Grand National sponsor John Smith's has 'declared' the names of the 16 riders that have won a place in training for the 2000 John Smith's People's Race, an event that will give ten of them the chance to ride in a charity flat race at Aintree on Grand National Day.

peoples race training
richard and clare b

 

Now in its third year, the organisers again received thousands of entries from all over the UK which were whittled down to a shortlist of 32 novice riders who recently attended gruelling assessment days at the British Racing School, Newmarket and the Northern Racing College, Doncaster.

People's Race Ambassador, Clare Balding, said,

"I'm very impressed with the standard of riding this year and thrilled to see the level of enthusiasm which all of the candidates have demonstrated. They clearly want to be 'proper jockeys' and are prepared for the hard work ahead to ensure they make it on Grand National Day. It's going to be extremely difficult whittling the field down...I feel like Cheryl Cole on X-Factor - I only wish I looked like her!"

The 16 novice riders - who include a publican, jeweller, care worker, trainee solicitor, nursery school manager and a student - have been selected for the next stage of the competition, where they will be assigned to a professional trainer who will put them through an intensive personal training regime to prepare them to race on the big day. A final assessment will be held at the end of March when the 'Aintree 10' will be chosen to go through to the John Smith's People's Race on April 4, 2009 where they will compete in front of a huge crowd at Aintree and a television audience of millions.
Each of the riders taking part in the race will collect £5,000 for their chosen charity with the winner receiving £50,000 for their charity plus the added incentive of a five-star trip for two to Dubai for Racing's 2010 World Cup or support from John Smith's to continue their development as an amateur jockey.

Tickets for all three days of the John Smith's Grand National, which takes place at Aintree Racecourse from Thursday 2nd - Saturday 4th April 2009, are still available. Up to the minute availability can be found on aintree.co.uk, where tickets can also be booked, in addition to calling 0844 579 3001.

The 16 novice riders in contention for the 2009 John Smith's People's Race are:


British Racing School, Newmarket

1. Suzanne Gill, Riding Instructor, Shrewsbury, Wales, aged 42
2. John Tingey, Farmer, Gloucester, 53
3. Harry Marriott, Chartered Surveyor, Tangley, Hampshire, 47
4. Craig Brown, Publican, Cheltenham, 34
5. Caroline Fleming, Sponsorship Executive at Newbury Racecourse, Eastbury, 26
6. Cerys Davies-Whitehouse, Vet's Secretary, Lambourn, Berks, 31
7. Sam Daniels, Stable Lad, Storrington, West Sussex, 23
8. David Griffiths, Retail Jeweller, Droitwich, Worcestershire, 25

 

Northern Racing College, Doncaster


9. Nicola Jardine, Equine Sports Therapist, Lockerbie, 29
10. Rosanagh Robertson, Student, Edinburgh, 22
11. Holly Brown, Groom, Corbridge, Northumberland, 24
12. Simon Latchford, Trainee Solictor, Ulceby, North Lincs, 29
13. Helen Millward, Physiotherapist, Doncaster, 27
14. Michelle Baldwin, Sales Manager, Manchester, 35
15. Amy Shaw, Stable Hand, Penrith, Cumbria 23
16. Sara Morgan, Nursery School Deputy Manager, Cheshire, 30