Who's Who

THE PJA BOARD

Kevin Darley
Director

Kevin had a successful race riding career spanning over 32 years. He was Champion Apprentice in 1978 and Champion Flat Jockey in 2000 having 26 Group 1 successes, 16 Royal Ascot winners and over 2,500 career wins. Kevin was appointed to the PJA Jockeys’ Council in 1988 and served as Flat President from 2001 until his retirement from race riding in 2007 when he was appointed as the PJA’s Industry Liaison Director. In June 2009 he took up the role as Chief Executive of the PJA. He was appointed as a Director in May 2009.

Dale Gibson
External Director

Dale retired from the saddle in October 2009 after 24 years of race riding and joined the PJA Team as Industry Liaison Officer in January 2010. From 1992 he served on the Jockeys’ Council and was appointed as a Director in 2008.

Robin Leach
External Director 

Robin Leach has practiced as a barrister since 1981, specialising primarily in criminal work. He prosecutes and defends in large fraud, money laundering and drugs cases and is based in Bournemouth. Since the mid-1990’s, Robin has also represented Jockeys and Trainers at Jockey Club and subsequently British Horseracing Authority disciplinary hearings. Appointed to the Board in 2008.

Ann Saunders MBE
Executive Director

Ann joined the PJA in 1976 and was appointed as Company Secretary in 1988. She was awarded the MBE for services to the Jockey profession in 2000 and appointed as a Director of the PJA in March 2009. She is also part of the PJA Team working as Company Secretary and HR Manager.

Mr Bob Sharp BMBCh (Oxon) MA (Cantab) FRCS (Eng) FRCS (Tr & Orth. Eng)
External Director

Bob is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Manor Hospitals, Oxford, where he also runs the Dept. Research Team. He advises NICE, sits on many National and International Teaching Faculties and was awarded the Gold Medal by the Royal College of Surgeons in 2000. Bob is also a Director of MTL Ltd, Future Injection Technologies Ltd. and was founder of OxMed Ltd. Bob was appointed to the PJA Board in 2008.

Steve Drowne  (Joint President)

Steve is one of the country’s leading Flat racing Jockeys and has won some of the most famous races in the British racing calendar. In the last five seasons he has won more than 400 races, accumulating total prize money of £5 million for Owners.

AP McCoy OBE (Joint President)

The winning-most Jump Jockey of all time, AP has ridden well over 3,000 winners. He has won every big race, including his first Grand National victory in 2010. AP is retained by Owner JP McManus and rides frequently for Trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

Neil Callan
Flat Jockey

Neil is ‘Mr Consistency’ in the Weighing Room, accumulating over 600 winners in the last six years. Indeed, were the Flat Jockeys’ Championship to include all-weather winners outside the turf season, he’d be vying for the title. Neil has won major races in a number of European countries, including Turkey, Italy and Germany.

Martin Dwyer
Flat Jockey

Martin’s greatest triumph to date was winning The Derby on board Sir Percy in 2006. That victory was judged to be ‘Flat Ride of the Year’ for which he received a “Lester”. Martin’s other Classic success came from the filly Casual Look in the 2003 Oaks.

Tom Eaves
Flat Jockey

Wigan-born Tom originally wanted to be a Jump Jockey. Now, as one of the leading Flat riders in the North, in 2010 he had his first classic ride when he rode Distinctive in the 1000 Guineas, finishing fifth. 

Richard Johnson
Jump Jockey

One of the most successful Jump Jockeys of the last decade, he rode his 2,000th winner in late 2009. During his time as a professional Jockey, he has won almost every major prize.

Graham Lee
Jump Jockey

Graham famously rode Amberleigh House to victory in the Grand National, giving then Trainer Ginger McCain his fourth winner in the Aintree race. Two weeks later he completed a double by winning the Scottish National on Grey Abbey. A stalwart in the North, he is now the principal Jockey at Ferdy Murphy’s Yorkshire stables.

Richie McGrath
Jump Jockey
PJA Safety Officer

Richie is stable Jockey to trainer Kate Walton in Middleham. He has had many big race winners, including the Scottish National, the Victor Chandler Chase and the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup. 

P.J. McDonald
Flat Northern Safety Officer

P.J. took up this appointment following Dale Gibson’s retirement from race riding in 2009. He started his career as a Jump Jockey and won the Scottish Grand National in 2007 on Hot Weld for Ferdy Murphy. He now rides on the Flat and is probably the only Flat Jockey to ride a National winner!

Andrew Thornton
Jump Jockey

During his professional career, spanning two decades, Andrew has enjoyed success in the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, as well as the Scottish and Welsh Nationals. Andrew is always on hand to offer advice and help to young up and coming Jockeys.

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