Following the news that two former jockeys had tied for The 2009 Griffins Richard Davis Achievement Awards and would share the 拢2,500 prize fund between them , the British Horseracing Authority has stepped in to top up the amount for Alan Dempsey and Paul Robson so that each will now benefit from the full 拢2,500 grant to be spent on career development. Alan Dempsey is now a BHA Stipendiary Steward in the North and Paul Robson has recently started a funeral directing business in Hawick.
Chris Brand, Director of Finance and Corporate Services for the Authority, said:
鈥淲e are delighted one of our own staff is the joint winner of this prestigious award. Given that we have a budget to promote the training and development of our staff, and Paul Robson has started his own private business, we felt it apt that Paul should get the full 拢2,500.
鈥淗owever Alan will not miss out – we will look to fund suitable additional training for him next year.鈥�
On hearing the news, Paul Robson commented:
鈥淭his is fantastic news. More than I could have expected and means I can now make a more substantial investment in our new business premises, which will be a big boost.
鈥淚 am absolutely delighted for Paul and, for me, it means I can look at extra CPD options with the BHA that might not otherwise have been open to me at this stage,鈥� added Alan Dempsey.
The Jockeys Employment & Training Scheme was recently cited as one of the key, successful racing community initiatives in the BHA鈥檚 report 鈥楻acing Together: Horseracing and the Community 2009鈥�.
For more information please contact Sandy Thwaites, JETS Press Officer, on 01249-760106, 07738-023827 or [email protected] OR Paul Struthers, BHA Media Relations Manager, on 020 7152 0166, 07966 590105 or at [email protected]
Notes for Editors:
JETS is jointly funded from jockeys鈥� own prize money contributions and the Injured Jockeys Fund. It typically issues over 拢70,000 in training grants and scholarships annually. Since its inception in 1995, jockeys and the IJF have together invested over 拢1million in the scheme which has helped over 700 current and former jockeys with career advice and training in new skills, in order to gain employment after race-riding. For more information visit www.jets-uk.org
