Flat Jockeys Respond Positively to Jockey Ambassador Training
In partnership with the Professional Jockeys Association and Great British Racing, a specialist two day Jockey Ambassador training programme has been held this week for Flat jockeys.
Hosted at Newmarket Racecourse and the Jockey Club Rooms on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th March, the event saw a range of expert speakers across a range of topics. It followed a successful trial last summer with nine Jump jockeys and now a group of eleven Flat jockeys have been given the opportunity to develop new skills and gain knowledge to enhance their profile, engage successfully with a range of media and maximise commercial opportunities.
Speakers included Rishi Persad who along with ITV Racing’s Adele Mulrennan, TalkSport’s Faye Carruthers and journalist Eleanor Kelly, ran a media training workshop. There were also sessions with Chris Gibbons from Inside Inclusion, social media with Matt Himsworth from B5 Consultancy and valuable commercial insights from Deji Akande, founder of sports and entertainment agency Gateway Sports, and Olympic athlete Asha Philip who offered jockeys advice on how athletes can take their career to the next level.
Faye McManoman said:
“It was a fantastic couple of days. Everyone has been extremely welcoming and very helpful and I feel that we have learned a lot and have taken away new skills. It was really eye opening to see the various ways we can get help to promote ourselves as jockeys. Thank you for the experience.”
Sean Kirrane said:
“I am extremely grateful to have had this experience and hear from so many experts. The media session in particular was a good insight into what journalists and presenters are looking for and it was great to get feedback on my interviews.”
JETS Manager, Lisa Delany said:
“We were delighted to receive such positive feedback from the jockeys who were all willing to engage, ask questions and learn new skills and information that will help them, no matter what stage they are at in their careers. The programme was designed to give them a broad overview of all the different ways in which they can develop their personal brands and maximise their potential not only during their riding career but also in their second careers.
"We are grateful to Nigel Payne and the Peter O’Sullevan Trust for their generous support of this programme and we hope that this focussed type of training will also benefit the wider sport of racing as the industry seeks to attract new and diverse audiences and participants.”
The jockeys who attended the programme were: Ross Coakley, Callum Hutchinson, Pierre Louis Jamin, Sean Kirrane, Sean Levey, Dane O’Neill, Faye McManoman, Mia Nicholls, Laura Pearson, Olivia Tubb, & Elisha Whittington.