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John Walster
John Walster
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
After riding a dozen winners as an amateur between 1905 and 1908, John Walster turned professional and added another nine before World War I intervened, returning afterwards to add two more.
After riding a dozen winners as an amateur between 1905 and 1908, John Walster turned professional and added another nine before World War I intervened, returning afterwards to add two more.
Born in 1882, he rode his first winner at the Belvoir Hunt fixture on March 23, 1905, when Valmia won the Light-Weight Farmers’ Chase by two lengths.
Born in 1882, he rode his first winner at the Belvoir Hunt fixture on March 23, 1905, when Valmia won the Light-Weight Farmers’ Chase by two lengths.
The Belvoir Hunt Steeplechases were inaugurated in 1885 and held in Ingoldsby in what was then the county of Rutland. The course was right-handed, two miles round, and situated between the villages of Ingoldsby and Lenton. From the outset this annual gathering was largely confined to subscribers and followers of the Belvoir Hunt. It differed from a point-to-point only in that one, or sometimes two, of the races would be open to professional jockeys. It staged its final meeting under National Hunt rules on March 19, 1908, since when it has been of point-to-point status.
The Belvoir Hunt Steeplechases were inaugurated in 1885 and held in Ingoldsby in what was then the county of Rutland. The course was right-handed, two miles round, and situated between the villages of Ingoldsby and Lenton. From the outset this annual gathering was largely confined to subscribers and followers of the Belvoir Hunt. It differed from a point-to-point only in that one, or sometimes two, of the races would be open to professional jockeys. It staged its final meeting under National Hunt rules on March 19, 1908, since when it has been of point-to-point status.
Uncultivated, owned and trained by former leading amateur jockey Rippon Brockton, was John’s second winner when taking the Nottingham Handicap Chase at Southwell by a distance on February 26, 1906. There were three more wins that year, two in 1907 and five in 1908 including two on the chaser Chevely, that horse also providing him with three of the five wins he achieved in 1909, his first year in the professional ranks.
Uncultivated, owned and trained by former leading amateur jockey Rippon Brockton, was John’s second winner when taking the Nottingham Handicap Chase at Southwell by a distance on February 26, 1906. There were three more wins that year, two in 1907 and five in 1908 including two on the chaser Chevely, that horse also providing him with three of the five wins he achieved in 1909, his first year in the professional ranks.
However, his scores then dwindled down to just one in 1911 and none at all in 1912 or 1913. He did not hold a licence between 1914 and 1919 but returned to ride Lady Minto to a 15-length victory in the Carlton Selling Handicap Hurdle at Southwell on April 26, 1920.
However, his scores then dwindled down to just one in 1911 and none at all in 1912 or 1913. He did not hold a licence between 1914 and 1919 but returned to ride Lady Minto to a 15-length victory in the Carlton Selling Handicap Hurdle at Southwell on April 26, 1920.
His final success came at Uttoxeter later that year, on October 18, when Golden Song was a comfortable winner of the Shrewsbury Selling Chase, beating Sultan VI by ten lengths. Both of his 1920 winners were trained by Joe Lyall.
His final success came at Uttoxeter later that year, on October 18, when Golden Song was a comfortable winner of the Shrewsbury Selling Chase, beating Sultan VI by ten lengths. Both of his 1920 winners were trained by Joe Lyall.
John’s final ride, Rathkeale II, refused in the Serby Open Chase at Retford Hunt on April 4, 1921.
John’s final ride, Rathkeale II, refused in the Serby Open Chase at Retford Hunt on April 4, 1921.
John Walster’s winners were, in chronological order:
John Walster’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Valmia, Belvoir Hunt, March 23, 1905
1. Valmia, Belvoir Hunt, March 23, 1905
2. Uncultivated, Southwell, February 26, 1906
2. Uncultivated, Southwell, February 26, 1906
3. Loo Loo, Retford Hunt, April 2, 1906
3. Loo Loo, Retford Hunt, April 2, 1906
4. Tally Ho III, Huntingdon, April 18, 1906
4. Tally Ho III, Huntingdon, April 18, 1906
5. Galway, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough), April 23, 1906
5. Galway, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough), April 23, 1906
6. Limelight VI, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough), April 15, 1907
6. Limelight VI, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough), April 15, 1907
7. Chevely, Shirley Park, May 6, 1907 (walkover)
7. Chevely, Shirley Park, May 6, 1907 (walkover)
8. King Pluto, Birmingham, March 9, 1908
8. King Pluto, Birmingham, March 9, 1908
9. Diamant, Belvoir Hunt, March 19, 1908
9. Diamant, Belvoir Hunt, March 19, 1908
10. Chevely, Kempton Park, March 21, 1908
10. Chevely, Kempton Park, March 21, 1908
11. Angles, Retford Hunt, April 6, 1908
11. Angles, Retford Hunt, April 6, 1908
12. Chevely, Colwall Park, April 13, 1908
12. Chevely, Colwall Park, April 13, 1908
13. Chevely, Cheltenham, April 14, 1909
13. Chevely, Cheltenham, April 14, 1909
14. Sky Pilot, Moreton-in-Marsh Hunt, April 15, 1909
14. Sky Pilot, Moreton-in-Marsh Hunt, April 15, 1909
15. Chevely, V.W.H. Hunt, April 17, 1909
15. Chevely, V.W.H. Hunt, April 17, 1909
16. Shiplake, Hall Green, May 19, 1909
16. Shiplake, Hall Green, May 19, 1909
17. Chevely, Shirley Park, September 6, 1909
17. Chevely, Shirley Park, September 6, 1909
18. Chevely, Newbury, February 18, 1910
18. Chevely, Newbury, February 18, 1910
19. Sky Pilot, Moreton-in-Marsh Hunt, April 4, 1910
19. Sky Pilot, Moreton-in-Marsh Hunt, April 4, 1910
20. Perimo, Bungay, April 21, 1910
20. Perimo, Bungay, April 21, 1910
21. Miss Cheeky, Southwell, April 15, 1911
21. Miss Cheeky, Southwell, April 15, 1911
22. Lady Minto, Southwell, April 26, 1920
22. Lady Minto, Southwell, April 26, 1920
23. Golden Song, Uttoxeter, October 18, 1920
23. Golden Song, Uttoxeter, October 18, 1920
John's first winner
John Walster's final winner
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