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Assistant Trainer -
Bill signed off his own training career at Spring Cottage Stables with a winner at Lingfield when Legal Issue, his last runner, took division one of the Atropos Handicap under Tim Sprake.
After Legal Issue had beaten Jubilee Scholar, the 9-
"He has won four for Brian Valentine, one of my most loyal owners."
Bill rode successfully on the flat and over jumps and took a licence to train in the 1956-
He returned to the training ranks in 1970 and spent five years at Penrith before ending up at Spring Cottage Stables.
Matt Bond -
Ian Twedall -
Jockeys
P J McDonald
PJ comes into the yard most morning to ride work and rides the majority of Flat horses in the yard
Barry Keniry
Barry is a very experienced National Hunt Jockey for both the youngsters and more experienced horses in the yard. He rides work on a morning and schools the horses on a regular basis.
Gary Whillans
Gary has recently joined us from his fathers yard in Scotland, and is our current Apprentice jockey
Scott Dobson
Scott has been with us for 4 years as a work rider. Previously he was a successful amateur jockey, riding 26 winners in England and 2 abroad.
He is a good asset to the yard
Travelling Head Lad & assistant
Kenny Williams -
Rodney Lappin
One of the valued senior members of staff, who is an ex Flat jockey. Rod has been with us since commencing training, apart from a few seasons in Dubai as a work rider.
Tom joined the team four years ago after working for Micky Hammond and Kate Walton. He spent 8 months in Australia working for Darley, retuning to the team last February. He is an asset to the yard being very good with difficult or young horses.
Joe Cosgrave
Joe joined the team 4 years ago, he is a good work rider and is one of the team responsible for breaking the yearlings and riding them away. Joe previously worked for Lynda Ramsden before joining us
Hannah Watson
Hannah joined the team in 2005 straight from school at the age of 15, she has her NVQ’s 1,2 & 3. and is one of the yards first aiders.As well as stable duties she rides out on a daily basis.
Anthea FindlayAnthea joined the team 5 years ago after many years with Mick Hammond. She owns and breeds her own thoroughbreds.
Anthea rides out and also chauffeurs the boss to the race meetings.
Martin Andrews (Derby)
Derby joined the team in 2009 after working for Karl Burke and other trainers around the Middleham area.
He is a respected member of the team, being one of our oldest stable lads at the age of 64!
Amanda Burchell
Amanda has been with us for 10 year and a respected senior member of staff, she is responsible for clipping the horses in the winter months
Hazel Dowson
Hazel has been with us since commencing training and manages the Tack Room Barn and Barn C
Jess Wilson
Jess has also been with the team since the beginning and manages the Outside Barn
Noreen Mohammad and Naser Hyatt are the ground staff responsible for Barns A, B & D
Part time staff include Alan Proud, Melissa Hope and Abbey Bond
David Egan
David is the fully qualified maintenance person about the yard. He has completed and successfully taken all the examinations which now fall into this category.
Melissa Hope
Melissa had previously worked for Alan Brown before joining us in 2011
Niall Kennedy
Niall is with us part time and is proving himself as a useful team member.
Sian Harrison
Sian has joined us recently and is learning all the time, she is being monitered by The Northern Racing College nd is progressing nicely through her evaluations
Last but not least our veterinary surgeons,
Stirks & Associates , Ripon and Phil Jones from The Equine Sports Mediciene Centre, near Houghton le Spring.
