Sam Jones
With 116 winners behind him, Sam Jones - having taken his last two rides, Gabriel & Kaylin, on the very first day of the 2015 NH season (April 30) - retired from the saddle.
With 116 winners behind him, Sam Jones - having taken his last two rides, Gabriel & Kaylin, on the very first day of the 2015 NH season (April 30) - retired from the saddle.
Gabriel fell whilst Kaylin was his last ever winner.
Gabriel fell whilst Kaylin was his last ever winner.
He was not redundant for long: when he arrived at the Bicester Hunt kennels a day later, it was to take up the role of whipper-in. In so doing, he became the fourth generation of his family to work in hunt service. His father Nick hunted the Aylesbury, his grandfather Peter hunted the Pytchley for 34 years while his great-grand father whipped-in to the Fernie.
He was not redundant for long: when he arrived at the Bicester Hunt kennels a day later, it was to take up the role of whipper-in. In so doing, he became the fourth generation of his family to work in hunt service. His father Nick hunted the Aylesbury, his grandfather Peter hunted the Pytchley for 34 years while his great-grand father whipped-in to the Fernie.
Sam was once a passenger in a car with Nick Schofield who, on passing Stonehenge, remarked 'It's such a pity they built it so close to the road...!'
Sam was once a passenger in a car with Nick Schofield who, on passing Stonehenge, remarked 'It's such a pity they built it so close to the road...!'
Sam's greatest day in the saddle came at Cheltenham in the 2007 Coral Cup when he stormed up the hill to win on Burntoak Boy.
Sam's greatest day in the saddle came at Cheltenham in the 2007 Coral Cup when he stormed up the hill to win on Burntoak Boy.
Sam spent the summer of 2014 in America riding for leading jumps trainer Jack Fisher.
Sam spent the summer of 2014 in America riding for leading jumps trainer Jack Fisher.