Lester Award Explained
A Lester Award is one of a range of awards given to jockeys at an annual ceremony in Great Britain. The awards are named in honour of Lester Piggott, an eleven-time British flat racing Champion Jockey who won thirty British Classic Races from 1954 to 1992. The awards were inaugurated in 1990, and they recognise the achievements of jockeys from both flat and jump racing during the previous year.
The ceremony to present the 2012 awards took place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, Birmingham, on 28 March 2013. The event was sponsored by Stobart.[1] The awards ceremony had traditionally been held the night before Good Friday, a day with no racing in Great Britain, but the start of Good Friday racing in 2014 led to the event being moved to a December date, with the 2014 ceremony honouring jockeys for their achievements in 2013 and 2014.[2] Since 2018 the awards have been presented in a Sky Sports Racing broadcast and not at a live ceremony.[3]
Flat Jockey of the Year
Jump Jockey of the Year
Apprentice Jockey of the Year
Conditional Jockey of the Year
Female Jockey of the Year
Jockey of the Year
Honorary Lester
- 1996: Peter O'Sullevan
- 1997: Willie Carson
- 2000: Jim Foster (JAGB Treasurer for 30 years)
- 2001: Michael Caulfield (JAGB Chief Executive)
- 2016: Anne Saunders (Professional Jockeys Association director)
Lifetime achievement award
Chief Executive Award
PJA Directors Award
International Jockey of the Year
Flat Ride of the Year
- 1998: Darryll Holland on Double Trigger in the Goodwood Cup, 30 July.
- 1999: Francis Norton on She's Our Mare in the Cambridgeshire Handicap, 2 October.
- 2000: Gary Bardwell on Bangalore in the Chester Cup, 10 May.
- 2001: Steve Drowne on Harmonic Way in the Cork and Orrery Stakes, 21 June.
- 2002: Darryll Holland on Just James at Newmarket, 25 May.
- 2003: Martin Dwyer on Persian Punch in the Jockey Club Cup, 18 October.
- 2004: Paul Mulrennan on Blue Spinnaker in the Zetland Gold Cup, 31 May.
- 2005: Tony Culhane on Toss the Caber at Musselburgh, 4 July.
- 2006: Martin Dwyer on Sir Percy in the Epsom Derby, 3 June.
- 2007: Paul Hanagan on Fonthill Road at York, 13 October.
- 2008: Jim Crowley on Bulwark in the Chester Cup, 7 May.
- 2009: Tom Queally on Midday in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, 6 November.
- 2010: Paul Hanagan on Opening Nite at Ayr, 17 September.
- 2011: Paul Hanagan on Barefoot Lady in the Nell Gwyn Stakes, 13 April
- 2012: Michael O'Connell on Qubuh at Hamilton Park, 6 May
- 2013:
- 2014:
- 2015: David Nolan on Rex Imperator at Doncaster, 10 September
- 2016: Robert Winston on Librisa Breeze at Ascot, 1 October
- 2017:
- 2018: Eoin Walsh on Storm Lightning at Wolverhampton, 22 September
- 2019: Paul Hanagan on Dutch Decoy at Hamilton Park, 30 August
- 2020: Dylan Hogan on Wanaash at Wolverhampton, 15 January
- 2021: Ray Dawson on Marshall Dan at Sandown Park, 10 September
- 2022: Jonny Peate on Rocket Rod at Newcastle, 23 June
- 2023 : Tom Marquand on Desert Hero in the King George V Stakes, 22 June
Jump Ride of the Year
- 1998: Brian Harding on One Man in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, 18 March.
- 1999: Richard Johnson on Anzum in the Stayers' Hurdle, 18 March.
- 2000: Tony Dobbin on Master Tern in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle, 16 March.
- 2001: Richard Guest on Red Marauder in the Grand National, 7 April.
- 2002: Rodi Greene on Jurancon II at Uttoxeter, 21 December.
- 2003: Andrew Thornton on Kingscliff at Ascot, 22 November.
- 2004: Timmy Murphy on Stormez in the Servo Computer Services Trophy, 13 November.
- 2005: Matty Batchelor on King Harald in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase, 17 March.
- 2006: Henry Oliver on Sissinghurst Storm at Chepstow, 18 April.
- 2007: Andrew Thornton on Miko de Beauchene in the Welsh National, 27 December.
- 2008: Robert Thornton on Nenuphar Collonges in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 14 March.
- 2009: Tony McCoy on Wichita Lineman in the William Hill Trophy, 10 March.
- 2010: Matt Crawley on Lastroseofsummer at Musselburgh, 19 November.
- 2011: Maurice Linehan on Tarvini at Huntingdon
- 2012: Tony McCoy on Synchronised in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, 16 March
- 2013:
- 2014:
- 2015: Sean Bowen on Just A Par in the Bet365 Gold Cup, 25 April
- 2016: Colm McCormack on Fiddler's Flight at Sedgefield, 9 February
- 2017:
- 2018: James Bowen on Raz De Maree in the Welsh Grand National, 6 January
- 2019: Matty Bachelor on Noble Glance at Fontwell, 22 August
- 2020: Jack Tudor on Potters Corner in the Welsh Grand National, 27 December 2019
- 2021: Sean Quinlan on For Jim at Hexham, 9 October
- 2022: Paddy Brennan on Knight Salute at Aintree, 7 April
- 2023: Derek Fox on Corach Rambler in the Ultima Handicap Chase, 14 March
Flat Jockey Special Recognition Award
Jump Jockey Special Recognition Award
References
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Notes and References
- Web site: The Stobart Lesters 2013. thepja.co.uk. 30 March 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130916105524/http://www.thepja.co.uk/lesters2008.aspx. 16 September 2013.
- Web site: Stobart Lesters to be held at Christmas 2014. thepja.co.uk. 1 May 2014.
- Web site: Huggins . Charlie . William Buick crowned Flat Jockey of the Year for third successive year at the Lesters . Racing Post . 29 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231222081541/https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/william-buick-crowned-flat-jockey-of-the-year-for-third-successive-year-at-the-lesters-ahEfa3e1nwxM/ . 22 December 2023 . 22 December 2023.
- Web site: Murray . Becky . Record-breaking Hollie Doyle scoops three more accolades . Horse and Hound . 10 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201223174758/https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/hollie-doyle-female-flat-jockey-lester-awards-733844 . 23 December 2020 . 23 December 2020.
- Web site: Wilson . Harry . William Buick crowned Flat Jockey of the Year at the Lesters . Racing Post . 9 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108211036/https://www.racingpost.com/news/william-buick-crowned-flat-jockey-of-the-year-at-the-lesters-aQ3og1h55VMk/ . 8 November 2023 . 26 February 2022.
- Web site: Congratulations to the Lesters winners 2022 . Professional Jockeys Association . 8 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221217171404/https://www.thepja.co.uk/news/congratulations-to-the-lesters-winners-2022/ . 17 December 2022.
