LADIES INVITATION RACE IN MALAYSIA 8TH FEBRUARY

24-01-2008

Would you like to enjoy the chance of a lifetime to ride under Rules in Malaysia? The AJA have received an invitation for two lady riders to ride at Ipoh on 8^th February. Travel would be to arrive on 6^th February in Kuala Lumpur and to return home on 9^th or 10^th February. Sorry but you must pay for your own air fare (around £500) but everything else will be paid for by your host country and you will be very well looked after by the Malaysian Amateur Racing Association. If you would like to enjoy racing in the Far East, please contact Sarah Oliver immediately. All applicants will be given serious consideration!  Any winning rides abroad count towards your career total!

SARAH GAISFORD FUND IS OPENED

12-01-2008

Facilities are now in place for donations to be made to the SARAH GAISFORD FUND to help Sarah whilst she faces an uncertain future.  A bank account in Sarah’s name has been opened at Weatherbys Bank.

If you would like to make a donation, please make your cheque payable to THE SARAH GAISFORD FUND and post it TOGETHER WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS (to avoid tax) to AJA, CREWS HILL HOUSE, ALFRICK, WORCESTER.  WR6 5HF

 Or if you prefer, you can call at the offices of GORDON CHAMBERS, well known auctioneer in the West Country, at SAWDYE AND HARRIS, WEST STREET, ASHBURTON.   Gordon has very kindly agreed to act as a local collection point and will forward on your donations.  Again, please leave you name and address with your donation as all gifts have to be recorded here at the AJA before they are paid into the bank account set up for Sarah.

Sarah still awaits being moved to Odstock and thanks everyone for their get well wishes and messages of support.

SARAH GAISFORD FUND TO BE SET UP SOON

05-01-2008

Sarah Gaisford continues to make slow progress in the Royal Devon and Exeter as she regains her strength following her serious fall at Exeter before Christmas. Whilst Sarah faces a long road to recovery, arrangements are underway for a bank account to be opened at Weatherbys Bank for the SARAH GAISFORD FUND. Full details of how you can donate to Sarah’s fund will appear here within the next few days. Meanwhile, Sarah awaits availability of a bed at Odstock Spinal Injuries Unit, Salisbury and for the time being cards can be sent to her at:

Durbin Ward
Royal Devon And Exeter Hospital
Barrack Road
EXETER EX2 5DW

FEGENTRI

23-12-2007

Congratulations to this year’s Fegentri representatives for Great Britain, David Turner and Marie King, for being such brilliant ambassadors for our sport and doing so well. David finished Amateur Gentleman Flat World Champion and only just got pipped at the post for the NH Gentleman’s Championship by Jason Maguire from Ireland. Marie finished fifth overall in the Ladies Championship.

For 2008, the two representatives for Great Britain will be Charlie Huxley, this year’s Bollinger Champion, and Gemelle Gracey-Davison who had her first taste of Fegentri when she won earlier in the year in Malaysia. Gemelle’s first race will be in Qatar at the end of February, with the annual Fegentri General Assembly also being hosted there during the week. Thanks to all AJA members who applied for Fegentri. Your names are on file and hopefully there will be opportunities to invite you to ride abroad during the course of 2008.

If you are interested in riding in Fegentri in the future, have a look at the Fegentri website which is listed in our links.

LEADING NH LADY JOCKEY SARAH GAISFORD BADLY INJURED AT EXETER

22-12-2007

Sarah Gaisford, joint runner-up with Charlotte Tizzard to Rose Davidson for the NH Ladies Championship Title in 2005/2006, sustained serious spinal injuries at Exeter on Thursday, 20th December.

This is a stark reminder to us all of the daily risks all jockeys face, both amateur and professional, for our enjoyment.

The AJA will do everything possible to give Sarah every assistance that she may need. Thankfully we improved amateur insurance cover earlier this year which will ensure that Sarah is well looked after. Although injuries like this can never be bought, it will go a long way towards helping her making as good a recovery as possible, together with the help and support of the IJF for which we are all so grateful.

