These inspirational Awards were established in memory of the late Richard Davis who had started planning for his future before his fatal race fall in 1996.
Judged by a panel of independent judges, JETS Trustees and IJF Almoners (in the case of the IJF Progress Award), the Awards highlight what an important role JETS plays in encouraging and helping jockeys develop the skills required for a range of new careers, not only once they have retired but importantly whilst they are still riding. The entries are judged according to the initiative, forethought, effort and determination put into their career development.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF THE RICHARD DAVIS AWARDS
Following the 20th Anniversary celebrations of JETS at the 2015 Richard Davis Awards, we had a rest year in 2016 so we can build towards another significant milestone in 2017 which will mark 20 years of the Richard David Awards for which we have designed a special anniversary logo.
Once again the Awards will be held at Cheltenham Racecourse on Sunday 19th November. With £7000 of prizemoney on offer to the winners, we welcome as many entries as possible from former jockeys who are thriving in their new careers. Entries are now open and entry forms can be downloaded below.
THE AWARDS
The Jockey Club Achievement Award - The top Award designed for those jockeys who have significantly achieved in pursuing their new chosen careers and is worth £3000 to the winner with two runners-up prizes of £500 each.
The IJF Progress Award - Worth £2,000, this Award rewards the early progress of those jockeys who have more recently started out on a new career/training path or who are actively preparing for their future careers while still riding or while injured.
The BRS Current Jockey CPD Award - With a prize of £1000, this is a new award introduced for 2017 for currently licensed jockeys who have shown real commitment to their Continuing Personal Development whilst riding or during injury time out in order to prepare for their future careers and/or to enhance their development as a jockey.
2017 WINNERS
The winners were announced at Cheltenham Racecourse on Sunday 19th November, with the awards presented by Champion Jockey Richard Johnson and members of the Richard Davis family at an anniversary lunch to mark the 20th anniversary of the Awards. Guests included no less than eight previous winners from the past 20 years.
Former flat jockey Ben Swarbrick, winner of The Jockey Club Achievement Award, is a financial adviser with a Partner practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management and receives £3000. Adele Mulrennan (Go Racing In Yorkshire Raceday Presenter) and Nicola Woolner (Partner in Training Consultancy Sport & Beyond) received £500 each as runners-up.
Former jump jockey Anthony Freeman, a newly qualified plumbing & heating engineer, won the IJF Progress Award along with £2000.
Apprentice jockey, Katherine Glenister won the inaugural BRS Current Jockey CPD Award which rewards those jockeys working hard on their personal development. Katherine has had 12 winners this year and has shown great commitment to developing all aspects of her career, both in and out of the saddle.
View the latest Jockey Matters film about Career Transition as well as Ben Swarbrick talking about the Richard Davis Awards and Katherine Glenister, the BRS Current Jockey winner.