Geoff Mann
1934 - 1988
1934 - 1988
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Born on September 1, 1934, Geoffrey William Mann was the younger brother of jockey and trainer Wilmer Mann and rode over jumps for eight years, most of them as head lad cum stable jockey to Market Deeping trainer George Vergette.
Born on September 1, 1934, Geoffrey William Mann was the younger brother of jockey and trainer Wilmer Mann and rode over jumps for eight years, most of them as head lad cum stable jockey to Market Deeping trainer George Vergette.
Geoff rode his first winner on Vergette’s three-mile chaser Monk’s Folly at Market Rasen on Saturday, March 7, 1953. He won on him again over course and distance on Easter Monday. In May, he won twice within three days on Vergette’s novice chaser Eton Rambler.
Geoff rode his first winner on Vergette’s three-mile chaser Monk’s Folly at Market Rasen on Saturday, March 7, 1953. He won on him again over course and distance on Easter Monday. In May, he won twice within three days on Vergette’s novice chaser Eton Rambler.
He enjoyed his best season in 1953/54 with 11 winners. Four of those victories were gained on Eton Rambler, including when finishing alone at Leicester, his sole opponent having fallen twice. He rode two winners for Tadcaster trainer Charlie Hall and landed a hurdle race double at Uttoxeter on April 5, 1954, aboard George Vergette’s Lovat and Louis Furman’s Belle Atom.
He enjoyed his best season in 1953/54 with 11 winners. Four of those victories were gained on Eton Rambler, including when finishing alone at Leicester, his sole opponent having fallen twice. He rode two winners for Tadcaster trainer Charlie Hall and landed a hurdle race double at Uttoxeter on April 5, 1954, aboard George Vergette’s Lovat and Louis Furman’s Belle Atom.
Because of his commitments at George Vergette’s yard, Geoff took few outside rides, which limited his opportunities. His five winners in 1955/56 were all for Vergette and included another ‘finished alone’ at Leicester, this time on Don Pedro, all his nine rivals having suffered a series of mishaps (five fell, one unseated rider, one brought down, one refused, one pulled up) along the way. He also won twice at Uttoxeter on Royal Lodge, in the Hawthorn Memorial Challenge Cup Chase and the Midlands Stayers’ Handicap Chase.
Because of his commitments at George Vergette’s yard, Geoff took few outside rides, which limited his opportunities. His five winners in 1955/56 were all for Vergette and included another ‘finished alone’ at Leicester, this time on Don Pedro, all his nine rivals having suffered a series of mishaps (five fell, one unseated rider, one brought down, one refused, one pulled up) along the way. He also won twice at Uttoxeter on Royal Lodge, in the Hawthorn Memorial Challenge Cup Chase and the Midlands Stayers’ Handicap Chase.
He had another good season in 1956/57 with eight winners, including two at Birmingham on Rondino, notably when beating Stan Mellor’s mount Tea Fiend by a head in the four-mile Withington Handicap Chase, giving Geoff the biggest win of his career. His sole success of the 1957/58 campaign was when riding Royal Lodge to a second Hawthorn Memorial Challenge Cup Chase success at Uttoxeter.
He had another good season in 1956/57 with eight winners, including two at Birmingham on Rondino, notably when beating Stan Mellor’s mount Tea Fiend by a head in the four-mile Withington Handicap Chase, giving Geoff the biggest win of his career. His sole success of the 1957/58 campaign was when riding Royal Lodge to a second Hawthorn Memorial Challenge Cup Chase success at Uttoxeter.
Uttoxeter was also the venue for Geoff’s final winner, that being Shane, trained by his brother Wilmer Mann, in the Easter Selling Handicap Hurdle on Tuesday. March 31, 1959. By that time, Geoff had been succeeded by Johnny Kenneally as head lad to George Vergette.
Uttoxeter was also the venue for Geoff’s final winner, that being Shane, trained by his brother Wilmer Mann, in the Easter Selling Handicap Hurdle on Tuesday. March 31, 1959. By that time, Geoff had been succeeded by Johnny Kenneally as head lad to George Vergette.
Geoff retired from the saddle the following season. All bar six of his 32 winners had been gained on George Vergette-trained horses.
