John Lyons

John Lyons

Article by Alan Trout

John Lyons rode eight winners over jumps in all, three before the First World War and five afterwards. 

He had his first ride on Nunnington, a faller in the Chilham Selling Hurdle at Wye on October 1, 1906, and had to wait almost two years before Norman The Fiddler gave him his first success when winning the Five-Year-Old Chase by six lengths at Windsor on January 14, 1909. Norman The Fiddler went on to win five more races that year, including one further success with John in the saddle at Wincanton on Easter Monday. 

John had one win in 1910 but no more until after the war, a ten-year wait finally ending with a single win in 1920. He actually finished first twice that year, but after winning the Wynyard Chase at Sedgefield on Boxing Day, his mount Merlon and the runner-up Dom Scotus were both disqualified for taking the wrong course. 

John rode his final winner at Southwell on April 15, 1922, when Farm Gamp was involved in a close finish for the Rolleston Selling handicap Hurdle, just beating Regicles, the mount of leading Irish jockey Edward Lawn, by a head. 

He rode Farm Gamp once more that season, finishing unplaced at Colwall Park in May. The horse went on to win four more races later in the year, but all with other jockeys in the saddle. 

John Lyons’ winners were, in chronological order:

1. Norman The Fiddler, Windsor, January 14, 1909

2. Norman The Fiddler, Wincanton, April 12, 1909

3. The Drudge, Crewkerne, April 14, 1910

4. Mademoiselle Mai, Shirley Park, September 6, 1920

5. Castleton, Southwell, September 18, 1920

6. Auchinrossie, Ludlow, February 16, 1921

7. Udan, Uttoxeter, May 28, 1921

8. Farm Gamp, Southwell, April 15, 1922