Shaun Parkyn
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Shaun Parkyn rode both as an amateur and a professional in a career that spanned the 1970s. He was based with Roddy Armytage at East Ilsley and rode his first winner on Naughty Boy, which made all to win an amateur riders’ handicap chase at Kempton on November 16, 1972. Naughty Boy was owned by Shaun’s mother and he provided them with another victory at Huntingdon on February 1, 1973.
Shaun Parkyn rode both as an amateur and a professional in a career that spanned the 1970s. He was based with Roddy Armytage at East Ilsley and rode his first winner on Naughty Boy, which made all to win an amateur riders’ handicap chase at Kempton on November 16, 1972. Naughty Boy was owned by Shaun’s mother and he provided them with another victory at Huntingdon on February 1, 1973.
Having had just those two successes in his first season with a licence, Shaun quickly became established during the 1973/74 campaign, riding a dozen winners. They included back-to-back victories on Roddy Armytage’s novice chaser Gardez Le Reste at Wye and Huntingdon in December, a Lingfield novice hurdle on Brown Jock, a Leicester hunters’ chase on Gold Rights (on whom Shaun also finished fifth in that season’s Liverpool Foxhunters over the Grand National fences) and an end of term success on handicap hurdler Vitbe at Stratford in June.
Having had just those two successes in his first season with a licence, Shaun quickly became established during the 1973/74 campaign, riding a dozen winners. They included back-to-back victories on Roddy Armytage’s novice chaser Gardez Le Reste at Wye and Huntingdon in December, a Lingfield novice hurdle on Brown Jock, a Leicester hunters’ chase on Gold Rights (on whom Shaun also finished fifth in that season’s Liverpool Foxhunters over the Grand National fences) and an end of term success on handicap hurdler Vitbe at Stratford in June.
Brown Jock was probably the best horse he rode. Shaun won two novice chases on him during the 1974/75 season, at Wincanton and Wolverhampton. Another decent conveyance was Gervic, on whom Shaun won the Horse and Hound Amateur Riders’ Challenge Cup at Plumpton’s 1976 Easter fixture.
Brown Jock was probably the best horse he rode. Shaun won two novice chases on him during the 1974/75 season, at Wincanton and Wolverhampton. Another decent conveyance was Gervic, on whom Shaun won the Horse and Hound Amateur Riders’ Challenge Cup at Plumpton’s 1976 Easter fixture.
Having ridden 28 winners as an amateur, Shaun turned professional at the start of the 1976/77 season. Brown Jock appeared to have given him his inaugural winner in the paid ranks when first past the post in a three-way finish at Taunton, the trio being split only by a short-head and a head. However, the stewards deemed that Brown Jock’s left-handed swerve on the run-in had hampered both the runner-up and the third and duly revised the placings, demoting Brown Jock to third. Brown Jock did later make amends by giving Shaun a winning ride at Plumpton in March. The combination scored again over course and distance in November 1977.
Having ridden 28 winners as an amateur, Shaun turned professional at the start of the 1976/77 season. Brown Jock appeared to have given him his inaugural winner in the paid ranks when first past the post in a three-way finish at Taunton, the trio being split only by a short-head and a head. However, the stewards deemed that Brown Jock’s left-handed swerve on the run-in had hampered both the runner-up and the third and duly revised the placings, demoting Brown Jock to third. Brown Jock did later make amends by giving Shaun a winning ride at Plumpton in March. The combination scored again over course and distance in November 1977.
Sadly, Shaun’s supply of winners dried up thereafter, to the extent that he rode only one in the 1978/79 season and one the following season, that being on the Willie Jenks-trained selling hurdler Owain at Ludlow on April 16, 1980. That appears to have been the final winner of his career.
Sadly, Shaun’s supply of winners dried up thereafter, to the extent that he rode only one in the 1978/79 season and one the following season, that being on the Willie Jenks-trained selling hurdler Owain at Ludlow on April 16, 1980. That appears to have been the final winner of his career.