With 110 points, with 5 wins, 6 second places, 3 thirds and a fourth. Molly rode two ponies – Molly VIII and Becca Walk O’The Wildside. Molly loves any sport especially hockey and athletics, she goes to Kings Hall, Taunton and hunts regularly with the Tauton Vale for which her father, Guy is the huntsman. She also enjoys all the usual activities associated with the Pony Club. Mum, Emma has to be highly commended as she has driven Molly nearly the length and breadth of the country to pony race!
Molly Landau, P2P pony racing Championship Rider 2016, receives her prize from Tom Phillips of RaceTech
The 2016 148cms RaceTech Championship rider – Connor Brace
Winner for the second year running, with 101 points, with 8 wins and 3 second places. Connor rode two ponies – Don’t Tell Dai and Peateaoh. Connor, 15, is the grandson of leading point-to-point owner/trainer David Brace OBE. He is very much an integral part of the team at Dunraven Stud and rides work and schools the racehorses at every opportunity. He enjoyed his first ride on Clonshire Marshmallow just over 5 years ago and has since partnered approximately 40 winners, primarily on Peateaoh, Molly and Don’t Tell Dai. A very keen all-round rider, Connor has ridden out for leading trainers such as Richard Hannon jnr and Nigel Twiston-Davies. Connor has obtained a licence to ride under Arab racing rules and is greatly looking forward to starting his point-to-point career as soon as he passes his 16th birthday.
Both Molly and Connor intend to carry on riding in pony races next season.
Connor Brace, P2P pony racing Championship Rider 2016, receives his prize from Tom Phillips of RaceTech
Pony Racing Graduate – Harry Myddleton
Under the RaceTech sponsorship we have made funds available to the child who scores the highest number of points and who is eligible to ride in point-to-point races the following season, to use as sponsorship funds via the Riders Sponsorship Scheme (RSS) run by the PPA for those riding in points.
Harry Myddleton was this season’s winner and already has a point-to-pointer in getting fit to go racing this season. Regular updates will be posted throughout the season as to his progress on the PtP Pony Racing Facebook page and the PRA updates.
Harry Myddelton, P2P pony racing Championship Rider 2016, receives his prize from Tom Phillips of RaceTech
Jockeys who competed in this year’s Charles Owen Racecourse Series were treated to an exclusive tour of Dalham Hall Stud, which included seeing four magnificent Darley stallions paraded, as part of the Pony Racing Authority’s Awards day. The riders and their families also viewed three new stallions in their paddocks and visited the covering facilities, and were able to ask staff questions about the stud’s breeding programme, daily regime and aspects of the commercial side to Darley’s global operations.
Following the tour and after a short drive to Newmarket Racecourse, guests arrived for the awards ceremony hosted by PRA Chairman Edward Gillespie, with Derby winning jockey Michael Hills presenting the prizes. We were also delighted to welcome Richard and Dawn Prince, who sponsor the Rose Bengal Leading Rider Awards, and take a keen interest in the development of young riders at all levels of pony racing.
Sophie Smith, winner Leading Rider award, with Michael Hills
Interviewed by Edward Gillespie, Michael described a childhood growing up around horses, with showjumping his main sport and having represented England at the age of thirteen. At just sixteen years old, Michael had his first racing winner two weeks after finishing school and “never looked back”, with horses taking him “all over the world” to achieve a career tally of more than 2000 winners, including the Derby on Shammit in 1996 – which felt “like a footballer scoring the winning goal in the World Cup!”
The winners of the Championships Finals held on 22 October at Cheltenham Racecourse – Sophie Smith on Push the Button in the 138cm & under, and Oakley Brown on White Water in the 148cm & under – were first up to be interviewed. Both jockeys will be riding out over the winter months to gain more experience, and will be back on the tracks in 2017.
Richard Prince, who with his wife Dawn, sponsors the Rose Bengal awards, spoke of the high standards of all the riders and praised their attitude: “Everyone helps everyone, and it is fantastic to see the progress of all the jockeys from beginners at Pony Club race days and point-to-points right through to the Charles Owen series.”
