Campbell Gillies
Scottish National Hunt jockey Campbell Gillies was born on June 27, 1990. He was educated at Knox Academy in the Borders town of Haddington and went on to become a graduate of the British Racing School.
Scottish National Hunt jockey Campbell Gillies was born on June 27, 1990. He was educated at Knox Academy in the Borders town of Haddington and went on to become a graduate of the British Racing School.
He had his first ride aged 15, riding for Hawick trainer Willie Amos. His first winner was also for Amos, on Gunson Height at Hexham on May 12, 2007. Later that year he became a conditional jockey with Lucinda Russell at Kinross. There he came under the tutelage of former champion jockey Peter Scudamore and the stable’s number one jockey Peter Buchanan. In his first full season he recorded 11 wins from 55 mounts.
He had his first ride aged 15, riding for Hawick trainer Willie Amos. His first winner was also for Amos, on Gunson Height at Hexham on May 12, 2007. Later that year he became a conditional jockey with Lucinda Russell at Kinross. There he came under the tutelage of former champion jockey Peter Scudamore and the stable’s number one jockey Peter Buchanan. In his first full season he recorded 11 wins from 55 mounts.
Campbell registered his first major victory in 2009 on 66-1 outsider Culcabock in the John Smith’s Handicap Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
Campbell registered his first major victory in 2009 on 66-1 outsider Culcabock in the John Smith’s Handicap Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
He went on to ride over 50 winners for Russell and it was with another horse of hers, Brindisi Breeze, that he achieved his biggest success when winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival. This festival triumph capped his best season, in which he finished with 38 winners from 300 rides.
He went on to ride over 50 winners for Russell and it was with another horse of hers, Brindisi Breeze, that he achieved his biggest success when winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival. This festival triumph capped his best season, in which he finished with 38 winners from 300 rides.
In total, he rode 131 winners in his career, including two on the Flat, mainly for Lucinda Russell and was widely considered one of the leading young jockeys in the UK. However, just three months after registering that Cheltenham Festival success on Brindisi Breeze, he was found dead in a swimming pool at the Corfu holiday apartments where he was staying with fellow jockeys Henry Brooke, Nathan Moscrop, Harry Haynes and Mark Ellwood.
In total, he rode 131 winners in his career, including two on the Flat, mainly for Lucinda Russell and was widely considered one of the leading young jockeys in the UK. However, just three months after registering that Cheltenham Festival success on Brindisi Breeze, he was found dead in a swimming pool at the Corfu holiday apartments where he was staying with fellow jockeys Henry Brooke, Nathan Moscrop, Harry Haynes and Mark Ellwood.
On June 26, 2012, the friends had returned from an evening out and had gone for a morning swim at around 8 am local time. Campbell went under the water and failed to resurface. A Greek coroner recorded his death was caused by drowning and a police spokesman revealed that toxicological reports revealed he had been drinking. He was only 21 – he would have been 22 the next day.
On June 26, 2012, the friends had returned from an evening out and had gone for a morning swim at around 8 am local time. Campbell went under the water and failed to resurface. A Greek coroner recorded his death was caused by drowning and a police spokesman revealed that toxicological reports revealed he had been drinking. He was only 21 – he would have been 22 the next day.
He was posthumously recognised at the 2013 Lesters ceremony with the Jump Jockey Special Recognition Award for 2012.
He was posthumously recognised at the 2013 Lesters ceremony with the Jump Jockey Special Recognition Award for 2012.