Stud and Stable Staff Award Winners 2009

Congratulations to all of the winners and runners up of the Godolphin sponsored awards. Each individual category winner collected £3,000, with their colleagues at their respective stable or stud sharing £3,000 between them. The two runners-up in each category also received £2,000.

RIDER/GROOM CATEGORY Claire Knight. Employer - Jeremy Noseda, Newmarket Claire is very sympathetic in the saddle - horses appreciate the care and attention they receive from her when she rides them.  She is also a good communicator, able to convey the health and overall well-being of anything she rides.  Such feedback is vital for any trainer.  Fellow staff know they can call on her for assistance professionally or personally.  People such as Claire are the bedrock of any yard's success.   Even on her days off Claire comes in to check on her horses. Claire's father was the local bobby in Epsom and kept an eye on the racing yards at night, so she was around horses from a very young age.  Claire originally worked with show horses, competing at national level in the hack's class.  Her first job in racing, with the late Brian Swift, was character building as she was the only girl there.  Claire says: "It's been my life and got me back outside when I suffered uncontrollable panic attacks which put me in hospital.  I missed my horses so much I knew I had to get better." Claire left racing for a while following the tragic death of a horse she adored. Absent Relative was hit by a car while Claire was riding her on the road, and died with Claire cradling the horse's head. She has now been working in Newmarket, first for Michael Jarvis and now for Jeremy Noseda, for the last four years. She looks after some excellent horses including Arabian Gleam who won the Park Stakes for the 2nd year in a row.

SENIOR STAFF CATEGORY Peter Maughan. Employer - David Elsworth, Newmarket Peter is one of the old school legends and has worked in racing for 56 years. In his time he has travelled some of the greats - Desert Orchid, Persian Punch, In The Groove and Barnbrook Again. Now 71, Peter broke his pelvis in a riding accident last year, but after a very short recovery period he was back at work and riding out.  He started 2008 off in Dubai, looking after Gower Song, winner of the Group 3 City of Gold Stakes.  Peter's knowledge and experience in looking after and overseeing her daily exercise was a large part of her success.  Peter has a great ability to settle and relax horses - he knows that for young horses, it's often a strange environment for them but if they're relaxed they can have a good experience and hopefully want to run again. Staff sometimes feel Peter can be quite tough on them but he will leave nothing untouched, but the advice and help he gives is greatly received by them all.  Peter says these staff are the future of racing and it is important that standards be maintained.  He shows them exactly how to do every job properly to the smallest detail, and ensures that every horse is turned out to perfection, something which was installed in him when he was learning. His total dedication to his job and horses has never faltered for over half a century.

STUD STAFF CATEGORY Paul Baker. Employer - Kevin and Susan Mercer, Usk Valley Stud, Abergavenny Paul started working for the Usk Valley Stud ten years ago. A qualified tree surgeon, his wife Emma was Stud Groom and Paul joined to run the land management side of the Stud, with Emma concentrating on their young family. He is completely up-to-date with the latest and best equine welfare techniques. Equine husbandry is a true vocation for Paul. Paul is responsible for all the day-to-day management of 21 mares and followers, two retired mares and a teaser.  He is present at every foal's birth, and delivered 17 foals last year.    He works with the foals, handling, disciplining and encouraging good behaviour; he prepares yearlings for the sales and the Stud has been continually praised for the quality of its preparation.  Paul found working on a staff training morning with an equine behaviourist a turning point, which provided a real insight and improved all staff's confidence during the sales preparation season. He manages a team of five staff and is rigorous in his internal staff training and development.   He is responsible for the upkeep of 140 acres of stud paddocks and the related work that entails. He is very alert to the environmental issues associated with farming and has planted over 2000 trees on the Stud.  He also identifies the nest each year of 2 breeding pairs of curlews and fences off land to provide them with a safe haven. He works very closely with the Stud's vets and organises Bristol Equine University students to visit the Stud for practical demonstrations.  He promotes best-practice within the industry, finding placement and experience opportunities for students, who have a fantastic role model to emulate. Kevin Mercer says: "The future of the British breeding industry is in safe hands with a character like Paul."

DAVID NICHOLSON NEWCOMER Lee Oswin. Employer - Gary Moore, Brighton Lee first came to Gary Moore's stables for a week's work experience.  He lacked confidence and it was assumed he would struggle in the workplace when leaving school.  Following that week, he began working weekends and his confidence grew.  He improved his fitness and his riding skills.  After a nine-week course he then returned to Moore where he has just completed his NVQ Level 2 in Horsecare and Management.  He is a regular work rider, takes good care of his horses and is extremely reliable.  Moore says he is one of the most straightforward youngsters he has ever had working for him, a very honest young man. Lee says: "Sometimes when it is cold and wet it would be nice to laze in bed, but the horses I look after expect me to be there for them.  I can't think of another job I would rather do. I would like to think that one day I might look after a top horse that could win at a meeting like Cheltenham or Ascot."

SPECIAL MERIT/HERO Andy Gibson. Employer - Stuart Williams, Newmarket Andy remembers having his first ride at Doncaster on Guy Fawkes Day in 1977, where he came 5th of 26 runners.  Apprentices then borrowed other people's clothing - he rode wearing Pat Eddery's boots!   Born a Geordie, he has worked in racing all his life, currently as Yardman which is a very physically demanding job.  So it's all the more appropriate that Andy's work is recognised, as he has had Multiple Sclerosis for the past 10 years.  He continues to work, asking for no special treatment, and never takes a day off sick, which in the winter is rare even for an able-bodied person. Last year he attended an afternoon's hospital appointment, to be told that the disease had gone to the secondary stage.  In true Andy style, he was back in work the very next day.  After this diagnosis, he agreed to undertake pioneering drug research at Addenbrooks Hospital in Cambridge.  He plays a key role in the Multiple Sclerosis Society, attending fundraising events.   Penelope McCalmont of the Newmarket & District Brand of the MS Society says that Andy's perseverance is a lesson to us all; he never complains and always has a smile for everyone. So long as he's around his beloved horses, Andy says every day is a bonus for him.

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Stud and Stable Staff Award Winners 2008

All of the finalists were treated to a photo shoot with the exceptional photographer Arnhel de Serra

I am sure you will agree that the results are striking as seen in the winner of each category photos below.....

All Photos are copyright of the BHA and Arnhel de Serra and must not be copied.

	Rider/Groom Sean Travis Employer: Jeremy Noseda, Newmarket
	Stud Staff Charlie Wood Employer: Simon Hockridge, Newmarket
	David Nicholson Newcomer Victoria Blueman Employer: Lucy Wadham, Newmarket
	Special Merit/Hero Katie Clarke Employer: Henrietta Knight, West Lockinge
	Senior Staff Karen Paris Employer: William Jarvis, Newmarket