Larry Wigham
1929 - 1978
1929 - 1978
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Jump jockey Lawrence Wigham was born in 1929, the elder brother of fellow NH jockey Percy Wigham.
Jump jockey Lawrence Wigham was born in 1929, the elder brother of fellow NH jockey Percy Wigham.
Larry made a sparkling start to his career, riding 14 winners in his first season with a licence. The first of those came on Ormen, owned by Birmingham bookmaker Geoff Gilbert and trained by Bill Dutton at Malton, in the Hanbury Handicap Hurdle at Worcester on October 28, 1955. He won on him again over course and distance on November 7, and then won at Birmingham on November 15.
Larry made a sparkling start to his career, riding 14 winners in his first season with a licence. The first of those came on Ormen, owned by Birmingham bookmaker Geoff Gilbert and trained by Bill Dutton at Malton, in the Hanbury Handicap Hurdle at Worcester on October 28, 1955. He won on him again over course and distance on November 7, and then won at Birmingham on November 15.
More winners soon came his way and he finished that first season by winning the Godfrey Long Handicap Chase at Wetherby’s Whit Monday fixture on Dutton’s Red Menace.
More winners soon came his way and he finished that first season by winning the Godfrey Long Handicap Chase at Wetherby’s Whit Monday fixture on Dutton’s Red Menace.
The following season, Larry rode Red Menace to win the 3m 4f Humpty-Dumpty Handicap Chase at Haydock and finish second to Goosander over the same trip in the Haydock Park National Trial. Larry then rode Red Menace in 1957 Grand National and was up with the leaders until falling at the tenth fence.
The following season, Larry rode Red Menace to win the 3m 4f Humpty-Dumpty Handicap Chase at Haydock and finish second to Goosander over the same trip in the Haydock Park National Trial. Larry then rode Red Menace in 1957 Grand National and was up with the leaders until falling at the tenth fence.
Having ridden 26 winners in his first two seasons, his tallies fell to single figures in subsequent seasons. He rode his last winner on No Story in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Manchester on Easter Monday, April 23, 1962, although he continued to hold a licence until the 1965/66 season.
Having ridden 26 winners in his first two seasons, his tallies fell to single figures in subsequent seasons. He rode his last winner on No Story in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Manchester on Easter Monday, April 23, 1962, although he continued to hold a licence until the 1965/66 season.
Sadly, he suffered a tragic end, being killed when a heavy load of straw fell on him as he was getting out of his lorry at Terrington, near Malton, on December 28, 1978. He was 49.
Sadly, he suffered a tragic end, being killed when a heavy load of straw fell on him as he was getting out of his lorry at Terrington, near Malton, on December 28, 1978. He was 49.