A TOTAL of 23 young people - 11 girls and 12 boys - graduated from the trainee jockey programme at the Racing Academy & Centre of Education (RACE) last Friday week. Most are now proceeding to take up employment in the industry.

The course is supported by the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board.

At an open-air ceremony on the Kildare campus, John Oxx and Michael Halford presented certificates and prizes to the group who successfully completed the 10-month residential programme.

This year’s graduates received a QQI Level 4 award in Horsemanship (Racehorse Care & Riding) and performed very well throughout their programme despite the various interruptions and inconveniences caused by the pandemic, which included missing out on participation in the Gaisce youth achievement award.

The main prize of Trainee Jockey of the Year was awarded to Mia Nicholls from Thirsk in Yorkshire, with Dublin girl Abbigail Williams the runner-up.

Connor Bowman from Meath and Liam Wright from Dublin shared the Most Improved Rider awards, while Eoin Powell from Omeath, Co Louth won the Derek O’Sullivan Award for overall contribution to the course.

Racing yards

  • Mia Nicholls, who completed her work experience with trainer Kevin Prendergast, is commencing employment in Tipperary with Fozzie Stack, while Abbigail Williams will continue her placement with Johnny Murtagh.
  • Liam Wright is starting work with Dermot Weld while Connor Bowman will move to Andrew McNamara’s yard and Eoin Powell will continue working with Ken Condon.
  • Cian Fahy from Galway won Best Classroom Effort and a special merit award sponsored by Irish Injured Jockeys.
  • Abbigail Williams achieved the Best Academic Performance by earning distinctions in all eight modules, narrowly pipping Kyle Faulkner from Meath, while Abbigail also excelled in fitness and won the Sportsperson of the Year award.

    • Other trainees commended on the day included Amy O’Driscoll from Kildare who is being signed on by Aidan Howard, Glenn Cahill from Australia who is working with Dermot Weld, and Emma Dwan from Yorkshire who is returning to Richard Fahey’s yard.

    Joey Connolly from Tipperary, who was placed with Dick Brabazon, captured the joyful mood of the occasion with an impressive speech on behalf of the class group.

    Nine of the group will be remaining in residence at RACE for another year as they progress their careers and further their education while learning their trade.