Charles Hawkins
Charles' fatal fall as depicted by the French press.
Charles' fatal fall as depicted by the French press.
1890 - 1922
1890 - 1922
Charles Owen Hawkins was born at Hendon on August 3, 1890, the son of an amateur rider, also named Charles. He served his apprenticeship with Major Edmonds at Ogbourne and rode his first winner on the Flat on Golden Measure in the Osmaston Nursery Handicap at Derby on November 18, 1904.
Charles Owen Hawkins was born at Hendon on August 3, 1890, the son of an amateur rider, also named Charles. He served his apprenticeship with Major Edmonds at Ogbourne and rode his first winner on the Flat on Golden Measure in the Osmaston Nursery Handicap at Derby on November 18, 1904.
He subsequently his turned his attention to National Hunt racing. He took out a licence at the start of 1908 and had his first ride at Sandown Park on February 7, trailing in last of eight on outsider Calcot in the Mole Handicap Chase. Later that year, he went to ride in France, where he went on to achieve a fair measure of success over the next six years.
He subsequently his turned his attention to National Hunt racing. He took out a licence at the start of 1908 and had his first ride at Sandown Park on February 7, trailing in last of eight on outsider Calcot in the Mole Handicap Chase. Later that year, he went to ride in France, where he went on to achieve a fair measure of success over the next six years.
He registered his first win over fences in Britain when riding French-trained Trianon III to victory in the Champion Chase at Hurst Park on March 6, 1914. Three weeks later, they teamed up again in the Grand National, finishing second, beaten eight lengths by Sunloch, who made every yard of the running and was allowed to build up an unassailable lead.
He registered his first win over fences in Britain when riding French-trained Trianon III to victory in the Champion Chase at Hurst Park on March 6, 1914. Three weeks later, they teamed up again in the Grand National, finishing second, beaten eight lengths by Sunloch, who made every yard of the running and was allowed to build up an unassailable lead.
At the outbreak of the Great War, Charles was one of many English racing personnel to relocate to Ireland, where, at Cork on September 2, 1915, he performed the rare feat of riding winners over fences, hurdles and on the Flat in one afternoon, winning the Cork Handicap Hurdle on Monard, the Morina Chase on Stone Chase, the Blarney Handicap Chase on Ballyneety, and the 1m 1f Queenstown Plate on Golden Mia. His major triumphs in Ireland included the 1915 Galway Hurdle on Naughty Earl and the 1916 Leopardstown Chase on Bachelor’s Flight.
At the outbreak of the Great War, Charles was one of many English racing personnel to relocate to Ireland, where, at Cork on September 2, 1915, he performed the rare feat of riding winners over fences, hurdles and on the Flat in one afternoon, winning the Cork Handicap Hurdle on Monard, the Morina Chase on Stone Chase, the Blarney Handicap Chase on Ballyneety, and the 1m 1f Queenstown Plate on Golden Mia. His major triumphs in Ireland included the 1915 Galway Hurdle on Naughty Earl and the 1916 Leopardstown Chase on Bachelor’s Flight.
During the war he regularly commuted across the Irish Sea, with the result that, in addition to becoming champion National Hunt jockey in Ireland, he was also Britain’s champion National Hunt jockey in a greatly curtailed 1916 season with 17 wins. He finished third in the British table in 1917 with ten wins and second in 1918 with eleven.
During the war he regularly commuted across the Irish Sea, with the result that, in addition to becoming champion National Hunt jockey in Ireland, he was also Britain’s champion National Hunt jockey in a greatly curtailed 1916 season with 17 wins. He finished third in the British table in 1917 with ten wins and second in 1918 with eleven.
He recorded his most important victory when riding evens favourite Ballyboggan to a three-length success in the 1918 Irish Grand National. Trained by Robert Fetherstonhaugh at Mullingar, in Co. Westmeath, Ballyboggan was owned by Evelyn Went Hope Johnstone, a nephew of the celebrated amateur rider of the same name.
He recorded his most important victory when riding evens favourite Ballyboggan to a three-length success in the 1918 Irish Grand National. Trained by Robert Fetherstonhaugh at Mullingar, in Co. Westmeath, Ballyboggan was owned by Evelyn Went Hope Johnstone, a nephew of the celebrated amateur rider of the same name.
At the end of hostilities, Charles returned to ride in France, while continuing to make forays to England. He was a very accomplished horseman but not a lucky one. He suffered a badly broken leg at the start of 1919 which kept him out of the saddle for 16 months, during which time £2,000 was raised for him through the columns of The Sporting Life.
At the end of hostilities, Charles returned to ride in France, while continuing to make forays to England. He was a very accomplished horseman but not a lucky one. He suffered a badly broken leg at the start of 1919 which kept him out of the saddle for 16 months, during which time £2,000 was raised for him through the columns of The Sporting Life.
He rode what proved to be his last English winner on Admiralty in the Selling Handicap Chase at Wye on May 10, 1920, his sole rival having fallen and been remounted to finish a distant second.
He rode what proved to be his last English winner on Admiralty in the Selling Handicap Chase at Wye on May 10, 1920, his sole rival having fallen and been remounted to finish a distant second.
Charles had his final ride in England when finishing second on Rory’s Glen in the Kersal Hurdle at Manchester on April 17, 1922. He had earlier finished fourth in that year’s Grand National on Sergeant Murphy, having remounted after slipping into the ditch of the Canal Turn (the fence was an open ditch until 1929) on the first circuit.
Charles had his final ride in England when finishing second on Rory’s Glen in the Kersal Hurdle at Manchester on April 17, 1922. He had earlier finished fourth in that year’s Grand National on Sergeant Murphy, having remounted after slipping into the ditch of the Canal Turn (the fence was an open ditch until 1929) on the first circuit.
Sergeant Murphy went on to win the 1923 Grand National at the advanced age of thirteen. However, by then, Charles Hawkins was dead.
Sergeant Murphy went on to win the 1923 Grand National at the advanced age of thirteen. However, by then, Charles Hawkins was dead.
He lost his life following a fall from Chella at Auteuil on Thursday, December 14, 1922, the final day of the season. Charles suffered a fractured skull and died in the ambulance. He was buried at Chantilly, aged 32, leaving behind a widow and a baby son.
He lost his life following a fall from Chella at Auteuil on Thursday, December 14, 1922, the final day of the season. Charles suffered a fractured skull and died in the ambulance. He was buried at Chantilly, aged 32, leaving behind a widow and a baby son.
By eerie coincidence, Charles Hawkins, William Smith and Tuppy Bennett all rode Sergeant Murphy in the Grand National and were all killed on the racecourse within the space of two years.
By eerie coincidence, Charles Hawkins, William Smith and Tuppy Bennett all rode Sergeant Murphy in the Grand National and were all killed on the racecourse within the space of two years.
Biggest wins
Biggest wins
1914: Champion Chase (Hurst Park) – Trianon III
1914: Champion Chase (Hurst Park) – Trianon III
1915: Galway Hurdle – Naughty Earl
1915: Galway Hurdle – Naughty Earl
1916: Leopardstown Chase – Bachelor’s Flight
1916: Leopardstown Chase – Bachelor’s Flight
1918: Irish Grand National – Ballyboggan
1918: Irish Grand National – Ballyboggan