Brian Powell
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Northern jump jockey Brian Powell rode his first winner for Dunbar trainer Tommy Craig at Newcastle on a novice hurdler named Elder on Saturday, May 30, 1970
Northern jump jockey Brian Powell rode his first winner for Dunbar trainer Tommy Craig at Newcastle on a novice hurdler named Elder on Saturday, May 30, 1970
For the majority of his riding career he was associated with the mighty Dickinson stable, which was initially based at Gisburn, near Clitheroe, Lancashire, and then at Harewood, West Yorkshire. Tony Dickinson originally held the licence, to be followed by his wife Monica and then their son Michael. The stable was at its zenith between the mid-70s and mid-80s.
For the majority of his riding career he was associated with the mighty Dickinson stable, which was initially based at Gisburn, near Clitheroe, Lancashire, and then at Harewood, West Yorkshire. Tony Dickinson originally held the licence, to be followed by his wife Monica and then their son Michael. The stable was at its zenith between the mid-70s and mid-80s.
Brian’s best season in the saddle was 1973/74 when he rode nine winners, eight of them coming in a two-month spell between mid-December and mid-February. They included three victories on Tony Dickinson’s promising novice hurdler Broncho II, a Boxing Day winner on novice chaser Que Bonito at Sedgefield, and a decent Newcastle handicap hurdle on Jumbo Wilkinson’s Andy Scott.
Brian’s best season in the saddle was 1973/74 when he rode nine winners, eight of them coming in a two-month spell between mid-December and mid-February. They included three victories on Tony Dickinson’s promising novice hurdler Broncho II, a Boxing Day winner on novice chaser Que Bonito at Sedgefield, and a decent Newcastle handicap hurdle on Jumbo Wilkinson’s Andy Scott.
However, not everything went well that season and he incurred the wrath of both trainer Tony and jockey Michael Dickinson following the Vaux Breweries Great Teesside Handicap Chase at Stockton (known then as Teesside Park) in February 1974. Brian had taken an outside ride on Collingwood while Michael was on the favourite Dorlesa. Collingwood made the running as usual, but after two miles Arthur Stephenson’s runner Interview II began to nudge up on the inside as Collingwood started to fade. Michael yelled out to Brian not to let Interview II up his inside, but it was too late, for he’d already got through and he went on to beat Dorlesa by a length. Brian received a sound lecture from Dickinson senior and junior after the race.
However, not everything went well that season and he incurred the wrath of both trainer Tony and jockey Michael Dickinson following the Vaux Breweries Great Teesside Handicap Chase at Stockton (known then as Teesside Park) in February 1974. Brian had taken an outside ride on Collingwood while Michael was on the favourite Dorlesa. Collingwood made the running as usual, but after two miles Arthur Stephenson’s runner Interview II began to nudge up on the inside as Collingwood started to fade. Michael yelled out to Brian not to let Interview II up his inside, but it was too late, for he’d already got through and he went on to beat Dorlesa by a length. Brian received a sound lecture from Dickinson senior and junior after the race.
The Dickinsons weren’t really noted for their early season forays but Brian did well with outside rides, winning on Ray Peacock’s chaser Dad’s Lad at Newton Abbot on the opening day of the 1974/75 campaign, then adding a brace of wins on Mick Naughton’s selling hurdler Toughie at Sedgefield and Bangor-on-Dee. With Michael Dickinson ensconced as stable jockey, Brian was one of several stable conditionals competing for rides at the lesser meetings, but the yard’s strength in depth meant that there was usually plenty of winners to be spread around, especially at the bank holiday fixtures.Novice hurdlers Alystar at Sedgefield on Boxing Day 1974 and Straight Lemon at Market Rasen on Easter Monday 1975 were examples of this, contributing to the eight winners he rode that season.
The Dickinsons weren’t really noted for their early season forays but Brian did well with outside rides, winning on Ray Peacock’s chaser Dad’s Lad at Newton Abbot on the opening day of the 1974/75 campaign, then adding a brace of wins on Mick Naughton’s selling hurdler Toughie at Sedgefield and Bangor-on-Dee. With Michael Dickinson ensconced as stable jockey, Brian was one of several stable conditionals competing for rides at the lesser meetings, but the yard’s strength in depth meant that there was usually plenty of winners to be spread around, especially at the bank holiday fixtures.Novice hurdlers Alystar at Sedgefield on Boxing Day 1974 and Straight Lemon at Market Rasen on Easter Monday 1975 were examples of this, contributing to the eight winners he rode that season.
Brian had one more season riding and rode just one more winner, Tony Dickinson’shurdler Carnival Day at Newcastle on February 20, 1976. After handing in his licence he became head lad to the Dickinsons.
Brian had one more season riding and rode just one more winner, Tony Dickinson’shurdler Carnival Day at Newcastle on February 20, 1976. After handing in his licence he became head lad to the Dickinsons.
He subsequently worked in a similar capacity for Barry Hills at Lambourn and then John Gosden. It was through Gosden that Brian’s name was put forward when Godolphin was looking to build a high quality and experienced team. Brian duly joined Godolphin’s operation fronted by Saeed Bin Suroor and remains a pivotal part of the training team, spending winters in Dubai and summers in Britain.
He subsequently worked in a similar capacity for Barry Hills at Lambourn and then John Gosden. It was through Gosden that Brian’s name was put forward when Godolphin was looking to build a high quality and experienced team. Brian duly joined Godolphin’s operation fronted by Saeed Bin Suroor and remains a pivotal part of the training team, spending winters in Dubai and summers in Britain.