Rowland Fletcher

Rowland Fletcher

Article by Alan Trout

A win on Boxing Day 1947 aboard Menslaws was the first of five victories for National Hunt jockey Rowland Fletcher. Trained by David Machin at Mablethorpe, in Lincolnshire, Menslaws won the Selling Handicap Hurdle by three lengths

Rowland started out as an amateur and had partnered Menslaws earlier in the season but turned professional in time to record his first success. He finished sixth on Menslaws next time out at Nottingham on February 3, but the following day at the same course he had his second victory when Lincolnshire Wolds won the Carlton Handicap Hurdle, again by three lengths. 

There were no wins the following season but, exactly two years after his first success, he struck again at the same Lincolnshire venue. Accurate won the Scampton Novices’ Hurdle by a neck from Blackpool, the mount of Jim McLoughlin, then followed up the next day with an easier victory in the Rasen Juvenile Hurdle.   

Rowland did have one further success when Penny Pool, trained like the others by David Machin, scored by three lengths in the Sprotbrough Hurdle at Doncaster on March 20, 1950. The runner-up, Feather Fisher, ridden by Arthur Thompson, was carrying 29lb more than the winner. Rowland kept the ride for three more outings but was replaced after the pair had slipped up at Market Rasen. He relinquished his licence during the following season. 

Aged 59, Rowland Fletcher died suddenly at his home, Clarehaven, Bury Road, Newmarket, on May 24, 1980. He had been ill for just a short while. At the time he was head lad at Jeremy Hindley's stables in Bury Road and had spent his whole working life with horses. During the war, he served as Company Quarter Master's Sergeant with the Royal Scots Greys. He served abroad and spent six years in Palestine. He was a committee member of the Exning Road Working Men's Club.  He left a widow and one son, Anthony. He was buried in St Martin's Church, Exning, on Monday, May 30.

Rowland Fletcher’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Menslaws, Market Rasen, December 26, 1947

2. Lincolnshire Wolds, February 4, 1948

3. Accurate, Market Rasen, December 26, 1949

4. Accurate, Market Rasen, December 27, 1949

5. Penny Pool, Doncaster, March 20, 1950