Profile
When I left school aged 16 my first job was working for racehorse trainer David Nicholson at his racing stables in Condicote, Gloucestershire (I also worked for him at Jackdaws Castle & later Captain Tim Forster)
As a stable lad I looked after some top class National Hunt Racehorses which included Champion 2 mile chaser Viking Flagship, also Charter Party for 2 years (Ritz Club Chase, Golden Miller Handicap Chase & a future Gold Cup winner) and high class flat racing horse Silver Wisp (Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket)
As a jockey I rode in 418 races which were mostly National Hunt (some were on the flat also a few point to points) & I won 21, 2nd in 45, 3rd in 57, 4th in 42 – my rides won £68,000 for owners in prize money (1986-90) (try the inflation calculator)
I often drove the horsebox to the races & then rode
I’ve ridden at these tracks (mix of NH & Flat) Aintree, Ascot, Ayr, Bangor on Dee, Beverley, Cartmel, Catterick, Cheltenham, Doncaster, Exeter, Fakenham, Haydock Park, Hereford, Hexham, Huntingdon, Leicester, Ludlow, Market Rasen, Musselburgh, Newmarket, Newton Abbot, Nottingham, Perth, Plumpton, Redcar, Salisbury, Sandown Park, Sedgefield, Southwell, Stratford-on-Avon, Towcester, Uttoxeter, Warwick, Wetherby, Windsor, Wolverhampton, Worcester
A video of me winning on Baluchi at Perth
Injuries from race riding?
One broken collar bone, fractured jaw, 2 broken fingers, several concussions … Lucky
For a short while I also trained with a permit under National Hunt Rules & from very limited opportunities (NH Season 2000/01 / Winter of Foot and Mouth) I had a 66/1 2nd in a handicap hurdle at Towcester & a 50/1 4th in a novice chase at Fontwell (horses trained in the sheep fields)
Qualifications
NVQ Level 3 Racehorse Care & Management
GCE O’Levels
Grade A Maths
Grade B Chemistry
Grade B Physics
Grade C Biology
Grade C Economics
Grade C English Literature
Grade C English Language
CSE
French Grade One
Chemistry Grade One
English Literature Grade One
What else can I tell you …
I don’t drink alcohol, smoke or gamble
I like music, football, running, metal detecting the fields … I love horses
Education
Thomas Adams School and Sixth Form Centre
Dates attended 1979 – 1984
Secondary School Education
Hodnet County Primary School
Dates attended 1973 – 1979
Primary School Education
Accomplishments and Certifications
Sporting Chronicle®
Certification Date Dec 2006 – Present
License UK00002440710
The UK Intellectual Property Office
Certification authority The UK Intellectual Property Office
Module One – Racehorse Management
Attended Module One – Racehorse Management
Certification Date Aug 2000 – Present
British Horseracing Training Board
Certification authority British Horseracing Training Board
Racehorse Care & Management (Racing Option) NVQ Level 3
Certification Date Dec 1999 – Present
Racing & Thoroughbred Breeding Training Board
Certification authority Racing & Thoroughbred Breeding Training Board
General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level
Certification DateMay 1984 – Present
University of Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations
Certification authorityUniversity of Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations
Grade 1 Certificate of Secondary Education
Certification DateMay 1984 – Present
The West Midlands Examination Board
Certification authorityThe West Midlands Examination Board
Grade B Chemistry General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level
Certification DateMay 1984 – Present
The Joint Matriculation Board of the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham
Certification authorityThe Joint Matriculation Board of the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham
Grade C English Language General Cerificate of Education Ordinary Level
Certification DateMay 1984 – Present
University of Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations
Certification authorityUniversity of Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations
Grade C English Literature General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level
Certification DateMay 1984 – Present
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate
Certification authorityUniversity of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate
Honors & Awards
Runbritain Reward Running – July 2014
Runbritain UKA
I finished 1st for monthly Improvement in running performances on the Runbritain Handicap and won a £250 GPS watch
Leading Novice Point to Point Jockey
Jun 1987 North West Point to Point Area
Leading Novice Point to Point Jockey in the North West of England
I’m riding in the race in this video which was on TV … I don’t win, in fact we fall