matthew Barber

4

Mr Callum Bewley

4

Mr Sam Drinkwater

4

Mr Paddy Gerety

4

Mr Kevin Jones

4

Mr Jody Sole

4

Mr Phil York

4

BETFAIR novice flat riders series details

04-06-2013

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The Amateur Jockeys Association (AJA) is delighted to welcome a new sponsor with the announcement of the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Series 2013.  

The Series is open to amateur jockeys who are members of the AJA and who at the start of the 2013 Flat Season (22nd March 2013) have ridden no more than 3 winners under the Rules of Racing (both Jump and Flat).  This does not include point-to-point or Arab racing wins.  Irish amateur jockeys with no more than 3 winners are eligible to ride in this series under their Irish permits and are also welcome to participate.

The Amateur Jockeys Association will manage the series in consultation with the British Horseracing Authority.  Participating jockeys will benefit from having Jimmy Bleasdale, the Jockey Coach based at the Northern Racing College, to walk the course before each race and to offer them help and advice.

A jockeys’ points system will be in place and the winning rider of each race will earn 5 points, with 3 points awarded to the 2nd placed jockey, 2 points to the 3rd and 1 point to all other jockeys who complete.  In addition to winning connections being presented with Betfair trophies after each race, the winning series jockey will be presented with the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Series Trophy and will be awarded a two-week working holiday with Betfair Ambassador Gordon Elliott, the County Meath based trainer, to be taken before the end of the year.

Races are scheduled to take place as follows:

17th July Catterick Bridge

24th July Leicester

31st July Redcar

12th August Thirsk

26th August Ripon

28th August Carlisle

Sarah Oliver, CEO of the AJA, said “This series is devised to act as a launching pad for the race riding careers of young amateur jockeys who often struggle to get rides.  Thanks to the generosity of Betfair’s sponsorship, we can now offer these riders more opportunities to race ride together with education and training.”

Susannah Gill, Head of Public Affairs at Betfair, said “Betfair is pleased that its longstanding commitment to the grassroots of racing now extends to the AJA and it members. We hope the series will prove a great opportunity for amateur jockeys throughout the country to extend their experience with the potential of winning a truly unique prize.”

A reminder to amateurs who might enjoy riding winners abroad

03-05-2013

Please note that all amateur jockeys who enjoy a winning ride abroad should notify BHA Licensing Department (Joanne Crawforth 020 7152 0148 jcrawforth@britishhorseracing.com) upon returning home so that it can be recorded against your career records.

This is vital in order that you always carry the correct claim when riding under rules.

AJA welcome BETFAIR sponsorship of Novice Flat Riders’ Series 2013

23-04-2013

The AJA are pleased to announce that Betfair are very kindly sponsoring a new series on the flat this summer for amateur jockeys who have not ridden more than 3 winners under the rules of racing, which includes both flat and jump racing but discounts point-to-point and Arab race wins.

The series is made up as follows:

1 CATTERICK BRIDGE 17 JULY

2 LEICESTER 24 JULY

3 REDCAR 31 JULY

4 THIRSK 12 AUGUST (EVENING)

5 RIPON 26 AUGUST

6 CARLISLE 28 AUGUST

A Jockey Coach will be in attendance throughout the series to conduct a course walk prior to racing and to discuss the race afterwards with all participating jockeys.

Please note: should you wish to take out your amateur licence specifically for this series, that you should apply for your licence in plenty of time (ie early June) as all amateur licences expire on 30th June and Licensing at the BHA will therefore have a backlog of applications in early July.

NEW ZEALAND INVITES YOU ON A WORKING HOLIDAY!

22-04-2013

An exciting opportunity awaits NH amateur (and professional) riders preferably aged under 26 who are interested in working, riding and holidaying in New Zealand!

You will be placed in friendly, family run racing environments (usually yards with 10 – 20 horses in work) where you will be looked after, shown a good time and just as importantly given opportunities to race ride.  

New Zealand’s jump racing season starts in April and runs through to the end of September and this is the time of year when most opportunities exist but there is also the option to start later for the NZ summer and work and ride as well.  

If  you would like to broaden your horizons and enjoy an incredible time, please e-mail the AJA at sph.oliver@btinternet.com.

AJA welcome JRL Group Flat Gentlemen’s Series

10-04-2013

The AJA are delighted to announce that this summer will see the inaugural running of the JRL Group’s gentlemen rider’s Flat series.

This will consist of 5 races as follows:

1 Saturday 27th July (evening) SALISBURY

2 Sunday 4th August NEWBURY

Friday 4th October ASCOT

4 Sunday 13th October GOODWOOD

5  Monday 21st October ROYAL WINDSOR finale


Sam Waley-Cohen 4th in Grand National

06-04-2013

Congratulations to Sam Waley-Cohen who finished 4th in today’s Grand National with OSCAR TIME trained in Ireland by Martin Lynch.

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2nd in 2011 behind Ballybriggs, the partnership were always prominent and enjoyed a great spin.  Sam’s father Robert said “That was amazing, so exciting.  Sam had him in a great position and gave him every chance.”

Katie Walsh went to post favourite with SEABASS trained by her father Ted in a bid to become the first lady jockey to win a National (the pair having finished 3rd last year) and finished 13th of the 17 who completed, the horse having tired in the final stages of the race.