Les Powell
Leslie Noel Powell was an apprentice jockey in the mid-70s.
Leslie Noel Powell was an apprentice jockey in the mid-70s.
Now (2013) running a bar on the Cost del Sol, Monty's in Montemar, he recalls those early days....
Now (2013) running a bar on the Cost del Sol, Monty's in Montemar, he recalls those early days....
"I started with trainer Ron Mason in 1972 when I was 16.
"I started with trainer Ron Mason in 1972 when I was 16.
"It came about when one day the electric man was emptying our metre. He was having a cup of tea after with my dad and mentioned that his son was an apprentice jockey. I ran downstairs eager to find out how he got into racing.
"It came about when one day the electric man was emptying our metre. He was having a cup of tea after with my dad and mentioned that his son was an apprentice jockey. I ran downstairs eager to find out how he got into racing.
"He told me about a magazine called Horse & Hound in which all the trainers were looking for lads.
"He told me about a magazine called Horse & Hound in which all the trainers were looking for lads.
"I went to Freddie Maxwell at Lambourn when I was 15 for a six-week holiday. He had a great sprinter called Cawston's Pride.
"I went to Freddie Maxwell at Lambourn when I was 15 for a six-week holiday. He had a great sprinter called Cawston's Pride.
"Then I moved on to Ron Mason's yard. He was a hard task master, but very fair. After work in the morning he had us lads working on the farm for overtime. We had a great laugh harvesting.
"Then I moved on to Ron Mason's yard. He was a hard task master, but very fair. After work in the morning he had us lads working on the farm for overtime. We had a great laugh harvesting.
"Eventually I had a couple of rides for the stable. My first ride was at Warwick on a filly called Sister Canute. I also rode Queen's Fantasy at Ascot, Welsh Warrior at Leicester and a horse called Robin which ran in the Crown Plus Two Championship race at Chester.
"Eventually I had a couple of rides for the stable. My first ride was at Warwick on a filly called Sister Canute. I also rode Queen's Fantasy at Ascot, Welsh Warrior at Leicester and a horse called Robin which ran in the Crown Plus Two Championship race at Chester.
"From Mr Mason's I went to David Quartermaine in Stratford. He trained horses for a guy who owned a hotel in the village. Mr Quartermaine was a great chap, but never trained a winner. The nearest him or I got to having a winner was when I rode Kobe at Ludlow and came second.
"From Mr Mason's I went to David Quartermaine in Stratford. He trained horses for a guy who owned a hotel in the village. Mr Quartermaine was a great chap, but never trained a winner. The nearest him or I got to having a winner was when I rode Kobe at Ludlow and came second.
"I left him to work for Tony Dickinson at Gisburn, Clitheroe, and had a happy two years there. With the pool money from the Dickinson's, I went to South Africa to ride work for a British lady called Mrs Barnard and stayed six months.
"I left him to work for Tony Dickinson at Gisburn, Clitheroe, and had a happy two years there. With the pool money from the Dickinson's, I went to South Africa to ride work for a British lady called Mrs Barnard and stayed six months.
"Then I came back and worked for Derek Hayden Jones in Pontypridd.
"Then I came back and worked for Derek Hayden Jones in Pontypridd.
"Then I called it a day."
"Then I called it a day."
Les concedes that he may not have been the best jockey in the world but he 'certainly got around'. He remains in touch with USA-based Michael Dickinson.
Les concedes that he may not have been the best jockey in the world but he 'certainly got around'. He remains in touch with USA-based Michael Dickinson.