PRA Awards celebrate Charles Owen Racecourse Series 2016

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.

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