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Born on February 22, 1955, Reginald Ridley Lamb was the youngest of nine children of Reg Lamb, who trained on the family farm at East Fleetham, Seahouses, Northumberland. His childhood was spent rooted in gymkhana and showjumping.
Born on February 22, 1955, Reginald Ridley Lamb was the youngest of nine children of Reg Lamb, who trained on the family farm at East Fleetham, Seahouses, Northumberland. His childhood was spent rooted in gymkhana and showjumping.
Aged 15 in February, 1971, he rode his first winner - White Speck, trained by his father in a hurdle race at Catterick. With 22 wins in the 1974-75 season, he was champion amateur and turned professional.
Aged 15 in February, 1971, he rode his first winner - White Speck, trained by his father in a hurdle race at Catterick. With 22 wins in the 1974-75 season, he was champion amateur and turned professional.
Notable success followed. He made every yard of the running on Sebastian V in the 1977 Scottish Grand National, and lost the Aintree Grand National by just half-a-length when run out if it by Lucius in a desperate finish. He won the 1975 Kim Muir Chase on Quick Reply and the Flete Chase with Brawny Scot.
Notable success followed. He made every yard of the running on Sebastian V in the 1977 Scottish Grand National, and lost the Aintree Grand National by just half-a-length when run out if it by Lucius in a desperate finish. He won the 1975 Kim Muir Chase on Quick Reply and the Flete Chase with Brawny Scot.
His greatest triumph came in the 1987 Cheltenham Gold Cup riding The Thinker. The race almost didn't take place so heavy was the snow but miraculously the sky cleared to allow the race to go ahead. The tapes went up at 4.51and they were off, but immediately snow began to fall again. Visibility was almost nil until the orange and green colours of The Thinker were seen, with the horse responding to Lamb's strength and skill on the run in for a famous victory.
His greatest triumph came in the 1987 Cheltenham Gold Cup riding The Thinker. The race almost didn't take place so heavy was the snow but miraculously the sky cleared to allow the race to go ahead. The tapes went up at 4.51and they were off, but immediately snow began to fall again. Visibility was almost nil until the orange and green colours of The Thinker were seen, with the horse responding to Lamb's strength and skill on the run in for a famous victory.
By nature, Lamb was a quiet and extremely well-liked man. Forced through weight problems to finally retire in November 1987, he turned to training on the family farm.
By nature, Lamb was a quiet and extremely well-liked man. Forced through weight problems to finally retire in November 1987, he turned to training on the family farm.
He achieved his first win as trainer (Blue Ravine) in April 1990 at Hexham for Jack Riddell.
He achieved his first win as trainer (Blue Ravine) in April 1990 at Hexham for Jack Riddell.
The rider of 547 winners, Ridley Lamb was drowned after his car left the road and plunged into the sea at Seahouses (Monday 25 July, 1994). He was 39.
The rider of 547 winners, Ridley Lamb was drowned after his car left the road and plunged into the sea at Seahouses (Monday 25 July, 1994). He was 39.
A second Jockey in the car, Alan Merrigan, also perished.
A second Jockey in the car, Alan Merrigan, also perished.
Ridley Lamb's obituary: taken from The Times.
Ridley Lamb's obituary: taken from The Times.
Ridley Lamb, trainer and former National Hunt jockey, was drowned after a car accident on July 25 aged 39. He was born on February 22, 1955.
Ridley Lamb, trainer and former National Hunt jockey, was drowned after a car accident on July 25 aged 39. He was born on February 22, 1955.
RIDLEY LAMB's greatest triumph was in the 1987 Cheltenham Gold Cup when he fulfilled the ambition of every National Hunt jockey by riding The Thinker to win a race that had far more than its usual share of high drama. This was the celebrated ``Snowstorm" Gold Cup. Early in the afternoon, snow began to fall heavily and by the time the second race had been run, the stewards decided to call a temporary halt in the hope that conditions would improve. At the time, it looked long odds-on that their optimism would not be justified.
RIDLEY LAMB's greatest triumph was in the 1987 Cheltenham Gold Cup when he fulfilled the ambition of every National Hunt jockey by riding The Thinker to win a race that had far more than its usual share of high drama. This was the celebrated ``Snowstorm" Gold Cup. Early in the afternoon, snow began to fall heavily and by the time the second race had been run, the stewards decided to call a temporary halt in the hope that conditions would improve. At the time, it looked long odds-on that their optimism would not be justified.
An hour and a quarter went by. Then the sky miraculously cleared enough for the Gold Cup runners to be allowed to go to the start. At 4.51pm, to the relief of the huge crowd, the tape went up and they were away: but before long further snow showers came, which made the runners on the far side look like a procession of ghost horses, and Cleeve Hill resemble an alpine ski-slope. Nevertheless, one set of colours could be seen forging towards the front like a beacon in the murk: the orange and green of The Thinker.
