Amateur riders get star treatment ahead of York charity race

'Ride of their Lives' participants during a training event at York Racecourse, pictured with former champion jockey Kevin Darley. Pictures: Bruce Rollinson.

The riders, who include a hair salon owner, a nurse and a tearoom manager, will saddle up on thoroughbred racehorses in front of 25,000 people for Macmillan Cancer Support’s fundraising race at York Racecourse on June 11.

Since starting their individual training regimes to prepare for the big raceday, the ten riders - who include eight from Yorkshire - have shed more than 12 stones in weight between them and have raised thousands of pounds for Macmillan.

And their progress was rewarded this week when they gathered at York Racecourse for a special training session with a former Flat Jockey of the Year, Kevin Darley.

Debra Boyes, Rebecca Robinson and Julie Kelshaw in the old weighing room at York Racecourse.

Mr Darley said: “What they are trying to do is a bit like going from driving a road car, to driving an F1 car. Now, that may sound slightly extreme, but it will be like that for some of them. They’re all competent riders but this will be something else.

“With the training they’ve had, I think they all now appreciate how fit jockeys have to be. I know a lot of the riders have their own reasons for wanting to support Macmillan, so I think this is just a great opportunity - to combine their love of riding with raising money for the charity. Riding in front of 25,000 plus at York, one the country’s premier courses, will be an experience they will never forget.”

Nikki Denton, special events manager at Macmillan, said: “Kevin was fantastic with the riders, to have a former champion jockey on hand to share his expertise was great.

“He coached them on riding style and walked the course with them, and shared what to expect when it’s their turn to race on June 11 in front of more than 25,000 people.

Owen Dukes from Malton gets to grips with the mechanical horse in the weighing room at York Racecourse during the training session with Kevin Darley.

“The riders have been training for the Ride of Their Lives now for more than five months, there’ll be a few nerves on the day but you can tell they’re all raring to go.

“To have raised more than £90,000 so far for Macmillan Cancer Support, on top of daily training for this event, is a phenomenal effort.”

The full list of riders for the race is: Owen Dukes, 48, from Malton, Christine Swiers, 53 and Ruth Carr, 39 from York, Julie Kelshaw, 48, of Harrogate, Marcia Sanderson, 47, from near Bedale, Steve Charlton, 61, of Bishop Auckland, Rebecca Robinson, 44, from Brompton by Sawdon, Scarborough, Debra Boyes, 35, of Pickering, Siobhan Carey, from Buckinghamshire, and Martina Mulhall, 44, from Leeds.