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As the son of former jump jockey Ian Shoemark and grandson of Bill Shoemark, who rode over 300 winners under National Hunt rules including the 1972 Whitbread Gold Cup on Grey Sombrero, Conor Shoemark was destined to follow in their footsteps.
As the son of former jump jockey Ian Shoemark and grandson of Bill Shoemark, who rode over 300 winners under National Hunt rules including the 1972 Whitbread Gold Cup on Grey Sombrero, Conor Shoemark was destined to follow in their footsteps.
However, that wasn’t always the case. Growing up in Stow-on-the-Wold, in Gloucestershire, he didn’t start riding until he was a teenager, having been too occupied with other sports such as athletics and cricket. He also played at hooker for Stow Rugby Club.
However, that wasn’t always the case. Growing up in Stow-on-the-Wold, in Gloucestershire, he didn’t start riding until he was a teenager, having been too occupied with other sports such as athletics and cricket. He also played at hooker for Stow Rugby Club.
Leaving school with three ‘A’ levels, he joined trainer Fergal O’Brien when aged 17. He began race-riding as an amateur and registered his first win on Dark Energy, trained by O’Brien, in a ‘hands and heels’ handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys and amateur riders at Market Rasen on November 11, 2012.
Leaving school with three ‘A’ levels, he joined trainer Fergal O’Brien when aged 17. He began race-riding as an amateur and registered his first win on Dark Energy, trained by O’Brien, in a ‘hands and heels’ handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys and amateur riders at Market Rasen on November 11, 2012.
Among the horses that got his name noticed was the O’Brien-trained Creevytennant, on whom Conor won five times, beginning with a pair of hunter chases in 2013. Then, having turned conditional when aged 19, Conor won three handicap chases on him during the 2014/15 campaign, culminating in a veterans’ chase at Ascot.
Among the horses that got his name noticed was the O’Brien-trained Creevytennant, on whom Conor won five times, beginning with a pair of hunter chases in 2013. Then, having turned conditional when aged 19, Conor won three handicap chases on him during the 2014/15 campaign, culminating in a veterans’ chase at Ascot.
Conor rode out his claim in October 2016 and although he never rode a ‘big’ winner, nonetheless achieved a reasonable measure of success. A career highlight was riding a Listed race double at Cheltenham on April 17, 2014, aboard the Don Cantillon-trained As I Am in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, and Me And Ben, trained by Fergal O’Brien, in the EBF/TBA Mares’ Novices’ Chase Final.
Conor rode out his claim in October 2016 and although he never rode a ‘big’ winner, nonetheless achieved a reasonable measure of success. A career highlight was riding a Listed race double at Cheltenham on April 17, 2014, aboard the Don Cantillon-trained As I Am in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, and Me And Ben, trained by Fergal O’Brien, in the EBF/TBA Mares’ Novices’ Chase Final.
Probably the best he rode was Martin Keighley’s good chaser Champion Court, on whom he finished seventh in the Brown Advisory and Merriebelle Stable Plate (the former Mildmay of Flete Chase) at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival.
Probably the best he rode was Martin Keighley’s good chaser Champion Court, on whom he finished seventh in the Brown Advisory and Merriebelle Stable Plate (the former Mildmay of Flete Chase) at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival.
A keen and competitive cyclist and also a long-distance runner, Conor ran the Berlin Marathon in September 2018 in aid of Cancer Research. Also that year, he joined burgeoning trainer Dan Skelton’s team.
A keen and competitive cyclist and also a long-distance runner, Conor ran the Berlin Marathon in September 2018 in aid of Cancer Research. Also that year, he joined burgeoning trainer Dan Skelton’s team.
Conor rode what proved to be his last winner on the Skelton-trained Knight In Dubai in a Doncaster novices’ chase on December 13, 2019.
Conor rode what proved to be his last winner on the Skelton-trained Knight In Dubai in a Doncaster novices’ chase on December 13, 2019.
He announced his retirement for race-riding after finishing second on Monsieur D’Arque, in a Ludlow novices’ handicap chase October 20, 2020. Aged 26, he said that he had no regrets and had “loved every minute” of his time in the saddle.
He announced his retirement for race-riding after finishing second on Monsieur D’Arque, in a Ludlow novices’ handicap chase October 20, 2020. Aged 26, he said that he had no regrets and had “loved every minute” of his time in the saddle.
Besides continuing to ride out every morning for Dan Skelton, Conor’s sporting connection would be maintained as he had recently qualified as a personal fitness trainer and that was his new choice of career.
Besides continuing to ride out every morning for Dan Skelton, Conor’s sporting connection would be maintained as he had recently qualified as a personal fitness trainer and that was his new choice of career.
Conor’s younger brother, Kieran Shoemark, is a Royal Ascot and Group race-winning jockey who plies his trade on the Flat.
Conor’s younger brother, Kieran Shoemark, is a Royal Ascot and Group race-winning jockey who plies his trade on the Flat.
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