Nigel Bishop
Article by Alan Trout
Winning division one of the Newton Abbot Challenge Cup Maiden Hurdle at that course on May 8, 1969 was the only victory of Nigel Patrick Bishops’ career as a National Hunt jockey.
It was not a straightforward affair. There was just a neck between Nigel’s mount Dream Man, trained by David Owen at Blewbury, Berkshire, and 13-8 favourite Lover’s Pool. The runner-up’s rider, Peter Kavanagh, lodged an objection on grounds of crossing and “leaning on me”. The objection was overruled and Dream Man had won his first race. So had Nigel Bishop.
Nigel kept the ride for the remainder of the season and the partnership twice made the frame, finishing third at Wincanton next time out, then fourth in the Don Butchers Challenge Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton, before slipping up on the flat at Devon & Exeter.
Later on, both horse and jockey moved on to be associated with trainer David Nicholson, but although Dream Man won another race, Nigel Bishop did not. He relinquished his licence in January 1972.
