Paul Carvill 

Born on April 2, 1956, Paul Kevin Carvill, from Condicote, Stow-on the Wold, served a five-year apprenticeship with David Nicholson. He rode his first winner on the odds-on favourite Jackaway, trained by Ted Fisher, in division one of the Elton Novices’ Hurdle at Ludlow on October 26, 1977.

Known in the yard as the Pope because he was so religious, he was a useful rider but his career was interrupted by a series of bad falls. He was also a handy boxer, despite having lost the top of one of his fingers in the string which secures a horse’s head collar during evening stables. 

His highest number of winners in a season was 11 in the 1977/78 season. They included a double at Newton Abbot on Easter Monday, March 27, 1978 aboard Holemore Boy and Langham Lad, both for Chard trainer Sue Morris. Paul and Holemore Boy followed up 10 days later with victory in a sponsored long-distance handicap hurdle at Worcester. 

Among the best horses he rode was former Cheltenham Festival winner Young Arthur, on which he finished second in Newbury’s Geoffrey Gilbey Memorial Chase in 1979. He also won a novice hurdle on Aingers Green at the 1980 Grand National meeting. 

Two of his more notable successes came in the spring of 1981, namely the Katie Gaze Memorial Trophy Handicap Chase at Hereford on April 7 aboard Royal Russe for Malvern owner-trainer George Yardley, and the Needwood Turf Accountants Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter on May 14, on Gleaning for Nottinghamshire trainer Paul Felgate.

Mr Moonraker, trained by Sue Morris, gave Paul his biggest win in the National Spirit Challenge Trophy Pattern Hurdle at Fontwell on February 22, 1982.

He also once rode a winner in Norway.

Paul Carvill died in September 2021, aged 65. His funeral took place at St Anne’s Church, Buxton on September 17, 2021.