The finalists for this year’s JETS Richard Davis Awards have been announced today. The winners of these annual career development Awards will be announced for the first time ever on Racing TV on Thursday 19th November.
This year represents an exciting opportunity to showcase the diversity of second careers that former jockeys go on to enjoy as well as the huge efforts being made by current jockeys in their Continued Personal Development despite what has been an obviously interrupted year for racing.
The Awards will be hosted from 4pm on Racing TV in a show presented by former Richard Davis Award winner Niall Hannity and his guest, former jockey George Baker. The programme will feature films and interviews with the Award winners.
The finalists in the three categories are as follows:
BHA Current Jockey CPD Award
Gavin Ashton – Apprentice to Ian Williams
Gaia Boni – Apprentice to William Jarvis
Thomas Willmott – Conditional to Lucinda Russell
IJF Progress Award
Saleem Golam – Barbering
Jordan Vaughan – Farriery
Samuel Welton – Structural Engineering
The Jockey Club Achievement Award
Ollie Garner – Owner, Cotswold Forage
Kylie Manser-Baines – Firefighter & Retraining of Racehorses
John Pritchard – Owner, Charbel Blinds
JETS Manager, Lisa Delany, said:
“It is a shame we can’t host a physical event however we are so pleased that the pandemic has not prevented a brilliant set of entries for the Richard Davis Awards and we are grateful for the continued support from our sponsors.
“Jockeys need to show huge resilience, passion and determination in their riding careers and it is clear that those attributes stand them in good stead for their second careers too. We are delighted that Racing TV has stepped in to host the Awards and we’re looking forward to showcasing the career development of jockeys to a wide audience.”
“The Richard Davis Awards are important in raising awareness of the good work of JETS and acknowledging those jockeys who have gone on to forge successful second careers thanks to JETS.
Ian Kevan, Channel Editor, at Racing TV, said:
“The Richard Davis Awards are important in raising awareness of the good work of JETS and acknowledging those jockeys who have gone on to forge successful second careers thanks to JETS.
“We have been delighted to support JETS over the years, including via our media traineeships, and we look forward to doing the awards justice live on Racing TV in a show hosted by a former winner, Niall Hannity.”
The three Richard Davis Award categories are:
The Jockey Club Achievement Award, worth £3,000 to the winner and is designed for those jockeys who have significantly achieved in pursuing their new chosen careers. Two runners-up receive £500 each.
The IJF Progress Award, worth £2,000 to the winner, rewards the early progress of those jockeys who have more recently started out on a new career/training path.
The BHA Current Jockey CPD Award, worth £1,000 to the winner, was introduced in 2017 for currently licensed jockeys who have shown real commitment to their CPD (Continued Personal Development) whilst riding or during injury time out in order to enhance their development as a jockey or to assist with their dual career development.