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Frank Wilkinson
Frank Wilkinson
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Francis Wilkinson, known as Frank, rode over jumps for more than a dozen years from the early 1920s to the mid-1930s, ending his career with 18 wins.
Francis Wilkinson, known as Frank, rode over jumps for more than a dozen years from the early 1920s to the mid-1930s, ending his career with 18 wins.
His first ride was on Mrs Beacham, unplaced in the Clifton Selling Hurdle at Nottingham on October 23, 1922. It was not until the annual Brocklesby Hunt fixture on April 30, 1925 that he had a winner when the 10-year-old Coming King landed the Riby Chase, beating Korsukan by a length and a half.
His first ride was on Mrs Beacham, unplaced in the Clifton Selling Hurdle at Nottingham on October 23, 1922. It was not until the annual Brocklesby Hunt fixture on April 30, 1925 that he had a winner when the 10-year-old Coming King landed the Riby Chase, beating Korsukan by a length and a half.
Progress was slow and he never rode more than six winners in a season (1932/33). He had three wins on the selling hurdler Park Rat and on the chasers Tommy Tittlemouse and Zeus. The latter’s treble was accomplished within the space of 24 days in April/May 1930, but then Frank did not ride another winner for 19 months.
Progress was slow and he never rode more than six winners in a season (1932/33). He had three wins on the selling hurdler Park Rat and on the chasers Tommy Tittlemouse and Zeus. The latter’s treble was accomplished within the space of 24 days in April/May 1930, but then Frank did not ride another winner for 19 months.
One particularly hard fought success came on Ignota at Derby on January 27, 1927, when all five of the runners in the Matlock Selling Handicap Chase fell, but Frank remounted the seven-year-old to beat the only other finisher by 15 lengths.
One particularly hard fought success came on Ignota at Derby on January 27, 1927, when all five of the runners in the Matlock Selling Handicap Chase fell, but Frank remounted the seven-year-old to beat the only other finisher by 15 lengths.
He had his final win when Distant Horizon – owned and trained by amateur jockey Joe Pidcock who was riding another of his horses, Ruddington, in the same race – beat seven rivals to land the Charnwood Handicap Hurdle at the Quorn Hunt meeting at Loughborough on April 13, 1925. His last ride, Spion Tor, broke down during the March Selling Handicap Hurdle at Manchester on March 6, 1936.
He had his final win when Distant Horizon – owned and trained by amateur jockey Joe Pidcock who was riding another of his horses, Ruddington, in the same race – beat seven rivals to land the Charnwood Handicap Hurdle at the Quorn Hunt meeting at Loughborough on April 13, 1925. His last ride, Spion Tor, broke down during the March Selling Handicap Hurdle at Manchester on March 6, 1936.
Frank Wilkinson’s winners were, in chronological order:
Frank Wilkinson’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Coming King, Brocklesby Hunt, April 30, 1925
1. Coming King, Brocklesby Hunt, April 30, 1925
2. Clonmel, Market Rasen, September 12, 1925
2. Clonmel, Market Rasen, September 12, 1925
3. Garanne, Kelso, October 28, 1925
3. Garanne, Kelso, October 28, 1925
4. Ignota, Derby, January 17, 1927
4. Ignota, Derby, January 17, 1927
5. Coole, Haydock Park, November 30, 1929
5. Coole, Haydock Park, November 30, 1929
6. Zeus, Brocklesby Hunt, April 12, 1930
6. Zeus, Brocklesby Hunt, April 12, 1930
7. Zeus, Hexham, April 30, 1930
7. Zeus, Hexham, April 30, 1930
8. Zeus, Kelso, May 6, 1930
8. Zeus, Kelso, May 6, 1930
9. Park Rat, Worcester, December 10, 1931
9. Park Rat, Worcester, December 10, 1931
10. Star Of Africa, Market Rasen, May 2, 1932
10. Star Of Africa, Market Rasen, May 2, 1932
11. Star Of Africa, Huntingdon, May 16, 1932
11. Star Of Africa, Huntingdon, May 16, 1932
12. Tommy Tittlemouse, Sedgefield, September 3, 1932
12. Tommy Tittlemouse, Sedgefield, September 3, 1932
13. Bushboy, Market Rasen, October 17, 1932
13. Bushboy, Market Rasen, October 17, 1932
14. Tommy Tittlemouse, Wetherby, October 27, 1932
14. Tommy Tittlemouse, Wetherby, October 27, 1932
15. Tommy Tittlemouse, Derby, December 21, 1932
15. Tommy Tittlemouse, Derby, December 21, 1932
16. Park Rat, Derby, February 21, 1933
16. Park Rat, Derby, February 21, 1933
17. Park Rat, Wetherby, June 5, 1933
17. Park Rat, Wetherby, June 5, 1933
18. Distant Horizon, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough)., April 13, 1935
18. Distant Horizon, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough)., April 13, 1935
Frank Wilkinson's first winner
Frank's final winner: Distant Horizon, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough)., April 13, 1935
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