Sarah is currently in Intensive Care at THE ROYAL DEVON AND EXETER, BARRACK ROAD, EXETER. EX2 5DW. She is not allowed visitors yet apart from close family, but you can help by posting her a Get Well card at this address. Many thanks. We will update you with Sarah’s progress on this website.

CHANNEL 4 ADVENTURE SERIES IS LOOKING FOR SUCCESSFUL & SPORTY WOMEN

13-12-2007

If you are a member of the AJA and a lady jockey, then we know already that you are ambitious and sporty!  But are you also an expert in another field and work as a professional outside racing?  And are you aged between 18 and 35, desperate to take up a new challenge?

C4 are looking for high-achieving and successful women who have also excelled in the sporting world for a new documentary. In each episode they will be sending a group of women to a different location in the world to take on a task that – up until now – only men have performed.

It’s an opportunity to prove that you can do anything that men can do, but also to see what you can learn about working in a completely different environment.  We want to find adventurous women who are up for a truly rewarding physical & emotional challenge: to prove that they can succeed in a ‘male only’ world.

If you are interested – and available for two weeks in January/February 2008 – please get in touch immediately!

Call Sarah Oliver on 01886 884488

AMATEUR JOCKEY WANTED IN THE USA!!!

06-12-2007

An amateur jockey is wanted to ride Perry Bolton’s five timber horses during the Spring 2008 timber season in the USA having hunted well over there this winter.  Possibilities will also exist for other rides over hurdles.  You will be attached to the yard of Maryland trainer Tom Voss.  This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to really enjoy.  For further information and/or to apply, please telephone MARCUS ARMYTAGE on 07770-381378.

ROLL OF HONOUR FOR AWARDS AT CHELTENHAM CHRISTMAS CRAIC 15TH DECEMBER

06-12-2007

HAVE YOU SECURED YOUR TICKETS YET FOR THE KNEES UP

THE NIGHT AFTER THE BREEZE UPS AT CHELTENHAM?

ticket hotline 01886 884488

ROLL OF HONOUR 2007

TICKETS SELLING FAST FOR CHAMPIONS CHRISTMAS CRAIC!

28-11-2007

Make sure you are not disappointed by booking your tickets NOW (they are selling fast!) for our annual Champions Christmas Craic to be held on Saturday 15th December in the Gold Cup Suite at Cheltenham Racecourse!  TICKET HOTLINES: 01886 884488 OR 01933 304778

The Amateur Jockeys Association of Great Britain

request the pleasure of your company at their

champions christmas craic

Saturday 15^th December 2007

GOLD CUP SUITE

CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE

Amateur Champions Awards

Grand Auction

LORRAINE ELLISON LADY FLAT AMATEUR CHAMPION 2008

31-10-2007

With the championship already in the bag, it was in Lorraine’s absence this Halloween at Nottingham that the runner-up slot was fought out. With Carol Bartley, Amy Ryan and Jacqui Kidd all on equal points in 2^nd place before the race, the final of the Sawfish Software Series saw Faye Bramley ride the winner which immediately allowed her to overtake her rivals and shot her into the runner-up slot for the championship.

This concluding ladies flat race for the season was also Steve Hull’s Sawfish Software Series finale, with two lady riders on equal points in the lead – Faye Bramley and Serena Brotherton – and thanks to the generosity of the sponsor, both ladies went home with a magnificent Harriet Glen bronze apiece. Many thanks indeed to Steve Hull for his generosity. This mini-series, in its inaugural year, has been extremely popular with maximum fields and the highlight for Mr Hull must have been the second race in the series at Redcar when he and Serena Brotherton (who co-owns Gala Sunday) enjoyed victory.

Many thanks to all of our sponsors for so much fun for the ladies this summer and to all the owners and trainers who have supported them.