George Evans

George Evans

Article by Alan Trout

George Evans rode eight winners under National Hunt rules in the first decade of the 20th century. Victory by half a length on The Three Tuns in the Tally-Ho Maiden Chase at Southwell on October 17, 1905 was his first success. The five-year-old was owned and trained by the Hon. Aubrey Hastings, who less than six months later would ride Ascetic’s Silver to win the 1906 Grand National. 

George and The Three Tuns won again on November 9 when beating two rivals in the Licensed Victuallers’ Chase at Newport.

He enjoyed his most successful year in 1906 with five victories. Gold Band set the campaign rolling by winning the Licensed Victuallers’ Novices’ Hurdle at Tenby Hunt on January 24, then added the Tenby Hurdle at the same course the following day. 

The Three Tuns won the Trothy Chase at Monmouth in March, then Kilgrogan took the Buckfastleigh Open Handicap Chase at that Devon venue on Whit Monday. The final win of the year was on General Killian, owned by another top amateur rider, Herbert Harrison, in the Keele Hall Juvenile Hurdle at Keele Park in October.  

It was not until the last day of 1908 that George rode his eighth and final winner, when Flax Park beat Shanloth, ridden by Tom Hulme, to take the Richmond Handicap Chase at Hurst Park. It was the first time George had ridden the five-year-old and after finishing second on him, again at Hurst Park, he was replaced by William Morgan. 

George Evans continued to hold a licence until 1910 but rode no more winners. 

His winners were, in chronological order:

1. The Three Tuns, Southwell, October 17, 1905

2. The Three Tuns, Newport, November 9, 1905

3. Gold Band, Tenby Hunt, January 24, 1906

4. Gold Band, Tenby Hunt, January 25, 1906

5. The Three Tuns, Monmouth, March 23, 1906

6. Kilgrogan, Buckfastleigh, June 4, 1906 

7. General Killian, Keele Park, October 17, 1906

8. Flax Park, Hurst Park, December 31, 1908