David Punshon
1929 - 2005
1929 - 2005
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
David Punshon was a successful amateur rider who turned professional and had one stellar season in 1950/51 when riding as stable jockey to top northern trainer Jack Fawcus.
David Punshon was a successful amateur rider who turned professional and had one stellar season in 1950/51 when riding as stable jockey to top northern trainer Jack Fawcus.
David Killingworth Punshon was born on March 3, 1929. He began riding
David Killingworth Punshon was born on March 3, 1929. He began riding
as an amateur on the Flat and partnered four winners in 1949, the first of them on Victory Salute for Epsom trainer Jack Reardon in the Amateur Riders’ Handicap at Sandown Park on June 25.
as an amateur on the Flat and partnered four winners in 1949, the first of them on Victory Salute for Epsom trainer Jack Reardon in the Amateur Riders’ Handicap at Sandown Park on June 25.
He began riding over jumps in the 1949/50 season and rode six winners that term, beginning with Selworthy, trained
He began riding over jumps in the 1949/50 season and rode six winners that term, beginning with Selworthy, trained
by Alec Kerr, in division two of the Petworth Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell (right) on November 2, 1949. He won on him again over course and distance in February 1950.
by Alec Kerr, in division two of the Petworth Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell (right) on November 2, 1949. He won on him again over course and distance in February 1950.
Despite not yet having ridden a winner over fences, he was given the
Despite not yet having ridden a winner over fences, he was given the
ride on 100/1 outsider Safety Loch in the 1950 Grand National. They pulled up on that occasion, but ten days later Safety Loch (left) broke the ice for David when winning an amateur rider’s handicap chase at Sandown’s Royal Artillery meeting. Victory on Broken Dawn in a similar contest at Fontwell the very next day got his name noticed and he turned professional at the start of the following season.
ride on 100/1 outsider Safety Loch in the 1950 Grand National. They pulled up on that occasion, but ten days later Safety Loch (left) broke the ice for David when winning an amateur rider’s handicap chase at Sandown’s Royal Artillery meeting. Victory on Broken Dawn in a similar contest at Fontwell the very next day got his name noticed and he turned professional at the start of the following season.
David rode his first winner in the paid ranks on Broomfield, trained by Jack Anthony, at Fontwell on October 9, 1950. The following day he journeyed north to Ayr, where he won a two-runner handicap chase on Colonel Lord Joicey’s Rapier, trained by Jack Fawcus at Middleham. The next week saw him ride winners for Fawcus on both days of the United Border Hunt (now known as Kelso) fixture. That seemingly cemented his position as stable jockey.
David rode his first winner in the paid ranks on Broomfield, trained by Jack Anthony, at Fontwell on October 9, 1950. The following day he journeyed north to Ayr, where he won a two-runner handicap chase on Colonel Lord Joicey’s Rapier, trained by Jack Fawcus at Middleham. The next week saw him ride winners for Fawcus on both days of the United Border Hunt (now known as Kelso) fixture. That seemingly cemented his position as stable jockey.
He went on to ride a total of 21 winners that season, highlights including Doncaster’s Princess Elizabeth Handicap Hurdle on Astara, Catterick’s Grand National Trial Chase on Troonbay, and the Wetherby Handicap Chase on the Charlie Hall-trained Culworth, the first leg of an Easter Monday double. He also won four races on Jack Fawcus’s juvenile hurdler Picks Barn.
He went on to ride a total of 21 winners that season, highlights including Doncaster’s Princess Elizabeth Handicap Hurdle on Astara, Catterick’s Grand National Trial Chase on Troonbay, and the Wetherby Handicap Chase on the Charlie Hall-trained Culworth, the first leg of an Easter Monday double. He also won four races on Jack Fawcus’s juvenile hurdler Picks Barn.
One of the stars of the Fawcus string, albeit a fading one, was the
One of the stars of the Fawcus string, albeit a fading one, was the
one-time top-class chaser Cool Customer, who was by then 12 years old. David rode him to victory (right) in the Boston Pit Handicap Chase at Haydock on February 7, 1951, beating Aintree stalwarts Irish Lizard and Russian Hero, conceding weight all round. Seven days later, David and Cool Customer finished fourth behind Arctic Gold, Lockerbie and Freebooter in a high-class renewal of Doncaster’s Great Yorkshire Chase, again giving weight to all nine rivals.
one-time top-class chaser Cool Customer, who was by then 12 years old. David rode him to victory (right) in the Boston Pit Handicap Chase at Haydock on February 7, 1951, beating Aintree stalwarts Irish Lizard and Russian Hero, conceding weight all round. Seven days later, David and Cool Customer finished fourth behind Arctic Gold, Lockerbie and Freebooter in a high-class renewal of Doncaster’s Great Yorkshire Chase, again giving weight to all nine rivals.
For whatever reason, the arrangement with Jack Fawcus appears to have lasted just that one season. David rode for Tadcaster trainer Charlie Hall in the 1951/52 season but had only three winners in what appears to have been an abbreviated campaign, as his final ride was when pulling up Perravicini in the Jed Forest Handicap Chase at Kelso – the first time that the meeting had officially been held under the name of Kelso rather than United Border Hunt – on March 1, 1952.
