John Supple
John Supple was born on September 5, 1971, one of four jockey brothers from Ballyduff, a village near Listowel in County Kerry. John, Robbie and Gerry all plied their trade over jumps while Willie was a leading jockey on the Flat.
John Supple was born on September 5, 1971, one of four jockey brothers from Ballyduff, a village near Listowel in County Kerry. John, Robbie and Gerry all plied their trade over jumps while Willie was a leading jockey on the Flat.
John served his apprenticeship with Arthur Stephenson at Bishop Auckland, County Durham, for five years until Stephenson’s death in 1992, and during that period rode 25 winners. He then rode in the mid-1990s for Norman Mason, later to become the trainer of Grand National winner Red Marauder. All John’s nine winners in the 1993/94 season were trained by Mason.
John served his apprenticeship with Arthur Stephenson at Bishop Auckland, County Durham, for five years until Stephenson’s death in 1992, and during that period rode 25 winners. He then rode in the mid-1990s for Norman Mason, later to become the trainer of Grand National winner Red Marauder. All John’s nine winners in the 1993/94 season were trained by Mason.
He also enjoyed considerable success for Consett, County Durham trainer Wilf Storey, before becoming first jockey to Alan Swinbank for two years, during which time he rode 35 winners, including a seasonal best score of 20 in 1996/97. He rode 150/1 outsider Fabricator in the 1998 Grand National, falling at the third fence.
He also enjoyed considerable success for Consett, County Durham trainer Wilf Storey, before becoming first jockey to Alan Swinbank for two years, during which time he rode 35 winners, including a seasonal best score of 20 in 1996/97. He rode 150/1 outsider Fabricator in the 1998 Grand National, falling at the third fence.
He returned to Ireland in 1999 and rode for Michael Hourigan at Patrickswell, riding his final winner on Ski Jump in a juvenile maiden hurdle at Galway on October 24, 1999. He then returned to England in January 2000, as assistant trainer to Ferdy Murphy, where he spent three fruitful years.
He returned to Ireland in 1999 and rode for Michael Hourigan at Patrickswell, riding his final winner on Ski Jump in a juvenile maiden hurdle at Galway on October 24, 1999. He then returned to England in January 2000, as assistant trainer to Ferdy Murphy, where he spent three fruitful years.
During his first year there he was in the main yard in North Yorkshire, then for the next two seasons he ran the satellite yard, owned by the Hubbard family. Amongst the winners trained there was Paris Pike, who won the 2000 Scottish National, and Mac’s Supreme whom John took over to Listowel in 2002 to win the Kerry National, ridden by Timmy Murphy.
During his first year there he was in the main yard in North Yorkshire, then for the next two seasons he ran the satellite yard, owned by the Hubbard family. Amongst the winners trained there was Paris Pike, who won the 2000 Scottish National, and Mac’s Supreme whom John took over to Listowel in 2002 to win the Kerry National, ridden by Timmy Murphy.
John went on to train for the Hubbard family for two seasons and enjoyed further success. He returned to Ireland in 2007, and was head lad to Jim Culloty at Churchtown, Mallow for 12 months. During 2008/2009 he purchased a property in Banteer, where he went on to break and pretrain horses for that season. He then received a phone call from Johnny Byrne from Duagh, nine miles south-east of Listowel, informing him that he was about to bring back his string of horses from England, and asked John if he would be interested in training for him and his family. John jumped at the opportunity to get back training again and accepted his offer.
John went on to train for the Hubbard family for two seasons and enjoyed further success. He returned to Ireland in 2007, and was head lad to Jim Culloty at Churchtown, Mallow for 12 months. During 2008/2009 he purchased a property in Banteer, where he went on to break and pretrain horses for that season. He then received a phone call from Johnny Byrne from Duagh, nine miles south-east of Listowel, informing him that he was about to bring back his string of horses from England, and asked John if he would be interested in training for him and his family. John jumped at the opportunity to get back training again and accepted his offer.
He obtained his trainer’s licence in November 2009 and had 12 horses at his yard at Coolanelig, near Duagh. He made a good start to his training career, winning a point-to-point at Lemonfield in March 2010, then gained his first success under rules courtesy of 25/1 shot Top Strategy, ridden by Fermoy amateur rider Maurice Linehan, in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Punchestown on May 18, 2010.
He obtained his trainer’s licence in November 2009 and had 12 horses at his yard at Coolanelig, near Duagh. He made a good start to his training career, winning a point-to-point at Lemonfield in March 2010, then gained his first success under rules courtesy of 25/1 shot Top Strategy, ridden by Fermoy amateur rider Maurice Linehan, in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Punchestown on May 18, 2010.
His last winner as a trainer was Blackwell Synergy in the Devon Inn Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Listowel on September 9, 2013. He saddled his final runners two years later.
His last winner as a trainer was Blackwell Synergy in the Devon Inn Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Listowel on September 9, 2013. He saddled his final runners two years later.