page revision date : 30th June 2010
Amanda’s in the thick of things at point-to-pointing
Amanda Sloyan's charged with the responsibility of making sure that point-to-point meetings in West Wales reach the public eye and capture the imagination of the whole range of society – and she certainly has the pedigree for her role since, as Amanda Meakins, she was acknowledged as a very good point-to-point jockey in her own right.
Promoting racing across West Wales
Her official title is Public Relations officer for the West Wales Area of the National Point-to-Point Authority, surely one of the longest titles in sport – but simply put it is to promote advertising and press coverage before meetings, making sure that directional signs are available and any other jobs that crop up on the day, and then writing articles for a whole range of press outlets, including this one, so that point-to-point is kept in the public eye.
There are eight meetings in Amanda’s area and she attends those, with Brian Lee as the key man and always available to give advice at National level. This is Amanda’s second year in the role and she admits that she is growing in confidence and has some new ideas to try next season, whilst carrying on her work as a full-time receptionist at a doctor’s surgery!
Expensive purchase
Amanda has loved horses for as long as she can remember and regularly plagued her parents, Sylvia and Nigel, of White Mill, Carmarthen for a pony. One night he visited the local pub, had a few pints and returned with a pony for his overjoyed daughter.
“It was to prove the most expensive purchase of his life!” says Amanda with a chuckle, “and a big mistake on his part because I was soon attending pony shows all over the area and he had to get us there!”
Early start and success
She started point-to-pointing at the tender age of 17 and in the first race she came a creditable third in the ladies Open Race at the Vale of Clettwr meeting, riding ‘Harthill Lady’ for Derek and Judith Llewellyn. Her second race was on the same horse at the Tivyside meeting – and she romped home first!
“I can’t describe how I felt afterwards in both races, admits Amanda, but it was a potent mixture of exhaustion, relief and sheer elation!”
Winners – and injuries too!
She rode 25 winners in all and was delighted to win the West Wales Ladies’ Championship in 1995 and carried on riding until 2001, when she broke her back in Ireland and decided enough was enough. Up until then her worst injuries were collar bones and concussion, and she was always eager to get back in the saddle, because the enjoyment of racing always outweighed the risks.
But Amanda still held on to some horses and her “Itsallupintheair” won the West Wales Area Championship with Jody Hughes guiding it home on six occasions.
Life-changing time
Her life changed even more when she was working during the summer at the flat racing stable run by Brian Meehan, met her husband Lee and got married. They now have a son, James, who is 28 months old and can already sit on a pony under Mum’s watchful eye.
“I sold my horse and gained a baby”, laughs Amanda, “and he certainly keeps me busy!”
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