Market Rasen Racecourse - Tom Halliday Scholarship

Tom Halliday Scholarship

The Tom Halliday Award was set up by Market Rasen Racecourse in 2005 following the tragic death of conditional jockey Tom Halliday. The award was designed to help young and up and coming conditional jockeys. The Racecourse works closley with partners such as the Northern Racing College to provide the scholar with necessary courses and advice for their future careers. Past winners have been:

Phil Kinsella - 2005
Michael O'Connell - 2006
David Culinane - 2007
James Halliday - 2008
Oliver Williams - 2009

Look out for your chance to vote for the next Tom Halliday Scholar 2011

The search is under way for the young rising jockey to be awarded the Tom Halliday Memorial Scholarship by Market Rasen Racecourse.

The scholarship, named in memory of Tom who died after a fall here in 2005 is a positive way of remembering a popular member of the Jockeys Room and has the full support of his family. The Northern Racing College also provide crucial backing to the award.

Past schoalrs have included Phil Kinsella and Tom’s brother James, both of whom are now firmly established as leading members of the jockeys room in the North of England while the current holder is Joe Cornwall, currently based in nearby Leicestershire.

The scholarship offers a promising young conditional jockey support in a number of ways including sponsorship, coaching, media training and access to other areas of advice to support his or her career.

We are now asking the public, especially those who are regular racecgoers at Market Rasen to make nominations as to who should be next years scholar.

The award is open to any young Conditional Jockey but we very much hope that whoever wins the award will be seen in action at Lincolnshire’s Racecourse regularly in the next year.

Pip Kirkby, the Racecourse Managing Director, says : “ This award means a lot to those who receive it, and we very much intend to include the views of senior jockey Dominic Elsworth, a long time friend of the Halliday Family, as well as James Halliday in making the decision as to who should be the next scholar.”

She adds: “We also want the views of the Market Rasen public so please send nominations with reasons to me, in writing, by Monday 19th Sepotember.”

Nominations can be sent by Post to Pip at the Racecourse or via email to pip.kirkby@jockeyclubracecourses.com

We hope to announce the new Tom Halliday Scholar at our Equinox Meeting on Saturday 24th September.

Tom Halliday Scholarship Winner 2010

Joe Cornwall

Joe's Story.......

Question and Answer Session with Joe

If you don't mind us asking, how old are you?
20. I know, a couple more years and I won’t want to answer that question!

What's your earliest racing memory?
It has to be Mccoy falling with Mr Mulligan at the last in the 1996 King George. Barton Bank was my favourite horse as a child, and the rivalry between the two was something special.

What made you become a jockey?
Nothing made me become a jockey. You always think as a child, or I did, that it’s a pipe dream, something untouchable. So when you find yourself doing it at 16, it takes a bit of getting used to!

If you weren't a jockey what would you be doing?
Neither I nor any other jockey would know the answer, despite feeling the need to when you’re on the colds jockeys list! All sportsmen’s lives revolve around their sport.

Do you idolise any current jockeys?
Idolise would be the wrong word. You are their competitors, and you’ve got to beat them, so to hold them in too high a regard could jeopardise your own performance. But yes, you do follow some jockeys closely. Richard Johnson is a true professional.

Will you be voting for AP to become sports personality of the year?
Pressure implied here I think with Market Rasen racecourse backing the bid! I won’t be voting for anyone else, put it that way!

What are your ambitions as a jockey?
To be the best. Not just in race riding but for the sport. The sport has suffered because the leading jockeys have in some cases not been media-friendly. They can all make a significant contribution in Racing For Change, some are just not aware of it!

What's the hardest part about being a jockey?
There aren’t hard parts or not that I’ve found out yet! We’re all very lucky to be involved.

What's life like as a student and a jockey?
Hectic. Quiet summers make up for it though.

Do you struggle with the weight?
Quite the opposite, which is fortunate. How the other jockeys must feel when I’m guzzling in the weighing room canteen, I dread to think!

How do you keep your weight down?
From a young age I’ve always had a good diet, and knowing that I often ride at 9st7lbs is a big incentive. Many other jockeys are yo-yo dieters, some by necessity, others not.

How has the Tom Halliday Award helped you so far?

The Tom Halliday award has been terrific. So far I’ve had a visit to Lucinda Russell’s yard in Scotland, where I’ve learnt so much from their very competent and friendly team. I’m also in the process of organising some courses at the Northern Racing College, courtesy of the award, which I’m eager to get under way. You just don’t quite realise how much time and effort goes into it from Market Rasen and other contributors. It really is a great credit to everyone involved.

Got a question for Joe? Email marketrasen@thejockeyclub.co.uk......

November Update

Joe has made big impressions in Scotland this week when visiting Lucinda Russell's yard. He worked along side Lucinda for 3 days where he was provided with some top training. Follow the link below to see Joe in action....

http://www.lucindarussell.com/234.htm

We would like to thank Lucinda Russell and Peter Scudamore for all their help with Joe's training and advice.