David Papworth
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
The son of a baker, David John Papworth was born in Royston on January 26, 1945. His uncle Ted used to ride over jumps before the war, which may well have fired a youthful David’s aspirations to become a jockey. He certainly started young, riding out for Willie Stephenson at Royston when aged 14.
The son of a baker, David John Papworth was born in Royston on January 26, 1945. His uncle Ted used to ride over jumps before the war, which may well have fired a youthful David’s aspirations to become a jockey. He certainly started young, riding out for Willie Stephenson at Royston when aged 14.
He became indentured to Stephenson and at 17 rode his first winner on a veteran selling hurdler named Fox King, owned and trained by Felbrigg, Norfolk permit holder Harman Arnes, in a novice riders’ race at Fakenham on Saturday, September 19, 1964. The future looked rosy, but a couple of unwise moves after his apprenticeship ended held him back. He was getting only about ten rides a season and no winners.
He became indentured to Stephenson and at 17 rode his first winner on a veteran selling hurdler named Fox King, owned and trained by Felbrigg, Norfolk permit holder Harman Arnes, in a novice riders’ race at Fakenham on Saturday, September 19, 1964. The future looked rosy, but a couple of unwise moves after his apprenticeship ended held him back. He was getting only about ten rides a season and no winners.
He took the plunge and headed north, joining Neville Crump at Middleham. His second winner, more than five years after his first, came on selling hurdler Harmony Boy for another Middleham trainer, Joe Hartigan, at Sedgefield in November 1969.
He took the plunge and headed north, joining Neville Crump at Middleham. His second winner, more than five years after his first, came on selling hurdler Harmony Boy for another Middleham trainer, Joe Hartigan, at Sedgefield in November 1969.
He gradually began to make progress, riding six winners during the 1970/71 season. It wasn’t until the fourth week of January before he got off the mark on Taffy Williams’ Arctic Lodge at Sedgefield and a further two months before dead-heating on the same horse over course and distance, but one by one the winners came in the latter part of the season. Williams supplied him with one at Carlisle over Easter, another at Market Rasen on May 1 and a third at Southwell over the Whitsun weekend. He rounded matters off by winning the very last race of the season at Market Rasen.
He gradually began to make progress, riding six winners during the 1970/71 season. It wasn’t until the fourth week of January before he got off the mark on Taffy Williams’ Arctic Lodge at Sedgefield and a further two months before dead-heating on the same horse over course and distance, but one by one the winners came in the latter part of the season. Williams supplied him with one at Carlisle over Easter, another at Market Rasen on May 1 and a third at Southwell over the Whitsun weekend. He rounded matters off by winning the very last race of the season at Market Rasen.
David’s association with Ferryhill, County Durham trainer Taffy Williams continued to bear fruit into the following season, with Jane’s Heir’s winning a Perth selling hurdle on September 22. Novice hurdler Penfort, trained by Avril Vasey at Middleham, was David’s next winner, at Carlisle on December 16, his tenth in all, resulting in his allowance being cut to 5lb. Penfort then became David’s first as a 5lb claimer when obliging at Sedgefield’s Boxing Day fixture.
David’s association with Ferryhill, County Durham trainer Taffy Williams continued to bear fruit into the following season, with Jane’s Heir’s winning a Perth selling hurdle on September 22. Novice hurdler Penfort, trained by Avril Vasey at Middleham, was David’s next winner, at Carlisle on December 16, his tenth in all, resulting in his allowance being cut to 5lb. Penfort then became David’s first as a 5lb claimer when obliging at Sedgefield’s Boxing Day fixture.
He got 1972 off to a good start with victory on the Steve Nesbitt-trained Native Honey at Catterick on New Year’s Day, but that was pretty much as far as it went. There were no more winners that season and just one the next, on Peter Chisman’s Trim Lawns in the Festive Selling Handicap Hurdle at Newcastle on December 27, 1972.
He got 1972 off to a good start with victory on the Steve Nesbitt-trained Native Honey at Catterick on New Year’s Day, but that was pretty much as far as it went. There were no more winners that season and just one the next, on Peter Chisman’s Trim Lawns in the Festive Selling Handicap Hurdle at Newcastle on December 27, 1972.
David Papworth continued riding until the 1975/76 season before relinquishing his licence. He now lives in Newmarket where he is a successful tennis coach.
David Papworth continued riding until the 1975/76 season before relinquishing his licence. He now lives in Newmarket where he is a successful tennis coach.
He rode a total of 13 winners during his career, these being, in chronological order:
He rode a total of 13 winners during his career, these being, in chronological order:
1. Fox King, Fakenham, September 19, 1964
1. Fox King, Fakenham, September 19, 1964
2. Harmony Boy, Sedgefield, November 6, 1969
2. Harmony Boy, Sedgefield, November 6, 1969
3. Arctic Lodge, Sedgefield, January 23, 1971
3. Arctic Lodge, Sedgefield, January 23, 1971
4. Arctic Lodge, Sedgefield, March 23, 1971
4. Arctic Lodge, Sedgefield, March 23, 1971
5. Jane’s Heir, Carlisle, April 10, 1971
5. Jane’s Heir, Carlisle, April 10, 1971
6. Mandy-Ann, Market Rasen, May 1, 1971
6. Mandy-Ann, Market Rasen, May 1, 1971
7. Hialeah, Southwell, May 29, 1971
7. Hialeah, Southwell, May 29, 1971
8. Molly Fay, Market Rasen, June 5, 1971
8. Molly Fay, Market Rasen, June 5, 1971
9. Jane’s Heir, Perth, September 22, 1971
9. Jane’s Heir, Perth, September 22, 1971
10. Penfort, Carlisle, December 16, 1971
10. Penfort, Carlisle, December 16, 1971
11. Penfort, Sedgefield, December 27, 1971
11. Penfort, Sedgefield, December 27, 1971
12. Native Honey Catterick, January 1, 1972
12. Native Honey Catterick, January 1, 1972
13. Trim Lawns, Newcastle, December 27, 1972
13. Trim Lawns, Newcastle, December 27, 1972
David’s uncle, Edward (Ted) Papworth, had served as a Paratrooper during the war and spent four years as a prisoner of war after being captured. He rode a few winners in the immediate post-war years, including Golfer in a Huntingdon selling chase on Whit Monday 1946. Having retired from the saddle, he later became a hairdresser in Royston.
David’s uncle, Edward (Ted) Papworth, had served as a Paratrooper during the war and spent four years as a prisoner of war after being captured. He rode a few winners in the immediate post-war years, including Golfer in a Huntingdon selling chase on Whit Monday 1946. Having retired from the saddle, he later became a hairdresser in Royston.