William Buick crowned Flat Jockey of the Year at the Lesters

William Buick was crowned 2021 Flat Jockey of the Year at the Professional Jockeys Association Lesters Awards on Friday evening.

The ceremony, in which nine honours were given out, was shown live on Sky Sports Racing for the third time in its history.

Buick finished second, two winners behind champion jockey Oisin Murphy in the championship last year, but was the recipient of the Flat Jockey of the Year award. The rider is the odds-on favourite to go one better this year as Murphy is banned from riding due to alcohol and Covid breaches.

Hollie Doyle was named Female Jockey of the Year for the second successive year. It was another incredible year for the jockey, who rode more than 100 winners in a calendar year for the third year in a row. She smashed her previous record by 21 winners, finishing the season with a total of 172.

Richard Johnson, four times a champion jockey and a much-loved figure in the weighing room, won the Jump Jockey Special Recognition award, while Marco Ghiani, Danny McMenamin and Harry Skelton all picked up their first Lesters awards in their respective categories.

Award winners

Hollie Doyle - Female Jockey of the Year

Marco Ghiani - Apprentice Jockey of the Year

Ray Dawson, Marshall Dan, Sandown, 10.09.21 - Flat Ride of the Year

Joe Fanning - Flat Jockey Special Recognition

Danny McMenamin - Conditional Jockey of the Year

Sean Quinlan,For Jim, Hexham 9.10.21 - Jump Ride of the Year

Richard Johnson - Jump Jockey Special Recognition

William Buick - Flat Jockey of the Year

Harry Skelton - Jump Jockey of the Year

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