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Alan Johns
Alan Johns
Although never reaching the upper echelons of jump jockeys, Welshman Alan Johns was among the most popular members of the weighing room and did much to promote the sport and raise funds for worthy causes.
Although never reaching the upper echelons of jump jockeys, Welshman Alan Johns was among the most popular members of the weighing room and did much to promote the sport and raise funds for worthy causes.
Loyally supported throughout much of his 16-year riding career by Cowbridge-based trainer Tim Vaughan, Alan won seven races on Vaughan’s Eva’s Oskar, most notably a premier handicap chase at Cheltenham on 9 December 2022.
Loyally supported throughout much of his 16-year riding career by Cowbridge-based trainer Tim Vaughan, Alan won seven races on Vaughan’s Eva’s Oskar, most notably a premier handicap chase at Cheltenham on 9 December 2022.
When fellow Welsh trainer Christian Williams revealed in 2023 that his young daughter Betsy was undergoing treatment for leukaemia, Alan was the among first to help, producing a comic video involving all the Welsh – and honorary Welsh – jump jockeys to raise awareness and also raise funds. It was a massive hit, as was his idea to stage a Welsh Jump Jockeys’ Derby at Chepstow. Sponsored by bookmakers Unibet, it raised a mighty £15,517 for the LATCH Welsh Children’s Cancer Charity.
When fellow Welsh trainer Christian Williams revealed in 2023 that his young daughter Betsy was undergoing treatment for leukaemia, Alan was the among first to help, producing a comic video involving all the Welsh – and honorary Welsh – jump jockeys to raise awareness and also raise funds. It was a massive hit, as was his idea to stage a Welsh Jump Jockeys’ Derby at Chepstow. Sponsored by bookmakers Unibet, it raised a mighty £15,517 for the LATCH Welsh Children’s Cancer Charity.
On the morning of 6 April 2025, Alan announced that he would retire from race-riding following his four booked rides for Tim Vaughan at Ffos Las that afternoon, with a view to pursuing a media career. Explaining his decision, he said he did not think he was riding enough winners or having enough rides and was ready to take on a new challenge.
On the morning of 6 April 2025, Alan announced that he would retire from race-riding following his four booked rides for Tim Vaughan at Ffos Las that afternoon, with a view to pursuing a media career. Explaining his decision, he said he did not think he was riding enough winners or having enough rides and was ready to take on a new challenge.
His first three mounts finished seventh, sixth and fifth, meaning hopes of bowing out with a winner depended on the quirky Bumpy Evans in the last race, the aptly-titled Dragonbet Sponsors Alan Johns Handicap Chase.
His first three mounts finished seventh, sixth and fifth, meaning hopes of bowing out with a winner depended on the quirky Bumpy Evans in the last race, the aptly-titled Dragonbet Sponsors Alan Johns Handicap Chase.
Sent off the 13/8 on favourite, helped by the weight of money from the Ffos Las racegoers, Bumpy Evans rose to the occasion, despite an error-strewn round of jumping. When the leader Tedwin Hills blundered his chance away at the third last fence, causing jockey James Bowen to lose reins and irons, Alan cajoled Bumpy Evans to put his best foot forward on the run-in, getting the better of Higgs by a length and three-quarters, thereby providing a fairytale end to his riding career. It was his 223rd winner.
Sent off the 13/8 on favourite, helped by the weight of money from the Ffos Las racegoers, Bumpy Evans rose to the occasion, despite an error-strewn round of jumping. When the leader Tedwin Hills blundered his chance away at the third last fence, causing jockey James Bowen to lose reins and irons, Alan cajoled Bumpy Evans to put his best foot forward on the run-in, getting the better of Higgs by a length and three-quarters, thereby providing a fairytale end to his riding career. It was his 223rd winner.
“I had 30 friends and family here cheering me on and it felt like riding a Cheltenham or a festival winner,” he remarked afterwards. “They were five deep at the winner's enclosure!
“I had 30 friends and family here cheering me on and it felt like riding a Cheltenham or a festival winner,” he remarked afterwards. “They were five deep at the winner's enclosure!
“I couldn't see my fortunes changing that much and I’m 35 now and I wasn’t prepared to gamble and reinvest and spend time in lots of different yards speculatively hoping it would bring about an upturn in opportunities.
“I couldn't see my fortunes changing that much and I’m 35 now and I wasn’t prepared to gamble and reinvest and spend time in lots of different yards speculatively hoping it would bring about an upturn in opportunities.
“I was quite a late starter to riding and I’ve always kind of been doing it on a temporary contract and things have slid backwards for me in the last couple of years. Some people want to squeeze everything out of riding but I’m quite excited to try and get some more experience under my belt.”
“I was quite a late starter to riding and I’ve always kind of been doing it on a temporary contract and things have slid backwards for me in the last couple of years. Some people want to squeeze everything out of riding but I’m quite excited to try and get some more experience under my belt.”
Alan had already worked for Great British Racing and the Jockey Club among others and was looking forward to furthering his knowledge in new areas in the future.
Alan had already worked for Great British Racing and the Jockey Club among others and was looking forward to furthering his knowledge in new areas in the future.
“I’d love to be on TV talking about racing,” he said. “I quite enjoy the social media, I feel I’ve got an angle on what works and what doesn’t. I’ve started to run social media accounts for jockeys and that could be a nice little business.”
“I’d love to be on TV talking about racing,” he said. “I quite enjoy the social media, I feel I’ve got an angle on what works and what doesn’t. I’ve started to run social media accounts for jockeys and that could be a nice little business.”
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