PHOTOS:
Jodie Hughes celebrates a win
Jodie flies over a fence
Jodie wins on Bay Central
(Superb pictures kindly provided by Alun Sedgmore of Sporting Prints)

Women’s & Spotlight Sections:
 

 
When Jodie Hughes won two races at the bank holiday point to point at Lydstep it was fitting reward for a very brave comeback after she had sustained a very nasty wrist injury when a fall in a race two years ago caused her to retire from the hurly-burly of horse racing.
 
But Jodie has battled back superbly and everyone involved in the equine sport was delighted for her to be back in the winners’ enclosure.
 

Interesting return to her local course

 
Jodie’s return to her local course at Lydstep was certainly interesting because she started off with a bang in the Hunt Race, winning on ‘Millenary Magic.
But then she took a real tumble in the second race with five fences to go. Fortunately, Jodie managed to keep her wrist out of the impact but she was left with a few bruises, not least to her nose and lip!
 
It was at this point that Jodie could have been forgiven for ducking out of the third race but she steeled herself to get on board 'Pathian Prince' in the Ladies’ Race and was understandably thrilled to steer Eric Clough’s horse into the winner’s enclosure.
 
Not content with that little lot, Jodie also came a close second on ‘To Late To Be Early’ and although she readily admits to having a few aches and pains for a couple of days afterwards because within 24 hours she was back in the saddle, putting a horse from top trainer Peter Bowen through its paces.
 

Family matters

 
That Jodie should be involved in things equine should come as no surprise because when she was a nipper she used to watch her father Graham training a few horses for point to point at Starregorse Farm in Pleasant Valley – and was soon riding in pony club with South Pembrokeshire PC, supported by the rest of the family, especially her sister, now Teresa Griffiths, who was also involved until children came along and horses understandably took a back seat.
 
She has also had terrific support from her partner, Paul Tolman, who had never sat astride a horse until he was 16 but now shares the training duties with Jodie. Paul won in point to point and under rules at Ffos Las until he broke his ankle and decided it was time to focus on the training.
 

Running the course herself

 
But Jodie still enjoys the thrills and spills, and keeps herself fit by running in half marathons and 10k races – as well as running around every course where she races to get acquainted close up with the fences and anything else that needs looking at. It usually pays dividends but not on one occasion at Chepstow, where she forgot her trainers and so ran the course barefooted!
 

Determination called for on debut day

 
Going back to her debut race when she was only a lass of 16, at Erw Lon, it is worth noting that it was anything but auspicious because she went a real tumble at the very first fence on ‘Bancyfelin Boy’ but she picked herself up, dusted herself off – and it made her all the more determined to do better next time!
So she caught ‘Bancyfelin Boy’, managed to have him declared for another race that same afternoon (you couldn’t do that nowadays!) and she came fourth at a very brave second attempt that memorable day.
 

First winner under National Hunt rules

 
After a few placings at Point to Point meetings, Jodie celebrated her first victory, under National Hunt  rules, when she rode  33-1 outsider ‘Sip of Brandy’, which was her own horse trained by Keith Goldsworthy, at Ludlow.
“There were nine horses and I was the only female rider, and I had already decided to just follow the rest round and perhaps retire when he was tired but the horse just kept going and going and we won.
“I can’t describe the feeling of euphoria as we passed the winning post and it earned us front page in the racing press!”
 
Since then Jodie has also won under rules at Towcester with ‘Howard Howard’ in a hunter chase and with ‘Tooka’ (another 33-1 winner) in a lady riders hurdle race –and has won over 40 point to point winners so far as proof of her riding skills and tenacity. The most successes in one season so far has been eight and earned her the ‘Top Welsh Lady’ award at the end of the season.
 

Worst moment relived

 
Her worst moment was understandably that day when she rode again under rules at Hereford in a hunter chase and when she fell broke her wrist so badly that it had to be pinned and plated – and she was in pain for over a year.
“It was at this time I decided to retire,” said Jodie, “and it was the right decision for me then.
“But eventually the old feeling of wanting to race came back and I regained my confidence in riding a bumper’s race (that’s a flat race held at Worcester under National Hunt rules to the rest of us!)
 

Fighting back

 
“I wasn’t placed but really enjoyed it and practised a lot at home before coming fifth in a hurdles race and then fourth at Ffos Las.
“Then I entered a race at Pyle point to point on ‘Tachbury’, wearing the same pink and black colours that had to be cut off when I hurt my wrist.
“I must admit it was a strange feeling but I won the race and I was absolutely elated and couldn’t help a few tears because it was two years and three months since my fall!”
 

Great camaraderie

 
Ask Jodie about ambitions and she would say that in equine terms she has achieved most of them but wants to carry on her participation.
“It’s very addictive and I still get a huge sense of enjoyment out of the great friendships made along the way.
“The jockeys stick together and are delighted for a winner – and just as supportive if your horse has been pulled up or fallen.
“There are a number of talented young girl jockeys now and I’m almost at the ‘old timer’ stage, but there are still targets to achieve, like the West Wales Ladies and National Title for Wales”
 

She enjoys her involvement in training

 
Training horses also keeps Jodie busy because she’s up ready for a 7am start each day, with Paul feeding the horses as the first job before they are ridden out until lunch time and then turned out into the field. Then there’s more afternoon work and feeding as the horses are tended really well.
 
There’s also the chance to sometimes help other trainers like Eric Clough, John Mathias and Lucy Jones, who lets Jodie ride her horses and brought her a proper kit bag with her name embroidered on it.
“That’s the lovely camaraderie that exists in dealing with racehorses and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” says Jodie in signing off.
 
It is a reciprocal endorsement, however, because everyone we have spoken to in the equine world, including Lucy Jones, says that Jodie Hughes is a great ambassador for her sport – and we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk can only say, long may she continue to serve it so well!