THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN

Category: Jockey News

Rejuvenated Jacqueline Coward enjoys winning spare ride at Ayr

04-07-2010

Jacqueline’s patience and perseverance on the long slow road back to recovery following her serious fall at Catterick in February 2009 (in which she was dramatically airlifted off the course) finally paid off today in style at Ayr.

Jacqueline was a late substitute for Miles Seston who was unable to do the weight and this spare ride managed to give Jacqueline her first winning ride under Rules since her injury.

This is a huge achievement for Jacqueline after such a long and deliberate recuperation and we all send her very many congratulations!

Nottingham welcomes Fegentri ladies and Ruth scores home win

04-07-2010

img_3104.jpgL to R:  Pauline Boisgontier (France), Nina Wagner (Germany), Catherine Burri (Switzerland), Susanna Santesson (Fegentri General Secretary), Nadia Gollings (Nottingham Racecourse Commercial Manager), Dr Philip Pritchard (Vice-President AJA),  Ruth Jefferson (GB Fegentri representative 2010), Joanna Mason (GB), Tina Henrikkson (Sweden), Pip Tutty (GB).

Nottingham’s Ladies Evening kicked off shortly after Germany’s victorious football quarter-final victory on Saturday night with the Fegentri Ladies World Championship race.  Seven runners went to post and jockeys including lady representatives from France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.

PIP TUTTY riding her own Hurricane Thomas led the field out of the gate but was soon headed by NINA WAGNER (Germany) into the home straight.  As the pace quickened, Desert Fairy and TINA HENRIKSSON (Sweden) took it up but it was the tenaciously ridden Aragall and RUTH JEFFERSON who forged clear of their rivals two furlongs out to hold on and win by 5 lengths.  Second was PIP (GB not nominated rider) and Hurricane Thomas with TINA and Desert Fairy 1 and 1/4 lengths back in third for Sweden and JOANNA MASON (GB not nominated rider) in fourth.

Many congratulation to Ruth.  This win has given her 20 valuable points and closes her gap in second place behind France’s PAULINE BOISGONTIER who currently leads this year’s Ladies World Championship tables.

The ladies travel to Sweden on 15th July for their next race.

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CHESTER LADIES PINK MILE

01-07-2010

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Chester hosts a ladies race with a difference on Friday 9th July when jockeys in the Breast Cancer Care Pink Mile will wear specially designed pink colours. The race will be a pro-am mares only race (4 year olds and upwards) with a maximum of 12 runners wearing pink number cloths with a special pink winning post and racegoers are encouraged to wear pink on the night.

This first ever “pink race” is being hosted by Chester Racecourse and “Racing for Change”, the body set up to broaden the appeal of the sport, with the aim of raising £25,000 for Breast Cancer Care. There will be a number of fund raising initiatives and Racing UK have agreed to donate £5 of every subscription on that day to the charity. They will screen the race free-to-air while some of the country’s top bookmakers have also committed to donating a percentage of their profits on the race.  Louise Owen, wife of footballer Michael, will make the presentations to winning connections.

According to Nick Attenborough, spokesperson for Racing for Change:“This is a great opportunity for people to enjoy an evening at the races and help a great cause. Why not dress up in pink and show your support?”

To find out more about the Breast Cancer Care Pink Mile visit:

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/goracing/pink-mile

www.britishhorseracing.com/goracing/pink-mile

Lucy returns at The Rasen and Alex shares the limelight

26-06-2010

Market Rasen provided the backdrop for a great day for lady amateur riders today when 2008/9 Lady Amateur Jumps Champion  LUCY HORNER rode her first winner since her premature enforced retirement last November due to an ongoing eye problem.  Since then Lucy has successfully undergone eye surgery and resumed race riding a short while ago.

Chris Grant’s Aggravation responded to Lucy’s demands to move upsides the leader coming into the straight and battle his way to lead as the line approached.  Many congratulations to Lucy on her fantastic return.

Later in the afternoon another lady jockey’s success was enjoyed by ALEX SMITH-MAXWELL when she made all the running and stayed on in a driving finish to beat off the relentless efforts of champion jockey Tony McCoy who had been tracking her most of the way.  Alex said after the race that she told her horse “Its now or never – the cameras are on us!” and tunnel vision took over as she concentrated on riding her horse to the line.

This was the second time that Alex had scored on Public Esteem having won on him over hurdles at Newton Abbot a few weeks ago and was a terrific performance.  Many congratulations to Alex on such a memorable victory.

What a day for the girls!

