Tim Easterby and Brian Hughes are old hands at receiving the awards for leading flat trainer and leading jump jockey, respectively, while Callum Rodriguez, a former Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Champion, was the leading flat jockey in Yorkshire.  Donlad McCain took the honours for the leading jump trainer in the county.

On receiving his prize, Tim Easterby said,

“I didn’t think we’d do it this year, we had a quiet start to the year with a lot of seconds.”

Callum Rodriguez said,

“We started well and the form continued.  I was lucky to get in with Ed Bethell at the right time and we’ve grown together.  I had my first Group 1 winner last year, my first Royal Ascot winner this year and some nice winners in Yorkshire.”

William Pyle won the aforementioned Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Championships, sponsored by White Rose Saddlery, winning three races in the series and gaining 62 points, despite missing several weeks in summer due to a broken wrist, sustained in a fall at Beverley, after riding a winner in the series.

“The broken wrist was frustrating and I was worried I wouldn’t hang on but I’m pleased I did.  I’m going out to Santa Anita for the winter to get some more experience.”

Said the winning rider.

Four awards were chosen by public vote, after all nine racecourses nominated a riding and training performance of the season.

The jump performance of the season went to Emma Smith-Chaston for her double at Catterick on New Year’s Day, while the jump training performance of the season was awarded to Fergal O’Brien for his treble, also at Catterick in December.

The trainer, known for his love of cake was presented with a special prize of  a cake to share with the yard.

On the flat, Dave Allan received the award for riding a treble at Catterick in May and Catterick were also responsible for the flat training performance of the season, which went to Seb Spencer for training back-to-back doubles with Crocodile Power and Desert Dream.

Milestones were awarded to David O’Meara for training 1,500 flat winners, Paul Mulrennan for riding 1,500 winners and Henry Brooke for reaching the 500 winner mark.

The Yorkshire Horse of the Year, voted for by the press, went to Sine Nomine, winner of a hunter chase at Wetherby, before going on to be the only winner from Yorkshire at the Cheltenham Festival, when winning the St. James’ Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase in March.

Trained by Catterick’s clerk of the course, Fiona Needham and owned by her parents, Robin and Pat Tate, the beautiful grey won the hearts of many, not just with her looks, but by the back story that went with her.  Comments such as,

“Bought for just £2,400” and “Successful at a meeting where Britain has scarcely any winners, let along Yorkshire”, were just some of the reasons for her nomination.

“You get lucky sometimes,” was owner Robin Tate’s response to the fact that his daughter, Fiona Needham, was the only person in the room to have ridden and trained a Cheltenham Festival winner. 

Kev Matthews, Head of Racing at the Tote, said

“We are delighted to once again support the Go Racing In Yorkshire annual lunch. This is a really special occasion celebrating some of British racing’s leading stars and performances of the year at Yorkshire’s wonderful racecourses. A big congratulations to all of the winners!”

Ben Warn, Chairman of Go Racing In Yorkshire, said,

“We love celebrating the achievements of trainers, jockeys and owners in our county, as well as those who travel to compete here.  Our annual awards lunch provides a great opportunity to do this and reflect on the exciting sport we have witnessed across our nine fantastic racecourses.  We look forward to more of the same next year!”