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Ronald John Vibert was born in Jersey on July 13, 1938. Before riding under National Hunt Rules, he had seven point-to-point wins (and ten seconds) to his name. His first winner under those rules had come on Perquisite at Jersey in August 1956.
Ronald John Vibert was born in Jersey on July 13, 1938. Before riding under National Hunt Rules, he had seven point-to-point wins (and ten seconds) to his name. His first winner under those rules had come on Perquisite at Jersey in August 1956.
He came to England aged 21 and in 1960 became assistant trainer to Tom Yates at Letcombe Bassett. He rode his first winner on Indian Ruler in the Warwickshire Handicap Hurdle at Stratford on January 5, 1961. Ron won on him again at Newbury the following month.
He came to England aged 21 and in 1960 became assistant trainer to Tom Yates at Letcombe Bassett. He rode his first winner on Indian Ruler in the Warwickshire Handicap Hurdle at Stratford on January 5, 1961. Ron won on him again at Newbury the following month.
Those were Ron’s only two victories that season but he rode 11 from 65 mounts in the 1961/62 campaign, placing him fifth in the amateur riders’ table. They included the Hereford Hugh Sumner Challenge Bowl on Mariner’s Delight for Shropshire trainer Stan Wright.
Those were Ron’s only two victories that season but he rode 11 from 65 mounts in the 1961/62 campaign, placing him fifth in the amateur riders’ table. They included the Hereford Hugh Sumner Challenge Bowl on Mariner’s Delight for Shropshire trainer Stan Wright.
When Tom Yates died suddenly in October 1962, Ron temporarily took over the trainer’s licence, which necessitated him relinquishing his amateur rider status and turning professional. He trained seven winners during his five-week spell as a trainer. He then registered an important success as a jockey when winning the Rhymney Breweries Handicap Chase at Chepstow on Happy Spring, again trained by Stan Wright.
When Tom Yates died suddenly in October 1962, Ron temporarily took over the trainer’s licence, which necessitated him relinquishing his amateur rider status and turning professional. He trained seven winners during his five-week spell as a trainer. He then registered an important success as a jockey when winning the Rhymney Breweries Handicap Chase at Chepstow on Happy Spring, again trained by Stan Wright.
Ron finished that 1962/63 season with 14 wins. He increased his score to 16 in 1963/64, thanks largely to his association with Captain Tim Forster, who had taken over at Tom Yates’s Letcombe Bassett stables. They included another notable victory on Take Plenty in the Mildmay of Flete Chase at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting.
Ron finished that 1962/63 season with 14 wins. He increased his score to 16 in 1963/64, thanks largely to his association with Captain Tim Forster, who had taken over at Tom Yates’s Letcombe Bassett stables. They included another notable victory on Take Plenty in the Mildmay of Flete Chase at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting.
Ron rode consistently over the next three seasons, recording 21 successes in 1964/65; 20 in 1965/66 including Cheltenham’s four-mile Fred Withington Chase on Mr Wonderful; and a career-best 23 in 1966/67.
Ron rode consistently over the next three seasons, recording 21 successes in 1964/65; 20 in 1965/66 including Cheltenham’s four-mile Fred Withington Chase on Mr Wonderful; and a career-best 23 in 1966/67.
On June 13, 1967, he married Rosalind Waugh.
On June 13, 1967, he married Rosalind Waugh.
Ron’s 100th winner came on Prince Gin in a two-and-a-half-mile chase at Warwick on Monday, March 4, 1968. He remembered it well. “It was a milestone in my career. Prince Gin was a tough old horse and although I’d had a fair bit of success with him, that day the ground was firm and he didn’t like the going.”
Ron’s 100th winner came on Prince Gin in a two-and-a-half-mile chase at Warwick on Monday, March 4, 1968. He remembered it well. “It was a milestone in my career. Prince Gin was a tough old horse and although I’d had a fair bit of success with him, that day the ground was firm and he didn’t like the going.”
He had one more victory after that, aboard Buster in the Defford Handicap Hurdle (Division 1) at Worcester on March 18, 1968.
He had one more victory after that, aboard Buster in the Defford Handicap Hurdle (Division 1) at Worcester on March 18, 1968.
Ron retired at the end of that year, having ridden a total of 114 winners, 101 as a professional, 13 as an amateur. He trained successfully for several seasons, based initially at East Garston, near Newbury, and then at East Hendred, Wantage. The best horse he trained was Holocaust, for which he paid 3,100 guineas at the December Sales on behalf of Lord Howard de Walden.
Ron retired at the end of that year, having ridden a total of 114 winners, 101 as a professional, 13 as an amateur. He trained successfully for several seasons, based initially at East Garston, near Newbury, and then at East Hendred, Wantage. The best horse he trained was Holocaust, for which he paid 3,100 guineas at the December Sales on behalf of Lord Howard de Walden.
He eventually returned to Jersey and run a marquee hire company. He also became involved in the running of Jersey Race Club and became a popular figure at its Les Landes racecourse.
He eventually returned to Jersey and run a marquee hire company. He also became involved in the running of Jersey Race Club and became a popular figure at its Les Landes racecourse.
Ron regarded Happy Spring as the best horse he had ridden. It was on that horse that be became one of the very few jockeys who could claim to have beaten Arkle in a steeplechase. That moment occurred when finishing second to Mill House in the 1963 Hennessy Gold Cup, the race in which Arkle finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Happy Spring, having slipped on landing over the last open ditch three from home.
Ron regarded Happy Spring as the best horse he had ridden. It was on that horse that be became one of the very few jockeys who could claim to have beaten Arkle in a steeplechase. That moment occurred when finishing second to Mill House in the 1963 Hennessy Gold Cup, the race in which Arkle finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Happy Spring, having slipped on landing over the last open ditch three from home.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1962: Hereford Hugh Sumner Challenge Bowl Chase – Mariner’s Delight
1962: Hereford Hugh Sumner Challenge Bowl Chase – Mariner’s Delight
1962: Rhymney Breweries Handicap Chase – Happy Spring
1962: Rhymney Breweries Handicap Chase – Happy Spring
1964: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Take Plenty
1964: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Take Plenty
1966: Fred Withington Handicap Chase – Mr Wonderful
1966: Fred Withington Handicap Chase – Mr Wonderful
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