Robert Colling

Robert Weston Colling was born at Marske-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, on April 6, 1872.

The son of a hunting farmer, he was apprenticed to R. W. Armstrong at Penrith and rode his first winner, Mortaigne, at Newcastle in 1889.

Robert's son, George Scott Colling (1904 - 1959) was champion apprentice in 1919 and, like his father, won the Northumberland Plate and July Cup.

Both father & son became successful trainers.

R. W. Colling died on May 25, 1960, aged 88.

His biggest wins as jockey included:

1890:  July Cup  (Queen of the Fairies)

1892:  Stewards' Cup  (Marvel)

1894:  Northumberland Plate  (Newcourt)

He married Alice Louise L'Anson, second daughter of the handicapper, Robert L'Anson, on Monday 12th June 1899 at St Mary's Church, Ewell. He began his training career in Yorkshire, and by 1911 was based at Spigot Lodge, Middleham, but he moved to Newmarket in 1917 to continue his training career at Waterwitch House, replacing William Jarvis, before moving on to Bedford Lodge Stables in 1920. During his time at Waterwitch House Stables he won the 1917 Select Stakes at Newmarket with Major R L Kidston's Quarryman, the 1919 Yorkshire Oaks with Mademoiselle Foch for Major J Paget, and the 1920 Northumberland Plate, for which he was a specialist both as a rider and a trainer, with Colonel C Hopkins Irish Lake. He later went on to trained the winner of the Cambridgeshire in 1944 and 1945 with Hunsingore and Esquire respectively. He carried on training until late in life, dying on 25th May 1960 aged 88.