Jim Newson

Jim Newson

Article by Alan Trout

Northern jump jockey James Hunter Newson, known as Jim, had three wins, along with four second places and three third places from 25 mounts during the 1969/70 season.

He started with a comfortable victory on Niagrador in the Golden Brown Professional Riders Novices’ Hurdle at Teesside Park (Stockton) on October 1, 1969. Owned, trained and bred by Jos. Bowness, the five-year-old Niagrador was having his second run of the campaign, having been unplaced with Jim aboard at Cheltenham two weeks earlier. 

Jim was placed on both of Niagrador’s subsequent starts that season, and it was not long before he scored his second win when Coupador landed the Fiveways Handicap Hurdle at Ayr on October 11. This race, as with his first success, was for novice riders, and Jim brought his mount through at the final flight and battled up the run-in to prevail by a neck. 

His last success was at Catterick Bridge on January 17, 1970, when Camasco, trained by Jack Berry, came through in the closing stages to win the Swale Selling Handicap Hurdle, yet another race for novice riders. It was the first time he had ridden the nine-year-old, and although the combination finished second at Sedgefield on their next outing seven days later, Tony Potts then took over in the saddle.

Jim Newson did not renew his licence the following season.