Bryn Crossley

Bryn Gareth Crossley was born on August 3, 1958, at Prestatyn, North Wales, the son of Harry Crossley, a motor mechanic.

He served his apprenticeship, firstly with Robert Armstrong from 1974-79, then with Geoff Huffer from 1980-1983. He had his first mount in public on One Glance (unplaced) at Nottingham on September 28, 1976 but had to wait until June 12, 1979 for his first winner, Balvima at Yarmouth.

He first caught the public’s eye in 1980 when winning 20 winners, all bar one for outside yards whilst apprenticed to Geoff Huffer. He became champion apprentice in 1981 with 45 winners, which included Dogberry in the Old Newton Cup. He made his 23rd birthday a day to remember with a 28-1 double on Sami and Inch High, his only two rides at Ripon.

Bryn became a full jockey the next season, winning a further 29 races, including the Lincoln on the Philip Mitchell-trained Kings Glory and Newcastle’s XYZ Handicap on Crossways.  He achieved his sole Pattern race in 1983 on Geoff Huffer’s filly Nepula in the Fillies’ Mile at Ascot. 

Probably the best horse he rode was the 1983 Derby winner Teenoso, on whom he finished second in a Haydock maiden in the spring of his Classic season.

Bryn rode his final winner on Minatina at Newbury on October 21, 1993 and retired with 222 victories to his name to take up a job riding work for Godolphin.

He died on January 7, 2018, aged 59, near Alicante, in Spain, where he’d been living for around 15 years. He is survived by his ex-wife Jennie and by his brothers Glyn and Jim.

Biggest wins:

1981: Old Newton Cup – Dogberry 

1981: Chesterfield Cup - Commadore Blake

1981: King George V Handicap – Feltwell

1982: Lincoln Handicap – King’s Glory

1982: City and Suburban Handicap – African Pearl 

1982: Andy Capp Handicap – Mill Plantation

1983: Fillies’ Mile – Nepula