Robert North
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey Robert ‘Oggie’ North was the son of ‘Lofty’ North, who looked after Sheila’s Cottage, the 1948 Grand National winner.
National Hunt jockey Robert ‘Oggie’ North was the son of ‘Lofty’ North, who looked after Sheila’s Cottage, the 1948 Grand National winner.
He served his apprenticeship and spent all of his riding career based at Middleham with Neville Crump, Sheila’s Cottage’s trainer. He began on Flat and rode his first winner on the Crump-trained Master Rocky in an apprentices’ handicap at Liverpool on Thursday, November 5, 1953.
He served his apprenticeship and spent all of his riding career based at Middleham with Neville Crump, Sheila’s Cottage’s trainer. He began on Flat and rode his first winner on the Crump-trained Master Rocky in an apprentices’ handicap at Liverpool on Thursday, November 5, 1953.
The following year brought six more winners, three of them on Master Rocky, with fellow Yorkshire trainers Sam Hall and William Newton providing additional winning opportunities. Master Rocky also supplied Robert with both of his winners for 1955, but that was as far as it went as regards a career on the Flat.
The following year brought six more winners, three of them on Master Rocky, with fellow Yorkshire trainers Sam Hall and William Newton providing additional winning opportunities. Master Rocky also supplied Robert with both of his winners for 1955, but that was as far as it went as regards a career on the Flat.
He took out a jump jockey’s licence in 1962 but endured a lengthy wait before Roi Boy gave him his first winner under National Hunt rules in the Medburn Novices’ Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday, November 14, 1964. Although it was his first victory over jumps, it was his tenth altogether, hence his claim was cut from 7lb to 5lb. The combination followed up at Doncaster six days later.
He took out a jump jockey’s licence in 1962 but endured a lengthy wait before Roi Boy gave him his first winner under National Hunt rules in the Medburn Novices’ Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday, November 14, 1964. Although it was his first victory over jumps, it was his tenth altogether, hence his claim was cut from 7lb to 5lb. The combination followed up at Doncaster six days later.
Later that season he enjoyed back-to-back wins on handicap hurdler Lars Porsena, who won at Newcastle on the first day of May 1965 and again at Ayr a fortnight afterwards. Both Roi Boy and Lars Porsena
Later that season he enjoyed back-to-back wins on handicap hurdler Lars Porsena, who won at Newcastle on the first day of May 1965 and again at Ayr a fortnight afterwards. Both Roi Boy and Lars Porsena
were trained by Neville Crump. Robert’s only other winner that season was an Easter Monday ‘spare’ on maiden chaser Fulstar at Market Rasen for Dinnington, Sheffield, trainer Jim Twibell.The following season he won on Crump’s handicap hurdler Tudor Fort, who justified 5/4 favouritism when scoring at Ayr on November 6, 1965, resulting in Robert’s claim being reduced to 3lb. Tudor Fort went on to become a useful chaser but, alas, he proved to be the final winner of Robert’s career as a jockey.
were trained by Neville Crump. Robert’s only other winner that season was an Easter Monday ‘spare’ on maiden chaser Fulstar at Market Rasen for Dinnington, Sheffield, trainer Jim Twibell.The following season he won on Crump’s handicap hurdler Tudor Fort, who justified 5/4 favouritism when scoring at Ayr on November 6, 1965, resulting in Robert’s claim being reduced to 3lb. Tudor Fort went on to become a useful chaser but, alas, he proved to be the final winner of Robert’s career as a jockey.
Robert North’s winners were, in chronological order:
Robert North’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Master Rocky, Liverpool, November 5, 1953
1. Master Rocky, Liverpool, November 5, 1953
2. Master Rocky, Nottingham, May 24, 1954
2. Master Rocky, Nottingham, May 24, 1954
3. Master Rocky, Manchester, June 12, 1954
3. Master Rocky, Manchester, June 12, 1954
4. Tropical Kit, Pontefract, July 7, 1954
4. Tropical Kit, Pontefract, July 7, 1954
5. Master Rocky, Ripon, July 14, 1954
5. Master Rocky, Ripon, July 14, 1954
6. Persian Clan, Bogside, July 24, 1954
6. Persian Clan, Bogside, July 24, 1954
7. Red Brae, Ripon, August 21, 1954
7. Red Brae, Ripon, August 21, 1954
8. Master Rocky, Newcastle, May 7, 1955
8. Master Rocky, Newcastle, May 7, 1955
9. Master Rocky, Redcar, July 28, 1955
9. Master Rocky, Redcar, July 28, 1955
10. Roi Boy, Newcastle, November 14, 1964
10. Roi Boy, Newcastle, November 14, 1964
11. Roi Boy, Doncaster, November 20, 1964
11. Roi Boy, Doncaster, November 20, 1964
12. Fulstar, Market Rasen, April 19, 1965
12. Fulstar, Market Rasen, April 19, 1965
13. Lars Porsena, Newcastle, May 1, 1965
13. Lars Porsena, Newcastle, May 1, 1965
14. Lars Porsena, Ayr, May 15, 1965
14. Lars Porsena, Ayr, May 15, 1965
15. Tudor Fort, Ayr, November 6, 1965
15. Tudor Fort, Ayr, November 6, 1965