Latest news with #CheltenhamFestival-winning
BBC News
08-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Williams reflects on career as landmark 75th win looms
Isabel Williams believes her next winner of the jump season will confirm her conviction she was right to pursue horse racing despite its 27 years of age Williams is already Wales' leading female jockey. Now she needs one more triumph to ride out her claim and become a fully-fledged professional.A claim is a sliding-scale weight advantage for a horse ridden by a relatively inexperienced jockey. Once a conditional jockey has 75 career winners, they lose their claim and join the ranks of the of Llancarfan in the Vale of Glamorgan, has 74 winners and is eagerly awaiting her next most recent win was at Doncaster on 1 March, riding Patriotik to victory in a three-mile hurdle."As the 75th creeps closer and you have another winner and another winner, all you want is more," says Williams."I've got one more win to ride out my claim and I suppose that's quite a big thing to do. I don't know the exact percentage of jockeys who get their licence and go on to ride out their claim, but I think it's pretty small."Recent statistics have put the conversion figure from starting out as a conditional jockey to becoming a full, elite professional at between only 10 and 15%.Reasons for jockeys quitting before gaining 75 winners include the demands of making the weight and the risks of sustaining serious the daughter of leading Welsh trainer Evan Williams, began riding ponies aged five and says the worst injury she has suffered in 658 career races was a fractured cheekbone."It wasn't even during the race, it was cantering up to the start and the horse decided he wanted to go faster than I wanted him to," she says."That was really sore, but other than that I've had no really serious injuries, touch wood."The issue of rider safety in racing returned to the fore when 24-year-old Michael O'Sullivan, a Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey, died after injuries sustained in a fall at Thurles on 6 February."What happened to Michael O'Sullivan was heart-breaking – for his family, obviously, but also for everyone in racing because it touches everyone in a close-knit community," says Williams."And the reality is it can happen to anybody. But I suppose you can't think like that. You have to live your own life and do what you want to do."If you thought about the risks involved in anything, then you might never get in a car in the morning, or get on a plane to go on holiday. Yes, the sport is dangerous, but it is also made as safe as it can be." Horse racing is one of the very few sports in which men and women compete against each other and according to British Horseracing Authority (BHA) figures, the percentage of all rides given to female jockeys increased from 5% to almost 10% between 2010 and the weekend on which International Women's Day is marked, 8 March, Williams believes horse racing has become more open and accessible to women wanting to compete at the top."I do enjoy being able to take on both men and women on a level playing field. It's one of the great things about our sport," she says."You feel like if you win, it's because you rode well. It's not about who you are or where you are from. It's an even race."I have never experienced any issues or barriers as a female jockey. People want you to do well, it's a supportive community, and racing is something I am really proud to be involved with." Wales' point-to-point decline Williams – whose younger sister Ellie, 25, is a successful amateur jockey – does have one concern, that the decline in point-to-point racing in Wales may restrict opportunities for young female riders in the Williams sisters began racing in point-to-point events and Isabel says: "The only thing I worry about for young girls is that when I started there was a big community of people doing point-to-point racing."That was a great entry point for young amateur riders because at most meetings there would be a race just for women and so girls had lots of chances to get a ride."But since Covid, point-to-point racing has declined and so that is problem."Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday, 11 March, but Williams currently has no booked rides at the meeting, although she has won races at Cheltenham outside of the festival."It's our FA Cup final, our Wimbledon, a real spectacle where everyone wants to watch the best horses in the most competitive races."I won on Bold Plan at Cheltenham in an April meeting, so it's definitely a big ambition to ride and win at the festival."That and the Grand National, that would be the pinnacle."
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jockey Michael O'Sullivan won the hearts of the Irish people, funeral hears
Jockey Michael O'Sullivan won the hearts of the Irish people, his funeral has heard. The 24-year-old Cheltenham Festival-winning rider, from Co Cork, died in hospital on Sunday from injuries he suffered in a fall at Thurles Racecourse in Co Tipperary earlier in the month. Hundreds of mourners gathered amid pouring rain at John the Baptist Church in Glantane, in Co Cork, on Wednesday for requiem mass. Priest Fr Gerard Coleman told the service that O'Sullivan lived life to the full, and packed more into his 24 years than most people do in two lifetimes. He said he had maturity beyond his years, and a 'tremendous understanding'. 'He understood his horses and that's why he was such a great rider,' said the priest. 'But he also understood people and that is why he made a lasting impression on everyone and won the hearts of the Irish people. 'Everyone loved him. He was an incredibly talented and dedicated sportsman and will never be forgotten.' The jockey was riding the horse Wee Charlie, for trainer Gerard O'Leary, when he sustained the fatal injuries. He was one of three fallers at the final fence in a two-mile handicap chase at Thurles on February 6. The rest of the meeting was abandoned as the air ambulance arrived to take O'Sullivan to hospital. He was treated in the intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital, where he died in the early hours of Sunday surrounded by his parents Bernie and William, brother Alan, partner Charlotte and extended family. O'Sullivan shot to prominence on the opening day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, headlined by his Supreme Novices' Hurdle win on Marine Nationale, just months after turning professional. Ahead of the funeral, O'Sullivan's coffin was brought to the church from his home in nearby Lombardstown. Young members of the Duhallow Pony Club formed a guard of honour as the cortege passed by. O'Sullivan's riding whip was among items brought to the altar to symbolise his life. A jersey of his local GAA club Kilshannig was also placed at the front of the church, as was his university degree parchment and family photo albums. The service, which was attended by several well known figures from the racing world, began with a eulogy from O'Sullivan's father. He thanked all the emergency services who had treated his son and also praised the community for the support offered to the family. 'While we are broken hearted, we will now focus on what Michael would want for us,' he said. 'He would want us to mend over time, he would want us to support Alan in his life choices and find joy in his achievements. 'He would want us to find joy in the achievements of his cousins and friends and his many weighing room colleagues. May you all stay safe. 'Michael will forever be in our hearts and minds.' Near the close of the service, the jockey's partner Charlotte spoke of her endless love for him in a poem she read to the church. After the funeral, O'Sullivan's coffin was taken onward for burial at St John's Cemetery. A horse led the funeral procession away from the church.
