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Sharron Murgatroyd was raised in Soaper House Farm on the outskirts of Halifax, West Yorkshire. Set high on the moors, it was a cold dwelling that boasted a tin bath and lavatory at the end of the garden.
Sharron Murgatroyd was raised in Soaper House Farm on the outskirts of Halifax, West Yorkshire. Set high on the moors, it was a cold dwelling that boasted a tin bath and lavatory at the end of the garden.
When she was three, her father bought a mare called Misty on which he hoped Sharron’s brother, Clive, would learn to ride. However, when a bad asthma allergy and a passion for football took over Clive’s life, it looked likely that Misty might have to be sold on. Then Sharron pleaded to be lifted onto her back and the two became inseparable companions.
When she was three, her father bought a mare called Misty on which he hoped Sharron’s brother, Clive, would learn to ride. However, when a bad asthma allergy and a passion for football took over Clive’s life, it looked likely that Misty might have to be sold on. Then Sharron pleaded to be lifted onto her back and the two became inseparable companions.
In 1970, her father, who ran a central heating business in Bradford, fell for another woman and moved out. Sharron and her family remained at the farmhouse until 1972 before moving to a house in Frizinghall on the outskirts of Bradford City Centre.
In 1970, her father, who ran a central heating business in Bradford, fell for another woman and moved out. Sharron and her family remained at the farmhouse until 1972 before moving to a house in Frizinghall on the outskirts of Bradford City Centre.
With no idea about what she wanted to do for a living, Sharron left school in 1976. Then her careers teacher got in touch. She knew of Sharron’s love of horses and outlined a way to get into a racing stable. Inspired, Sharron set about writing letters to lots of different trainers and, eventually, she was offered a job by Doncaster trainer Bob Ward.
With no idea about what she wanted to do for a living, Sharron left school in 1976. Then her careers teacher got in touch. She knew of Sharron’s love of horses and outlined a way to get into a racing stable. Inspired, Sharron set about writing letters to lots of different trainers and, eventually, she was offered a job by Doncaster trainer Bob Ward.
She began work there on Friday, May 28th. However, the trainer had only eight horses and it was unable to keep Sharron on. Luckily, he was great friends with the Gisburn trainer Tony Dickinson and, after an initial meeting, Dickinson agreed to give her a month’s trial.
She began work there on Friday, May 28th. However, the trainer had only eight horses and it was unable to keep Sharron on. Luckily, he was great friends with the Gisburn trainer Tony Dickinson and, after an initial meeting, Dickinson agreed to give her a month’s trial.
Her first notable memory of her time with him was leading in her first winner, Pat Hand, at Catterick, which had been ridden by the trainer’s son, Michael. Her time at the yard was generally happy, but she was never offered a ride. ‘Girls don’t ride over jumps’ she was told by the Boss. Disappointed but not disheartened, she moved on to Jeremy Hindley’s stable at Clarehaven. However, the stable already had two very good lady riders in Franca Vittandini and Elain Mellor and, after staying a year, Sharron found it was time to move on again in the hunt for that elusive first ride.
Her first notable memory of her time with him was leading in her first winner, Pat Hand, at Catterick, which had been ridden by the trainer’s son, Michael. Her time at the yard was generally happy, but she was never offered a ride. ‘Girls don’t ride over jumps’ she was told by the Boss. Disappointed but not disheartened, she moved on to Jeremy Hindley’s stable at Clarehaven. However, the stable already had two very good lady riders in Franca Vittandini and Elain Mellor and, after staying a year, Sharron found it was time to move on again in the hunt for that elusive first ride.
On January 1 1981, she began working for Alan Bailey and, at Doncaster’s first flat meeting of the season, she made her debut as a jockey on board Joliffe’s Double. The race, she recalled later, was over in a flash. Sharron, finding herself in a hopeless position, moved off the rails, an unforgivable manoeuvre in racing. Some nine years later, at Market Rasen in April 1987, Joliffe’s Double was also her first ride over fences.
On January 1 1981, she began working for Alan Bailey and, at Doncaster’s first flat meeting of the season, she made her debut as a jockey on board Joliffe’s Double. The race, she recalled later, was over in a flash. Sharron, finding herself in a hopeless position, moved off the rails, an unforgivable manoeuvre in racing. Some nine years later, at Market Rasen in April 1987, Joliffe’s Double was also her first ride over fences.
Her first success in a National Hunt flat race came at Towcester on May 7 1984 on Bootleggers Moll. There were only two runners that day but Sharron was pleased to win.
Her first success in a National Hunt flat race came at Towcester on May 7 1984 on Bootleggers Moll. There were only two runners that day but Sharron was pleased to win.
