Serena Brotherton: Winning ways of the smiling champion

As Mick Easterby drives his 4x4 across the field to meet Serena, he says: "She's a star, you know. Mind you, I taught her all she knows." Is our champion really a protg of one of Yorkshire's most characterful trainers? "Pretty much," agrees Serena. "I've been coming here for years."

After a gap year before university, Serena came home to find she had nothing to ride, so mother Sarah said she could ride her horse. Friction about how it should be ridden caused Serena to find her own way into racing. "I rode out for Mick's brother Peter at Habton and then gaily announced I wanted to point-to-point. Mum thought it a passing phase, and said, 'You don't'. At university at Newcastle, I rode out for people up there."

The Middleton point-to-point course is on the Brothertons' land. Serena bought a horse, Across the Lake, at Doncaster Sales which proved to be a good buy – the 21-year-old Serena had 13 wins on the horse and in the 1990s began to take an interest in riding on the flat. "I thought I'd try find a trainer who runs horses in amateur jockeys' races and ride out for them. MWE (Mick Easterby) fitted the bill."

But no rides had come her way after a year. "I thought I'll give it one more year." Good call. The following year she rode in four races with one second place. The first win on the flat came in 1999 at York, on Flower of Cannie. The prize was Serena's own weight in Champagne.

"It was so exciting, to win on our home track. It really made me want to race."

A point-to-point accident saw her sidelined with a broken pelvis. "It was a clean break, mending straight away, so I was back riding on the flat in 12 weeks. But dad was adamant I shouldn't point-to-point again and I knew if he backed mum into corner, she wouldn't let me ride her horse again."

Serena hatched a plot with her friend, former amateur jockey, Annabelle Armitage, also recovering from a fall. Annabelle had spotted a horse that she knew would suit Serena. "It was hilarious. We both went on crutches to see the horse." Welcome to Unos, trained by Freyer and Guy Brewer, won three races. When he broke down the following year, Serena realised he would be difficult to replace.

"I'd had such a good time with him and I didn't want to be riding to finish fourth or fifth. The chance of buying another like him seemed remote so I concentrated on the flat."

The switch brought the Amateur Champion's crown to Serena four times. Does it get any easier? "When it's going well, people will let you ride and ride horses with more chances, success breeds success. You can't ride a winner if you're not on the best horse. If you can't ride a winner or they're consistently being placed, that's not good enough. The Championship is decided on winners."

Ex-permit trainer Penelope Avison, who runs the Trendy Ladies Partnership, says trainers are looking for good riding skills. "Serena is always well balanced, she's very fit. When she comes into the paddock before a race all smiles, you're sure she's going to win and I think that transmits to the horse."

Fitness is a seriously business for Serena. "I work for three days a week as a solicitor at Langleys in York and I park my car at the gym for an hour's workout before the half-hour walk from the gym to the office. On the other three days I come here to Mick's yard and ride out. I'm here at 7am and finish between 10.30 and 12.30."

The bay horse is popped into the horse walker to cool off and Serena goes to the car to collect her breakfast, a banana with a Coca Cola. "I've ridden four so far this morning and will probably ride two or three more. I'm so lucky my job is flexible enough so I can ride in races, and it covers my expenses."

Amateur jockeys receive no payment for riding, nor a cut of the prize money. Some sponsors provide a winner's memento. "I won the De Beers Ladies race at Ascot in 2001 and received a diamond as the prize. This year the sponsor was Longine watches so the prize was an amazing watch which I was lucky enough to win on the Brian Ellison trained Rosko."

That completed a purple patch. "Winning at Ripon on Mr Tuer's Maneki Neko, then Kyle of Bute won the race at Beverley that was in memory of my grandmother, Lady Jane Bethel. It was a very special family occasion. Two days later, I won at Doncaster on Fashion Icon for 12 Ryedale ladies. Two winners in two days, followed by my successful ride at Ascot."

Serena's grandmother had always be involved in racing and her husband had been chairman of Beverley Racecourse. During the Queen's visit to the course for an amateur ladies race in Golden Jubilee Year she had lunch with her. Serena won the race and as she was presented with her prize, the Queen remarked that her grandmother was clearly delighted. "I think she'd spotted grandma jumping up and down."

Has there been a low moment this year? "Probably my six-day ban for careless riding when I won for a second time on Fashion Icon."

Serena's father David Brotherton is a racecourse steward. "If there's anything he thinks I've done wrong, or the stewards should have picked up, I get a copy of the relevant rule, highlighted, through my letterbox."

Serena, who turned 40 last Saturday, will forgo the Championship presentation for a China trip. She is representing Great Britain in an amateur invitation race at Whanan's new racecourse. When she returns she'll be thinking about the all-weather flat racing. Oh yes, she forgot to mention that last winter she was the champion amateur there as well.

Racing is a hobby that became a way of life. For how long?

"Frankie Dettori said the other day he'll ride until he's 50. I don't see why I can't," she says.

CW 30/10/10