Unsung heroes: Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff awards' shortlists are unveiled

The shortlist for the 2019 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff awards has been announced after a judging panel whittled down 202 nominations into six categories containing ten candidates each.

The awards, now in their 14th year, are designed to celebrate the hard work done by stud and stable staff across the country and culminate in an awards ceremony on February 18 when more than £120,000 in prize-money is awarded to winners and the yards they represent.

The awards recognise a diverse range of experiences within racing – from the David Nicholson Newcomer Award to Dedication to Racing –
and one of the evening’s six winners is eventually named Employee of the Year.

Brough Scott is chairman of this year's judging panel, which also includes ITV Racing's Alice Plunkett, former jockey Mick Fitzgerald and Jessica McLernon, winner of the Employee of the Year award in 2018.

The panel will select three finalists from each category who will be invited to next year's ceremony at the Jumeriah Carlton Tower hotel in London.

Scott said: "For the judges here comes the best and worst task of the year. It’s been bad enough getting each category down to a shortlist of ten from a total of 202 high-quality nominations. Now we have to whittle each group down to just three.

"All I can promise them is that we will do it with a respect and fairness which matches the admiration and appreciation we have for their efforts every day."

David Nicholson Newcomer Award

Lee Aziz – Robert Stephens
April Clarke – Jedd O’Keeffe
James Cooke – Overbury Stud
Hannah Crawford – Iain Jardine
Connor Fox – Amy Murphy
Zara Gott – Philip Hobbs
Max McLoughlin – Cheveley Park Stud
Charlie Richards – Andrew Balding
Sophy Scott – Mark Johnston
Lauren Thomas – Tim Vaughan

Leadership

Jessica Bell – Brian Ellison
Catriona Bissett – Nick Alexander
Dan Horsford – Alan King
Steve Howarth – Kevin Ryan
Louise Kennedy – David Lanigan
Leanne Kershaw – Jedd O’Keeffe
Sean Mulcaire – Philip Hobbs
Barry O’Dowd – John Gosden
Ian Russell – David Simcock
Jarek Standik – Richard Fahey

Rider/Groom

Ian Clarkson – Micky Hammond
Zoe Fuller – Julia Feilden
Monika Gasparova – Ed Walker
Sean Graham – Philip Hobbs
Stewart Gosnell – Richard Hughes
Javed Iqbal – Tom Dascombe
Darren McAlinden – Nicky Martin
Imran Shahwani – John Gosden
Patrick ‘Paddy’ Trainor – Mark Johnston
Jessica Wareham – Brian Barr

Stud Staff

Noel Challinor – Northmore Stud
Christine Chapman – Theakston Stud
James Frank – Hascombe & Valiant Stud
Sophie Heaps – Highfield Farm
Tom Hughes – Hazelwood Bloodstock
Martin Languillet – Fittocks Stud
Andrew Snell – Cheveley Park Stud
Kevin Tobin – New England Stud
Anna Wesolowska – Witney Stud
David Woodley – Dullingham Park Stud

Dedication to Racing

John Bottomley – Ollie Pears
David Crofts – Marcus Tregoning
John Dixon – Roger Charlton
Jaimie Duff – Lucinda Russell
Helen Halliwell – James Fanshawe
Tracey and Ray Hutt – Highclere Stud
David Macleod – James Ewart
Marjorie Renwick – Harriet Graham
Joline Saunders – Richard Phillips
Andrew Stringer – John Gosden

Rory MacDonald Community Award

Darren Bird
Amie Canham
Rev. Peter Clark
Lizzie Harris
Deborah Hay
Sarah Montgomery
Andrea O’Keeffe
Shelley Perham
Carly Sage
Amy Starkey

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