Paralysed former jump jockey 'overwhelmed' after raising £14,000 in bike ride

Jacob Pritchard Webb, the former jump jockey who was left paralysed following a fall in 2020, is still in disbelief after completing his gruelling cycle ride from Cheltenham to Newmarket, which raised nearly £14,000 for charity.

Pritchard Webb hand-cycled the 140 miles between jump and Flat racing's headquarters over three days to raise funds for the Injured Jockeys Fund and Matt Hampson Foundation, which played crucial roles in his recovery from the fall he suffered at Auteuil two years ago.

Backed by 50 people across the journey, he finished to a standing ovation at the July course before Darley July Cup day, which left the 25-year-old emotional at achieving his feat and by the support he received from the racing world.

'I didn't expect it to be as big as it has been. I'm over the moon'Credit: Jockey Club

"The reception we got when we arrived was brilliant," he said. "The champagne definitely numbed the pain! It's surreal and was all a bit overwhelming. I can't believe it's over, but I wouldn't have got up some of those hills without people shouting at me that I could do it.

"I wanted it to be big, purely for a raising money point of view, but I didn't expect it to be as big as it has been. I'm over the moon."

Leading racing names such as Sir AP McCoy joined Pritchard Webb for parts of his journey, which started with 17 people at Cheltenham on Thursday, while he also received messages of support from his "French family", including trainer Emmanuel Clayeux and jockey Felix de Giles, to boost motivation during challenging points.

"The first day I had my parents and girlfriend among my team, which also included Charlie Morlock, Nicky Henderson's assistant trainer, and did all three days," said Pritchard Webb.

"Tabitha Worsley, Luke Harvey, Charlie Poste and Hugh Nugent joined, as well as Freddie Mitchell, one of my best friends. He had a tough first day!

"We even had a stranger off Twitter come out and cycle on the second day, as well as Sean Boyce from Sky Sports, and ended up with a team of 12 cycling into Newmarket.

Jacob Pritchard Webb was supported by big racing names such as AP McCoy on his charity cycle rideCredit: Jockey Club

"When I came back here from my injury it's like the racing industry here accepted me as one of their own. I was so glad everybody was able to come out and support us."

The event has raised more than £11,500 so far, as well as just over £2,000 from Gift Aid, and Pritchard Webb hopes it can help both charities and those who have also suffered from serious spinal injuries.

"If you split that 50-50, it'll hopefully help get a jockey back on their feet at the IJF," he said. "The Matt Hampson Foundation is overrun with beneficiaries, which is why they're extending their centre for a hydro pool, bigger gym and communal area.

"On a smaller scale, it costs about £5,000 to get a personalised wheelchair, which is so important to injured people. As soon as you sit in it for the first time, your independence makes you feel so much better. It can give someone their freedom."

You can still sponsor Jacob Pritchard Webb's cycle ride here

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