Dean Crosssman

Dean Crossman

Article by Alan Trout

Dean Ryan Crossman made a promising start to his career over jumps with five wins in his first season. Over the next two and a half years he added another five. He rode as a conditional for Grand National-winning trainer Denys Smith who supplied all ten of his winners. 

He finished second on his first ride, although his mount, Echo Beach, was beaten 15 lengths by Christmas Holly in the Brampton Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on January 18, 1988. It was not until Boxing Day that year that he rode his first winner, when Weardale led after the final flight and had four lengths to spare at the end of the St Stephen Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield. 

Twenty-two days later they returned to the same course and won again by the same distance. Indeed, Sedgefield proved to be Dean’s lucky course, with half of his ten victories being gained there. 

His last three wins were all on the seven-year-old Galloway Raider, the final one coming at Carlisle on October 11, 1991, when the partnership narrowly got the better of a battle with Andrew Larnach’s mount Dawaam to take the Boddington Bitter Handicap Hurdle by a short head. Dean had two more outings on Galloway Raider but was unplaced on both occasions. 

Dean Crossman’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Weardale, Sedgefield, December 26, 1988

2. Weardale, Sedgefield, January 17, 1989

3. Taylormade Boy, Kelso, February 8, 1989

4. Midland Express, Haydock Park, March 3, 1989

5. Heavenly Hoofer, Sedgefield, May 16, 1989

6. Festive Fling, Sedgefield, December 26, 1989

7. Festive Fling, Hexham, April 30, 1990

8. Galloway Raider, Sedgefield, April 16, 1991

9. Galloway Raider, Hexham, September 2, 1991

10. Galloway Raider, Carlisle, October 11, 1991