PONY CLUB Raceday/Jockey Skills
The Jockey Skills Training Course is one of the most exciting aspects of this initiative. Ten Pony Club members are selected to participate in the course at the world renowned Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE) in Kildare town prior to the Race Day. The course is open to Irish Pony Club members aged 14 to 16 years who hold a minimum C test certificate and who are under 9 stone weight.
The overall winner of the Jockey Skills course will be announced at the Race Day. During the exhibition race at the Curragh, the members who completed the Jockey Skills course will ride the pony/horse they usually ride at Pony Club activities.
2018 Jockey Skills Training Course Report by Katie Donlon
2018 has been a busy year full of Irish Pony Club activities. One of the highlights of the calendar for ten lucky applicants is the Jockey Skills Training Course at RACE.
On Friday and Saturday, September 7th and 8th, ten Irish Pony Club members travelled to RACE in the Curragh to participate in the Jockey Skills Training Course, Leah Rumble, Tipperary Hunt Branch, Tom Hayden, Tipperary Hunt Branch, Erin Dunseath, Wexford Hunt Branch, Elizabeth Wallace, Co. Limerick Hunt Branch, Lauren Doyle, Laois Hunt Branch, Patrick Sheeran, Laois Hunt Branch, Katie Donlon, Westmeath Hunt Branch, Niamh Flinter, Kildare Hunt Branch, Aoibhe Long, Meath Hunt Branch and Kate Mulligan, Galway Mid County Branch.
As we approach the final presentation for the 2018 Jockey Skills Training Course participants at Naas Raacecourse on Sunday 30th, Katie Donlon from Westmeath Hunt Branch has written an excellent report reflecting on her experience at RACE.
"For someone who had no experience of racing and race horses whatsoever I found the Jockey Skills course at RACE excellent. On arrival I was given my name badge and shown to my room. Ehe room and shower facilities were excellent. The canteen offered a great variety of food with information on a balanced diet. At RACE all the staff were very friendly and helpful. Over the two days I got to try lots of new things and I learned a lot. The first thing we got to do was ride one of the thoroughbreds in the indoor arena and we were coached by the instructors. This was a good opportunity to get used to the horses and the racing saddles before going out on the gallops. Next we went on the racing simulators where we were coached on our positions on the horses and this was great fun. We also got to have a PE session in the gym which gave us an idea of the level of fitness needed to be a jockey. After going out on the gallops we got to see a video of ourselves out on the gallops and we were given feedback by one of the coaches. I also learned a lot about how to eat well at the nutritional session. Overall I really enjoyed the skills course at RACE and I would recommend it to anyone considering becoming a jockey. I would like to thank all involved for afforded me the experience."
Thank you to Katie, for submitting this report. Well done! Congratulations to all of the particpants who completed the course. The staff at RACE reported that the group were a pleasure to host and they represented themselves, their families and the Irish Pony Club exceptionally well. Have a great day at Naas Racecourse on Sunday.
Irish Pony Club Family Fun Day at Naas Racecourse on Sunday 30th September 2018
The Annual Irish Pony Club Family Fun Day and Race Day at Naas Racecourse will take place on Sunday 30th September. Naas Racecourse have a super day planned, packed full of activities for all the family.
10 Irish Pony Club Members Selected for the 2018 RACE Jockey Skills Training Course
Each year nominations are collected from each Branch for the RACE (Racing Academy and Centre of Education) Jockey Skills Training Course. Once again in 2018, ten Irish Pony Club members have been selected to complete a two day course in Kildare at RACE on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th September.
Congratulations to:
- Leah Rumble, Tipperary Hunt Branch
- Erin Dunseath, Wexford Hunt Branch
- Tom Hayden, Tipperary Hunt Branch
- Elizabeth Wallace, Co. Limerick Hunt Branch
- Lauren Doyle, Laois Hunt Branch
- Katie Donlon, Westmeath Hunt Branch
- Niamh Flinter, Kildare Hunt Branch
- Katie Mulligan, Galway Mid County Branch
- Aoibhe Long, Meath Hunt Branch
- Patrick Sheeran, Laois Hunt Branch
All in the Irish Pony Club would like to wish them the very best of luck. RACE have a full schedule planned for them and we hope that they enjoy the experience and gain valuable knowledge from the training. Good luck!
Applications OPEN for RACE Jockey Skills Training Course 2018
Applications are now open for the RACE Jockey Skills Training Course. The application form may be downloaded from the IPC website. Applications will close on Monday 13th of August 2018. https://irishponyclub.ie/images/pdf/2018/race-jockeyskills/jockeyskillsapplicationform2018.pdf
Dead Heat at the Irish Pony Club Fun Family Race Day
The 2017 Irish Pony Club Jockey Skills Training Course concluded on Sunday 14th September with the Exhibition Race at Naas Racecourse. The race finished in a dead heat with Robbie Jackson from Shillelagh and District Hunt Branch and Brandon Wilkie from East Donegal Branch inseparable on the line. What better way to end the 2017 RACE Jockey Skills Training programme. Well done to Robbie and Brandon.
View the race in full here on the IPC Facebook Page.
RACE graduate Shane Foley presented certificates to all ten jockeys for completing the course:
RACE Jockey Skills Training Course 2017
The 2017 RACE Jockey Skills Training Course takes place on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th September at RACE (Racing Academy and Centre of Education), Kildare.
There was a great response to the programme this year. We received sixteen applications from Irish Pony Club members from all parts of the country. Consequently, a selection panel was formed to evaluate each application. It proved to be a difficult process to select the ten applicants because all of the submissions were excellent. Unfortunately, not everyone could receive a place on the course and we would like to sincerely thank all of those applicants who were unsuccessful at this time, for their interest. We would encourage all of these members to continue to develop their jockey skills through the Irish Pony Club and re-apply in the future.
Congratulations to all successful applicants. Good luck and have a great weekend! These are the ten members who will travel to RACE:
- Fiona Clarke, Tynagh Branch
- Alannah Cox, Leitrim Branch
- Brandon Wilkie, East Donegal Branch
- James Coffey, United Hunt Branch
- Alex Harvey, Ward Union Branch
- Jordan Kidd, Meath Hunt Branch
- Bernard Reidy Leahy, Scarteen Hunt Branch
- Robbie Jackson, Shillelagh and District Hunt Branch
- Charlie O'Dwyer, Kildare Hunt Branch
- Julie McDonald, Laois Hunt Branch
Irish Pony Club
Phone/Email
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- fax: +353 (0)56 883 2965
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