An hour and a quarter went by. Then the sky miraculously cleared enough for the Gold Cup runners to be allowed to go to the start. At 4.51pm, to the relief of the huge crowd, the tape went up and they were away: but before long further snow showers came, which made the runners on the far side look like a procession of ghost horses, and Cleeve Hill resemble an alpine ski-slope. Nevertheless, one set of colours could be seen forging towards the front like a beacon in the murk: the orange and green of The Thinker.
But the race was not over yet. Three fences from home The Thinker blundered. Over the last he was neck-and-neck with the tiring Cybrandian who then carried The Thinker across the course. All Lamb's strength and skill were needed to survive and then drive his horse on for a famous victory.
But the race was not over yet. Three fences from home The Thinker blundered. Over the last he was neck-and-neck with the tiring Cybrandian who then carried The Thinker across the course. All Lamb's strength and skill were needed to survive and then drive his horse on for a famous victory.
Reginald Ridley Lamb was the youngest of nine children of the late Reg Lamb who trained on the family farm at East Fleetham, Seahouses, Northumberland. His early background was rooted in gymkhana performances and showjumping. In February 1971, at only 15, Lamb rode his first winner White Speck, trained by his father, in a hurdle race at Catterick.
Reginald Ridley Lamb was the youngest of nine children of the late Reg Lamb who trained on the family farm at East Fleetham, Seahouses, Northumberland. His early background was rooted in gymkhana performances and showjumping. In February 1971, at only 15, Lamb rode his first winner White Speck, trained by his father, in a hurdle race at Catterick.
By the 1974-75 season he was champion amateur rider with 22 wins and then he turned professional. The next few years saw some notable successes. In 1977, Sebastian V, trained by Harry Bell, won the Scottish Grand National with Lamb in the saddle after making every yard of the running. The following spring, the same partnership failed by only half a length to capture the Grand National itself; after leading over the last they were run out of it by Lucius in a desperate finish.
By the 1974-75 season he was champion amateur rider with 22 wins and then he turned professional. The next few years saw some notable successes. In 1977, Sebastian V, trained by Harry Bell, won the Scottish Grand National with Lamb in the saddle after making every yard of the running. The following spring, the same partnership failed by only half a length to capture the Grand National itself; after leading over the last they were run out of it by Lucius in a desperate finish.
Lamb excelled at Cheltenham. His Gold Cup triumph apart, he succeeded as an amateur on Quick Reply in the 1975 Kim Muir Memorial Chase and in 1979 rode a winning double with Brawny Scot in the Mildmay of Flete Chase and Fair View in the National Hunt Handicap Chase.
Lamb excelled at Cheltenham. His Gold Cup triumph apart, he succeeded as an amateur on Quick Reply in the 1975 Kim Muir Memorial Chase and in 1979 rode a winning double with Brawny Scot in the Mildmay of Flete Chase and Fair View in the National Hunt Handicap Chase.
Earlier that season, he had become stable jockey to the powerful Northern establishment of Arthur Stephenson, for whom he was consistently successful including his victory on The Thinker. But weight problems finally forced Lamb to retire in November, 1987. He had ridden 547 winners and in his best season finished third in the jockeys' table with 85 in 1979-80.
Earlier that season, he had become stable jockey to the powerful Northern establishment of Arthur Stephenson, for whom he was consistently successful including his victory on The Thinker. But weight problems finally forced Lamb to retire in November, 1987. He had ridden 547 winners and in his best season finished third in the jockeys' table with 85 in 1979-80.
Ridley Lamb was a quiet, extremely well-liked man in the weighing room, who, apart from being a fine rider, achieved results by being always kind and considerate to his horses. When he turned to training on the family farm, he did not achieve the same degree of success, but there were reasons for believing that at the time of his death the best, tragically, was yet to come.
Ridley Lamb was a quiet, extremely well-liked man in the weighing room, who, apart from being a fine rider, achieved results by being always kind and considerate to his horses. When he turned to training on the family farm, he did not achieve the same degree of success, but there were reasons for believing that at the time of his death the best, tragically, was yet to come.
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner: The Thinker (1987)
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner: The Thinker (1987)
Other big winners:
Other big winners:
1975: Kim Muir Chase – Quick Reply
1975: Kim Muir Chase – Quick Reply
1977: Scottish Grand National – Sebastian V
1977: Scottish Grand National – Sebastian V
1978: Charlie Hall Chase – Fighting Fit
1978: Charlie Hall Chase – Fighting Fit
1979: National Hunt Handicap Chase – Fair View
1979: National Hunt Handicap Chase – Fair View
1979: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Brawny Scot
1979: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Brawny Scot
1980: Greenall Whitley Handicap Chase – Cavity Hunter
1980: Greenall Whitley Handicap Chase – Cavity Hunter
1986: Midlands Grand National – The Thinker
1986: Midlands Grand National – The Thinker
1987: Peter Marsh Chase – The Thinker
1987: Peter Marsh Chase – The Thinker
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