On Monday, May 28 1984, she had her first ride over hurdles. Riding Call Up for Alan Bailey in the Hempton Selling Handicap Hurdle, she was unseated at the second hurdle. Her first win over hurdles came over two years later when she guided 16-1 chance Molojec to victory in the 23-runner Hampton Court Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday 13 December 1986. This success, however, did nothing to further her career; she was not offered another ride until the following April.
On Monday, May 28 1984, she had her first ride over hurdles. Riding Call Up for Alan Bailey in the Hempton Selling Handicap Hurdle, she was unseated at the second hurdle. Her first win over hurdles came over two years later when she guided 16-1 chance Molojec to victory in the 23-runner Hampton Court Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday 13 December 1986. This success, however, did nothing to further her career; she was not offered another ride until the following April.
Sharron’s last winner on the flat was Rose Glen at Ayr in July 1991. Earlier that year, in January, she had ridden her last winner over hurdles, Howjal, at Lingfield all-weather track.
Sharron’s last winner on the flat was Rose Glen at Ayr in July 1991. Earlier that year, in January, she had ridden her last winner over hurdles, Howjal, at Lingfield all-weather track.
On August 2, 1991, Sharron drove from Newmarket to Bangor where she was booked to ride the grey Independant Air for trainer David Thom. It was to prove a life-changing engagement. Racing away from the stands, any chance of winning had already gone and, by the third last, Sharron was completely tailed off. Common sense dictated that she should pull up - the grey had given her everything - but she knew its owners had travelled a long way to watch their horse, and she decided to pop it over the last. It was a fatal miscall. The tired horse came down. When Sharron opened her eyes she wondered why an ambulance man was crouched next to her. She told him that she was okay, just winded, but needed oxygen. An oxygen mask was applied and a metal stretcher slid underneath her. She was rushed to Wrexham Hospital where she was tended to by Dr El Masry. X-rays were taken and people contacted. After a few hours, Sharron insisted that he tell her how badly she had been injured. ‘You have broken your neck quite badly,’ he responded. ‘You are paralysed from the neck down.’
On August 2, 1991, Sharron drove from Newmarket to Bangor where she was booked to ride the grey Independant Air for trainer David Thom. It was to prove a life-changing engagement. Racing away from the stands, any chance of winning had already gone and, by the third last, Sharron was completely tailed off. Common sense dictated that she should pull up - the grey had given her everything - but she knew its owners had travelled a long way to watch their horse, and she decided to pop it over the last. It was a fatal miscall. The tired horse came down. When Sharron opened her eyes she wondered why an ambulance man was crouched next to her. She told him that she was okay, just winded, but needed oxygen. An oxygen mask was applied and a metal stretcher slid underneath her. She was rushed to Wrexham Hospital where she was tended to by Dr El Masry. X-rays were taken and people contacted. After a few hours, Sharron insisted that he tell her how badly she had been injured. ‘You have broken your neck quite badly,’ he responded. ‘You are paralysed from the neck down.’
He then told her that she might never walk again. She spent the next three years in a spinal injuries unit before returning home to Newmarket.
He then told her that she might never walk again. She spent the next three years in a spinal injuries unit before returning home to Newmarket.
Sharron was 32 when she had her accident in 1991.
Sharron was 32 when she had her accident in 1991.
She died from pneumonia following a heart attack in West Suffolk Hospital on March 28 2014.
She died from pneumonia following a heart attack in West Suffolk Hospital on March 28 2014.
An inquest in Ipswich heard her fall contributed to her death.
An inquest in Ipswich heard her fall contributed to her death.
Sharron had ridden seven winners on the Flat and seven over jumps.
Sharron had ridden seven winners on the Flat and seven over jumps.
In October 1996, her book, Jump Jockeys Don’t Cry, was published to great acclaim. The initial print run of 2,850 copies sold out by January and another 2,200 copies were printed. The book was top of the best-seller list at Tindalls in Newmarket over Christmas, ahead of books by Delia Smith and the Duchess of York. It even sold better than Frankie Dettori’s.
In October 1996, her book, Jump Jockeys Don’t Cry, was published to great acclaim. The initial print run of 2,850 copies sold out by January and another 2,200 copies were printed. The book was top of the best-seller list at Tindalls in Newmarket over Christmas, ahead of books by Delia Smith and the Duchess of York. It even sold better than Frankie Dettori’s.
Sharron once said, ‘What people have to realize when they look at me is that what they see is what they don’t get.’
Sharron once said, ‘What people have to realize when they look at me is that what they see is what they don’t get.’
She was truly a brave fighter to the end
She was truly a brave fighter to the end
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