For whatever reason, the arrangement with Jack Fawcus appears to have lasted just that one season. David rode for Tadcaster trainer Charlie Hall in the 1951/52 season but had only three winners in what appears to have been an abbreviated campaign, as his final ride was when pulling up Perravicini in the Jed Forest Handicap Chase at Kelso – the first time that the meeting had officially been held under the name of Kelso rather than United Border Hunt – on March 1, 1952.
He finished his career in Ireland, riding for Anthony Bryce-Smith. He rode a double for him on Royal Whim and Royal Honor at Downpatrick in October 1953 and also won Leopardstown’s Stillorgan Maiden Hurdle on Rathinree on February 6, 1954.
He finished his career in Ireland, riding for Anthony Bryce-Smith. He rode a double for him on Royal Whim and Royal Honor at Downpatrick in October 1953 and also won Leopardstown’s Stillorgan Maiden Hurdle on Rathinree on February 6, 1954.
He later officiated abroad as a stipendiary steward.
He later officiated abroad as a stipendiary steward.
David Punshon died in May 2005, aged 76. His British winners were, in chronological order:
David Punshon died in May 2005, aged 76. His British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Victory Salute, Sandown Park, June 25, 1949
1. Victory Salute, Sandown Park, June 25, 1949
2. Drury, Folkestone, July 18, 1949
2. Drury, Folkestone, July 18, 1949
3. Victory Salute, Brighton, August 3, 1949
3. Victory Salute, Brighton, August 3, 1949
4. Bulo Boda, Folkestone, September 2, 1949
4. Bulo Boda, Folkestone, September 2, 1949
5. Selworthy, Fontwell Park, November 2, 1949
5. Selworthy, Fontwell Park, November 2, 1949
6. Selworthy, Fontwell Park, February 7, 1950
6. Selworthy, Fontwell Park, February 7, 1950
7. Cream of the Border, Doncaster, February 15, 1950
7. Cream of the Border, Doncaster, February 15, 1950
8. Glengrigor, Wolverhampton, March 14, 1950
8. Glengrigor, Wolverhampton, March 14, 1950
9. Safety Loch, Sandown Park, April 4, 1950
9. Safety Loch, Sandown Park, April 4, 1950
10. Broken Dawn, Fontwell Park, April 5, 1950
10. Broken Dawn, Fontwell Park, April 5, 1950
11. Broomfield, Fontwell Park, October 9, 1950
11. Broomfield, Fontwell Park, October 9, 1950
12. Rapier, Ayr, October 10, 1950
12. Rapier, Ayr, October 10, 1950
13. Astara, United Border Hunt (Kelso), October 20, 1950
13. Astara, United Border Hunt (Kelso), October 20, 1950
14. Rapier, United Border Hunt (Kelso), October 21, 1950
14. Rapier, United Border Hunt (Kelso), October 21, 1950
15. Vernon Arms, Hexham, October 28, 1950
15. Vernon Arms, Hexham, October 28, 1950
16. Findhorn, Catterick Bridge, November 4, 1950
16. Findhorn, Catterick Bridge, November 4, 1950
17. Picks Barn, Manchester, November 17, 1950
17. Picks Barn, Manchester, November 17, 1950
18. Astara, Doncaster, November 22, 1950
18. Astara, Doncaster, November 22, 1950
19. Picks Barn, Ayr, November 25, 1950
19. Picks Barn, Ayr, November 25, 1950
20. Slapdash, Sandown Park, January 19, 1951
20. Slapdash, Sandown Park, January 19, 1951
21. Picks Barn, Wolverhampton, January 23, 1951
21. Picks Barn, Wolverhampton, January 23, 1951
22. Picks Barn, Manchester, January 31, 1951
22. Picks Barn, Manchester, January 31, 1951
23. Cool Customer, February 7, 1951
23. Cool Customer, February 7, 1951
24. Troonbay, Catterick Bridge, March 3, 1951
24. Troonbay, Catterick Bridge, March 3, 1951
25. Culworth, Wetherby, March 26, 1951
25. Culworth, Wetherby, March 26, 1951
26, Controlad, Wetherby, March 26, 1951
26, Controlad, Wetherby, March 26, 1951
27. Glorious Day, Southwell, April 16, 1951
27. Glorious Day, Southwell, April 16, 1951
28. Jolly Gaul, United Border Hunt (Kelso), May 3, 1951
28. Jolly Gaul, United Border Hunt (Kelso), May 3, 1951
29. Josie Mongan, Market Rasen, May 12, 1951
29. Josie Mongan, Market Rasen, May 12, 1951
30. Paymaster, Wetherby, May 14, 1951
30. Paymaster, Wetherby, May 14, 1951
31. Josie Mongan, Southwell, May 22, 1951
31. Josie Mongan, Southwell, May 22, 1951
32. Culworth, Newcastle, October 27, 1951
32. Culworth, Newcastle, October 27, 1951
33. Benedictine, Manchester, November 15, 1951
33. Benedictine, Manchester, November 15, 1951
34. Benedictine, Newcastle, December 8, 1951
34. Benedictine, Newcastle, December 8, 1951