NextGen | James Crowley

Name: James Crowley     

Age:   17

From: Ballinamult, County Waterford

 

 

I’ve been around them since I could walk really. We always had horses at home as my father, Pat, trained and rode himself, so I was always involved from a young age. My mother Hazel was always very involved as well, and my three younger sisters all ride too, so it’s very much a family thing.

 

I started off with ponies, doing a lot of show jumping and I hunted with the Dungarvan Foxhounds. I produced a good few ponies myself from being broken right up through the levels. I jumped up to 1.20m on the 14.2s and competed at a good standard on the 13.2s as well. I rode everything and anything, which was a great grounding, and from there it was a natural progression into racehorses and riding out at home before school.

 
 

 

The first racehorse I sat on was Owenacurra Lass when I was about 10. She was a good mare and won a few races, so it was a great one to start off with.

 

 

I’ve mainly been riding out at home, as we always had horses there, so I’d be riding before school most mornings.

 

Declan Queally is only five minutes down the road and I’ve been going into his yard for years, and I’ve also ridden out for Joseph O’Brien. I spent a week with Gordon Elliott last year doing work experience, which was a great learning experience. You pick up plenty from being around those yards and riding alongside good riders.

 
 

 

Yes, I’m a fifth year student at Blackwater Community School.

 

 

I’ll finish my Leaving Cert and I’d love to give riding a proper go, but my mother insists on an education as well, so we’ll see what happens. I’ve no firm plans made yet.

 
 

 

My mother is good friends with Virginia Considine and she gave me the horse to ride and gain experience on, which I am very grateful for.

 

 

 

 

He was travelling well the last day at Knockanohill but we got carried out by a loose horse on the home bend. I was hopeful he’d run a big race at Curraghmore. He had been working well, so we were expecting a good run.

 
 

 

It was brilliant, the best feeling you could get really. It’s what you’re working towards, so to finally get that first winner was a great feeling.

 

 

Yeah, they were all there – my mother, father, grandparents and my three sisters – so it made it even more special.

 
 

 

He came out of it fresh and is in great form, so I’d say he’ll go for a winners’ race in the next couple of weeks.

 

 

Yeah, it was always something I wanted to do. Watching racing growing up, I always wanted to be involved and ride myself.

 

 

Yeah, I’ve had three rides on the track on a horse Morning Venture in my mother’s colours, so it’s been great experience riding alongside some of the top amateurs. You learn a lot from it.
 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, we’d usually have around eight or ten horses in at home. We do a good bit of breaking and pre-training as well, so it keeps us busy.

 
 

 

My father would be a big influence. He’s always there to guide me and give advice. Declan Queally has been very good to me as well, I’ve learned a lot riding out and schooling there.

 

 

My father and Declan mainly, and if I’m schooling with lads like Darragh Allen I’d always ask them as well. There’s plenty of good people around to learn from.

 

 

I play a lot of GAA, hurling and football, with my local club. I enjoy it and it’s good to have something away from racing.

 

 

Just to keep riding, keep learning and improving, and hopefully pick up a few more rides along the way.

 
 

Do you want to add anything else?

Just thanks to Virginia and Dermot Considine for letting me ride the horse, and to everyone who has helped me and given me advice along the way.