The Independent
19-02-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Jockey Michael O'Sullivan won the hearts of the Irish people, funeral hears
Jockey Michael O' Sullivan won the hearts of the Irish people, his funeral has heard. The 24-year-old Cheltenham Festival-winning rider, from Co Cork, died in hospital on Sunday from injuries he suffered in a fall at Thurles Racecourse in Co Tipperary earlier in the month. Hundreds of mourners gathered amid pouring rain at John the Baptist Church in Glantane, in Co Cork, on Wednesday for requiem mass. Priest Fr Gerard Coleman told the service that O'Sullivan lived life to the full, and packed more into his 24 years than most people do in two lifetimes. He said he had maturity beyond his years, and a 'tremendous understanding'. 'He understood his horses and that's why he was such a great rider,' said the priest. 'But he also understood people and that is why he made a lasting impression on everyone and won the hearts of the Irish people. 'Everyone loved him. He was an incredibly talented and dedicated sportsman and will never be forgotten.' The jockey was riding the horse Wee Charlie, for trainer Gerard O'Leary, when he sustained the fatal injuries. He was one of three fallers at the final fence in a two-mile handicap chase at Thurles on February 6. The rest of the meeting was abandoned as the air ambulance arrived to take O'Sullivan to hospital. He was treated in the intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital, where he died in the early hours of Sunday surrounded by his parents Bernie and William, brother Alan, partner Charlotte and extended family. O'Sullivan shot to prominence on the opening day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, headlined by his Supreme Novices' Hurdle win on Marine Nationale, just months after turning professional. His funeral began with a eulogy from his father. He thanked all the emergency services who had treated his son and also praised the community for the support offered to the family. 'While we are broken hearted, we will now focus on what Michael would want for us,' he said. 'He would want us to mend over time, he would want us to support Alan in his life choices and find joy in his achievements. 'He would want us to find joy in the achievements of his cousins and friends and his many weighing room colleagues. May you all stay safe. 'Michael will forever be in our hearts and minds.' After the funeral, O'Sullivan's coffin was taken onward for burial at St John's Cemetery.
The Independent
19-02-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Funeral of jockey Michael O'Sullivan taking place
The funeral of Irish jockey Michael O' Sullivan is taking place in Co Cork. The 24-year-old Cheltenham Festival-winning rider died as a result of the injuries he suffered in a fall at Thurles on February 6. Mourners gathered amid pouring rain at John the Baptist Church in Glantane, Co Cork on Wednesday for requiem mass. O'Sullivan will be later laid to rest at St John's Cemetery. A message from his family ahead of the service said that after 'a trojan battle' to recover from his injuries in the intensive care unit of Cork University Hospital, O'Sullivan died on February 16 – a few days short of his 25th birthday. The family have spoken of their pride in an 'extraordinary young man'. The jockey died surrounded by his parents Bernie and William, brother Alan, partner Charlotte and extended family. The family statement added: 'Michael had accomplished so much in his short life. 'As a family, we are so incredibly proud not only of his achievements in the saddle but of the extraordinary young man he had become. 'He was full of kindness, integrity, ambition and love, always striving to be the best person he could be. 'Michael will be very sadly missed by Bernie, William, Alan, grandmother 'Granny Mary', aunts, uncles, cousins, Charlotte, his many friends as well as his weigh-room colleagues and the wider racing community.' O'Sullivan shot to prominence when riding a double on the opening day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, headlined by his Supreme Novices' Hurdle success on Marine Nationale, just months after turning professional.
The Independent
19-02-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Funeral of jockey Michael O'Sullivan to take place
The funeral of Irish jockey Michael O' Sullivan will take place in Co Cork today. The 24-year-old Cheltenham Festival-winning rider died as a result of the injuries he suffered in a fall at Thurles on February 6. A message from his family said that after 'a trojan battle' to recover from his injuries in the intensive care unit of Cork University Hospital, O'Sullivan died on February 16 – a few days short of his 25th birthday. The official notice was posted online on Sunday evening, along with a tribute from his family in which they spoke of their pride in an 'extraordinary young man'. It said he had died surrounded by his heartbroken parents Bernie and William, brother Alan, partner Charlotte and extended family. It added: 'Michael had accomplished so much in his short life. 'As a family we are so incredibly proud not only of his achievements in the saddle, but of the extraordinary young man he had become. 'He was full of kindness, integrity, ambition and love, always striving to be the best person he could be. 'Michael will be very sadly missed by Bernie, William, Alan, grandmother 'Granny Mary', aunts, uncles, cousins, Charlotte, his many friends as well as his weigh-room colleagues and the wider racing community.' O'Sullivan shot to prominence when riding a double on the opening day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, headlined by his Supreme Novices' Hurdle success on Marine Nationale, just months after turning professional. A requiem mass was scheduled for noon at St John the Baptist Church in Glantane, Co Cork on Wednesday, followed by a burial at St John's Cemetery.