Cool Carol’s Comeback

24-06-2010

Only seven weeks after Archie Bartley came into the world, father Gary was literally left holding the baby this afternoon to allow triple ladies amateur flat champion Carol to enjoy a winning comeback ride at Hamilton on Regent’s Secret for Jim Goldie.  Under a confident and patient ride Carol delivered a long late run on the inner to forge clear in the final furlong and win comfortably.  Many congratulations to winning connections!

 

Ross Birkett leads Bollinger table with full field at Salisbury today

23-06-2010

ROSS BIRKETT is pictured above with trainer mother Julia Feilden at Newbury after his recent win there on 10th June in this year’s Bollinger Series for gentleman amateur riders which takes him into the current leading position.

A full field of 14 feature this afternoon at Salisbury for the 4th leg of this year’s 8 race series.

Newton Abbot gives Irish amateur Lisa O’Neill first career winner!

22-06-2010

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There may have only been 6 runners in the final race of the evening at Newton Abbot but the race will live long in the memory of winning Irish amateur jockey LISA O’NEILL as she enjoyed her first winner on her debut ride in England.  Assistant to trainer father Tommy, Lisa has been placed many times and her experience paid dividends this evening.

The Newton Abbot Races GB v Ireland Lady Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle was the first leg of an annual 2 race challenge with 2 teams of 6 lady amateur jockeys representing their respective countries.

Ireland ended the evening with 1st, 3rd and 5th places and the return match at Limerick in November is now keenly looked forward to by the girls.

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Many congratulations to Lisa on a great win!  She is pictured above, having jumped the last in front to go on and pass the post to win comfortably on Nigel Hawke’s Vintage Fabric nearly 4 lengths ahead of SALLY RANDELL and Milton Harris’  Bold Policy with EVANNA MCCUTCHEON and Anabel King’s Wisteria Lane in third.

Very many thanks to both Jason Loosemore at Newton Abbot racecourse and Russell Ferris at Limerick racecourse for their generosity in making these races possible and to all owners and trainers for their support.

Newton Abbot stages Anglo/Irish ladies hurdle

21-06-2010

Tuesday evening 22nd June sees Newton Abbot host their annual leg of the Anglo/Irish ladies hurdle challenge with six Irish amateur lady jockeys invited to ride at the West Country course to take on the British team of six, with the return match scheduled to take place at Limerick on 7th November.

With 21 entries made for the race, only 7 declared resulting in reduced teams as follows:

 

Irish

GB

Jill Geraghty

Lucy Barry

Kate Harrison

Jo Buck

Shirley McCarthy

Hannah Lewis

Deidre McCurtin

Joanna Mason

Evanna McCutchen

Sally Randell

Lisa O’Neill

Alex Smith-Maxwell

Good luck to the lady riders!

DEJA VU FOR SERENA BROTHERTON AT RIPON

17-06-2010

Our reigning lady flat amateur champion SERENA BROTHERTON returned to the scene of her 2001 triumph at Ripon today to excel in the highly competitive 15 runner Beaumont Robinson Ladies Derby Handicap and add her name to this season’s winners tables.

Partnering Maneki Neko for Edwin Tuer, Serena was always well positioned and took it up quickly from over a furlong out to score comfortably, with JOANNA MASON and Golden Future 4 1/2 lengths back in second and RUTH JEFFERSON and Choctaw Nation a further couple of lengths in third.

Many congratulations to winning connections.

Extract from Racing Post Friday 18th June – David Carr’s report on Ripon – click on link below:

serena.pdf

RUTH JEFFERSON WINS IN USA!

13-06-2010

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British lady jockeys’ representative RUTH JEFFERSON rode her first winner in the Fegentri series today in Delaware Park, USA.  In a thrilling finish, Ruth just held on to win by a neck from Sweden’s Cathrine Engebretsen with France’s Pauline Boisgontier a further neck back in third.

This winning ride takes Ruth into 2nd place behind Pauline in the league tables with another race in the US tomorrow at Philadelphia Park before the next Fegentri race is held at Nottingham on 3rd July.  Many congratulations to Ruth.  Great Britain has been runner-up for the last 2 years in the Fegentri Ladies World Championship but GB has never won the ladies title in Fegentri’s history, so our hopes are high for Ruth.

Meanwhile our gentleman jockeys’ representative HARRY CHALLONER flew out to Sweden today for three rides there tomorrow in the Fegentri flat race, the Swedish Champion Hurdle and the Swedish Grand National.  Harry then travels to Dieppe on 28th June.