Geoff retired from the saddle the following season. All bar six of his 32 winners had been gained on George Vergette-trained horses.
Sadly, he died young, in March 1988, aged just 53.
Sadly, he died young, in March 1988, aged just 53.
Geoff Mann’s winners were, in chronological order:
Geoff Mann’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Monk’s Folly, Market Rasen, March 7, 1953
1. Monk’s Folly, Market Rasen, March 7, 1953
2. Lovat, above, Doncaster, March 17, 1953
2. Lovat, above, Doncaster, March 17, 1953
3. Monk’s Folly, Market Rasen, April 6, 1953
3. Monk’s Folly, Market Rasen, April 6, 1953
4. Eton Rambler, Market Rasen, May 9, 1953
4. Eton Rambler, Market Rasen, May 9, 1953
5. Eton Rambler, Southwell, May 12, 1953
5. Eton Rambler, Southwell, May 12, 1953
6. Eton Rambler, Southwell, September 7, 1953
6. Eton Rambler, Southwell, September 7, 1953
7. Eton Rambler, Market Rasen, October 3, 1953
7. Eton Rambler, Market Rasen, October 3, 1953
8. Eton Rambler, Southwell, October 15, 1953
8. Eton Rambler, Southwell, October 15, 1953
9. Pearl-Oyster, (above), Doncaster, November 20, 1953
9. Pearl-Oyster, (above), Doncaster, November 20, 1953
10. Eton Rambler, Leicester, November 24, 1953
10. Eton Rambler, Leicester, November 24, 1953
11. Fletcher, Wetherby, November 28, 1953
11. Fletcher, Wetherby, November 28, 1953
12. Monk’s Folly, Market Rasen, January 23, 1954
12. Monk’s Folly, Market Rasen, January 23, 1954
13. Lovat, Uttoxeter, April 5, 1954
13. Lovat, Uttoxeter, April 5, 1954
14. Belle Atom, Uttoxeter, April 5, 1954
14. Belle Atom, Uttoxeter, April 5, 1954
15. Coiffure, Southwell, April 15, 1954
15. Coiffure, Southwell, April 15, 1954
16. Luna Park, Huntingdon, April 19, 1954
16. Luna Park, Huntingdon, April 19, 1954
17. Luna Park, Southwell, Southwell, April 9, 1955
17. Luna Park, Southwell, Southwell, April 9, 1955
18. Coltan, Southwell, September 5, 1955
18. Coltan, Southwell, September 5, 1955
19. Don Pedro, Leicester, February 15, 1956
19. Don Pedro, Leicester, February 15, 1956
20. Royal Lodge, Uttoxeter, March 17, 1956
20. Royal Lodge, Uttoxeter, March 17, 1956
21. Queen’s Act, Huntingdon, April 2, 1956
21. Queen’s Act, Huntingdon, April 2, 1956
22. Royal Lodge, Uttoxeter, April 14, 1956
22. Royal Lodge, Uttoxeter, April 14, 1956
23. Rondino, above, Birmingham, December 18, 1956
23. Rondino, above, Birmingham, December 18, 1956
24. Danesbury Lad, Leicester, January 7, 1957
24. Danesbury Lad, Leicester, January 7, 1957
25. Rondino, Birmingham, February 25, 1957
25. Rondino, Birmingham, February 25, 1957
26. Seas Over, Doncaster, March 19, 1957
26. Seas Over, Doncaster, March 19, 1957
27. Easter Robin, Nottingham, March 21, 1957
27. Easter Robin, Nottingham, March 21, 1957
28. Trafficator, Stratford-on-Avon, April 11, 1957
28. Trafficator, Stratford-on-Avon, April 11, 1957
29. Sweet Martini, Huntingdon, April 22, 1957
29. Sweet Martini, Huntingdon, April 22, 1957
30. Handsome Prince, Huntingdon, June 10, 1957
30. Handsome Prince, Huntingdon, June 10, 1957
31. Royal Lodge, Uttoxeter, March 22, 1958
31. Royal Lodge, Uttoxeter, March 22, 1958
32. Shane, Uttoxeter, March 31, 1959
32. Shane, Uttoxeter, March 31, 1959