Anthony Geering

Anthony Geering

Article by Alan Trout

Anthony William Grant Geering rode for two seasons over jumps during the mid-1980s, winning one race.

He had led until halfway on his first ride, but his mount, Pardi Nickel, faded to finish well down the field in the Haig Whisky Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) at Newton Abbot on November 29, 1983.

Bill Turner trained the five-year-old, and it was he who provided Anthony with his only winner when Rugby Excavation took the lead approaching the last flight and was pushed out to take the Crediton Selling Handicap Hurdle by six lengths at Devon & Exeter on Whit Monday, May 28, 1984. The six-year-old was often ridden by the trainer’s daughter, Jessica, but she rode another of her father’s horses, Inspired, in that race, finishing fifth. Jessica’s future husband, Gareth Charles-Jones, finished second on the favourite Lift High.

Anthony was not helped in that, under the rules then in place, he could only claim 4lb rather than the full 7lb due to his age, being over 25, which was the limit for a conditional jockey.

He had a few rides during the next campaign, the last of them on the penultimate day of the season, May 31, 1985, when Bold Deception blundered and unseated him in the Hunt Supporters’ Novices’ Chase at Stratford.