Norman Stirk
1929 - 1988
1929 - 1988
Born at Billingham, Co Durham in 1929, Norman Stirk gained by far his most important success when winning the 1961 2,000 Guineas on 66-1 outsider Rockavon.
Born at Billingham, Co Durham in 1929, Norman Stirk gained by far his most important success when winning the 1961 2,000 Guineas on 66-1 outsider Rockavon.
He began his apprenticeship, aged 14, with Alec Boyd, who trained at Tilton House Stables in Westbarns, Dunbar, having taken over the licence following the death of his father in 1936.
He began his apprenticeship, aged 14, with Alec Boyd, who trained at Tilton House Stables in Westbarns, Dunbar, having taken over the licence following the death of his father in 1936.
Norman rode his first winner on Boyd’s four-year-old gelding Las Vegas in the one-mile Apprentice Handicap at Newmarket on August 21, 1946.
Norman rode his first winner on Boyd’s four-year-old gelding Las Vegas in the one-mile Apprentice Handicap at Newmarket on August 21, 1946.
When Alec Boyd moved to Middleham in 1947, his younger brother George, who had been Alec’s assistant, took over at Tilton House Stables and continued to train there until 1969. Throughout that time, the two Normans, Stirk and McIntosh, were his regular stable jockeys.
When Alec Boyd moved to Middleham in 1947, his younger brother George, who had been Alec’s assistant, took over at Tilton House Stables and continued to train there until 1969. Throughout that time, the two Normans, Stirk and McIntosh, were his regular stable jockeys.
A steady rather than prolific scorer, Norman Stirk’s best season, numerically, came in 1959 with 29 winners. His big race victories included the Cambridgeshire, Northumberland Plate, Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate.
A steady rather than prolific scorer, Norman Stirk’s best season, numerically, came in 1959 with 29 winners. His big race victories included the Cambridgeshire, Northumberland Plate, Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate.
However, his greatest moment came when guiding Boyd’s unconsidered outsider Rockavon to a two-length success in the 1961 2,000 Guineas, taking the lead inside the final furlong and beating another 66-1 shot, Prince Tudor, with 25-1 chance Time Greine a short-head further back in third. Foggy conditions in Scotland meant that George Boyd couldn’t get to Newmarket, as his plane was unable to take off, so Rockavon was actually saddled for the race by Epsom trainer Dermot ‘Boggy’ Whelan.
However, his greatest moment came when guiding Boyd’s unconsidered outsider Rockavon to a two-length success in the 1961 2,000 Guineas, taking the lead inside the final furlong and beating another 66-1 shot, Prince Tudor, with 25-1 chance Time Greine a short-head further back in third. Foggy conditions in Scotland meant that George Boyd couldn’t get to Newmarket, as his plane was unable to take off, so Rockavon was actually saddled for the race by Epsom trainer Dermot ‘Boggy’ Whelan.
Rockavon had run eight times as a two-year-old. He’d finished last on his debut at Hamilton Park but went on to win three minor races at Hamilton (twice) and Stockton. He was not deemed worthy of rating in the Free Handicap at the end of the season.
Rockavon had run eight times as a two-year-old. He’d finished last on his debut at Hamilton Park but went on to win three minor races at Hamilton (twice) and Stockton. He was not deemed worthy of rating in the Free Handicap at the end of the season.
Following their shock Guineas triumph, Norman and Rockavon beat a modest opponent in a two-horse race at Newcastle, finished third of four behind Right Royal V and St Paddy in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and was unplaced in both his last two races, the Doonside Cup at Ayr and the Champion Stakes at Newmarket.
Following their shock Guineas triumph, Norman and Rockavon beat a modest opponent in a two-horse race at Newcastle, finished third of four behind Right Royal V and St Paddy in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and was unplaced in both his last two races, the Doonside Cup at Ayr and the Champion Stakes at Newmarket.
Noman rode a total of 252 winners, the last of which was on 5-2 favourite Cyclops, trained by Boyd, in the Quarry Selling Handicap at Hamilton Park on April 26, 1969. He retired at the end of that season.
Noman rode a total of 252 winners, the last of which was on 5-2 favourite Cyclops, trained by Boyd, in the Quarry Selling Handicap at Hamilton Park on April 26, 1969. He retired at the end of that season.
Norman Stirk died in Dunbar on 14 September, 1988, aged 59.
Norman Stirk died in Dunbar on 14 September, 1988, aged 59.
Classic winner:
Classic winner:
Two Thousand Guineas: Rockavon (1961)
Two Thousand Guineas: Rockavon (1961)
Other big winners:
Other big winners:
1954: Cumberland Plate – Chaseaway
1954: Cumberland Plate – Chaseaway
1959: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Rexequus
1959: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Rexequus
1960: Northumberland Plate – New Brig
1960: Northumberland Plate – New Brig
1961: Carlisle Bell – Royal Jester
1961: Carlisle Bell – Royal Jester
Norman Stirk was the jockey on board outsider Rockavon (above) when that horse won the 1961 2,000 Guineas.
Norman Stirk was the jockey on board outsider Rockavon (above) when that horse won the 1961 2,000 Guineas.
Rockavon winning the 2,000 Guineas.
Rockavon winning the 2,000 Guineas.
His first winner had come at Newmarket on 21 August 1946.
His first winner had come at Newmarket on 21 August 1946.
Riding Las Vegas (above) for Scottish trainer Alexander Boyd, Norman won
Riding Las Vegas (above) for Scottish trainer Alexander Boyd, Norman won
by a length and a half on the 9/2 second favourite.
by a length and a half on the 9/2 second favourite.
In winning, Las Vegas became the first Scottish-trained horse to win at Newmarket.
In winning, Las Vegas became the first Scottish-trained horse to win at Newmarket.
There was no doubting that Newmarket was a very lucky track for Norman.
There was no doubting that Newmarket was a very lucky track for Norman.
In 1959, he booted home Rexequus in the Cambridgeshire.
In 1959, he booted home Rexequus in the Cambridgeshire.
Norman also won the Northumberland Plate.
Norman also won the Northumberland Plate.