The Rose Bengal Leading Rider awards – which is for the rider with the most points up to the Final – were awarded to Sophie Smith (138cm & under) and James Bowen (148cm & under). As well as a trophy, the winners each received a coat, a new racing saddle and a voucher for a private session with a jockey coach to cover personal fitness, pony fitness, riding technique and race technique.
The Rose Bengal Scholarship Awards were also announced with Finn Muirhead (138cm & under) and Liam Harrison (148cm & under) having received the most nominations made by the PRA Steward after each fixture – the stewards were looking for riders who have shown the most improvement, listened to what they have been told on previous occasions, been on time, and had a helpful manner.
After a full selection of awards was presented, Edward Gillespie thanked all the riders and their families for making this years Charles Owen Racecourse Series such a success.
Make it a date for 2017
The Charles Owen Racecourse Series Finals will be held at Newmarket Racecourse on Future Champions Day, 14 October 2017.
AWARD WINNERS 2016
Winner of 148cm Charles Owen Final at Cheltenham: Oakley Brown (White Water)
Also Winner of 148 cm Conditions’ Final at York: Oakley Brown (White Water)
Winner of 138 cm Final at Cheltenham: Sophie Smith (Push The Button)
Winner of 138 cm Conditions’ Final : Minty Bloss (Nook Class Act)
Rose Bengal Leading Rider – sponsored by Richard and Dawn Prince.
This is for the rider with the most points up to the Final. The winners receive a coat, a cup, a new racing saddle and a a voucher for a private session with a Jockey Coach to cover personal fitness, pony fitness, riding technique and race technique.
2016 148cm Rose Bengal Leading Rider: James Bowen on leading pony Cudlic Verona
2016 138 cm Rose Bengal Leading Rider: Sophie Smith on leading pony Push The Button
Rose Bengal Scholarship – sponsored by Richard and Dawn Prince.
Nominations are made by the PRA Steward after each fixture. This is for the rider who has shown the most improvement, listened to what they have been told on previous occasions, been on time, and particularly if they are helpful to the Steward on the day!
The runners up receive a voucher for a private session with a Jockey Coach to cover personal fitness, pony fitness, riding technique and race technique.
2016 Rose Bengal 148 cm Scholarship Winner – Liam Harrison
The winner receives a cup, a coat, a new racing saddle and a voucher for a private session with a Jockey Coach to cover fitness, pony fitness, riding technique and race technique.
Runners Up: Noah Brazg-Carrell
Nia Kerslake
William Humphrey
Albi Tufnell
Runers up receive a voucher for a private session with a Jockey coach
2016 Rose Bengal 138 cm Scholarship Winner – Finn Muirhead
The winner receives a cup, a coat, a new racing saddle and a voucher for a private session with a Jockey Coach to cover fitness, pony fitness, riding technique and race technique.
Runners Up: Nick Barratt-Atkin
Poppy Scott
Minty Bloss
Runers up receive a voucher for a private session with a Jockey coach
CareersinRacing Best Turned Out: winners receive a smart duffle bag from Careers in Racing
138 cm Tyler Heard
148 cm Hamish Clark
The Most Widely Travelled:
Camilla Broster – received a voucher for a private session with a Jockey Coach
Northern Awards
These were presented at Kelso earlier in October
Leading 138cm Combination: Charlie Todd and Stretcholt Hermes
Leading 148 cm combination : Nick Barratt Atkin and Doppio Movimento.
Most improved 138 cm combination: Camilla Broster and Fair N Square
Most improved 148 cm combination: Archie Frank and Judge Fox
The Rose Bengal Scholarship Awards were also announced with Finn Muirhead (138cm & under) and Liam Harrison (148cm & under) having received the most nominations made by the PRA Steward after each fixture – the stewards were looking for riders who have shown the most improvement, listened to what they have been told on previous occasions, been on time, and had a helpful manner.