14 May 2008 Pilots in Profile - Nick Pearce
They don't call him 'Dijon' for nothing. If there was a prize for keeness, Nick Pearce would win hands down.
However, taking over the reins as Point-to-Point trainer for Simon Tindall this season, from Chris and Jenny Gordon, required something a little more than pure keeness, and Pearce has managed to combine both training and riding to good effect. Twenty-two runners between the flags so far have yielded 7 wins and 5 places. Not a bad strike rate for a rookie, and certainly a good start to build on for next season.
AGE 24.
MARITAL STATUS In a relationship.
PROFESSION Point-to-Point Trainer and Rider.
ARE YOU FROM A RACING BACKGROUND? No, my father used to have a bet on a Saturday that was the closest I got to racing as a child.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO RIDING? My brother took me pony trekking when I was 11 in Abergavenny. I quite enjoyed it and found a local riding school down the road from where I lived. I went down there every weekend to help out and Jason Warner taught me how to ride. We used to hunt with the Cotswold Vale Farmers.
FIRST RIDE - WHEN, FOR WHOM, HORSE, COURSE, FATE? 27th March 1999 on January Don at Upper Sapey. We finished 3rd in the Men's Open for Jason Warner.
WHO ARE THE MAIN TRAINERS THAT YOU RIDE FOR? Myself, Chris Lawson, John Whyte, Louise Dace.
WHERE ARE YOU BASED/LIVE? Mark Cross, Near Tunbridge-Wells.
WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE? Audi A3.
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT NIGHT IN & PERFECT NIGHT OUT In - it would be nice to finish work at a reasonable hour; to have a nice meal, sit down and just chill out with my girlfriend Hayley. Out - got to admit I do miss the craic with the Midlands boys - Rowan Cope, Stuart Morris and Dickie Barrett. We used to go to the pub on a Sunday after racing with all the local hunting and racing folk and have a good laugh.
IF YOU WERE SUSPENDED - WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH YOURSELF? I would love to go of skiing for a week.
WHO WOULD BE YOUR PERFECT TRAVELLING COMPANIONS TO THE RACES? Lewis Hamilton to drive; Martin O'Neil to talk about Aston Villa; Steve Fisher, a South East pointing man who always makes me laugh; and maybe Gemma Atkinson to play with!
WHAT CD'S ARE YOU PLAYING IN YOUR CAR AT PRESENT? The Killers and Arctic Monkeys.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST HEROES - IN AND OUT OF RACING? I'll get loads of stick for this but Julian Pritchard and Rowan Cope. They were never able to eat properly for years trying to do the weight to ride a horse around a field in the freezing cold for no money - top horsemen and jockeys. Really nice lads, as well. My Mum - she has had to cope with a lot down the years.
WHAT TURNS YOU ON/OFF - IN RACING & LIFE IN GENERAL? On - riding winners. Off - people who are happy to finish second (that wreck's my head!)/On - can't say I'll get lynched. Off - tattoos.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FUNNIEST INCIDENT AT THE RACES? Watching a good mate of mine Andy Brown run out at the 2nd fence at Thorpe. On the next circuit I gave him abuse as I took off, only to get brought down on landing. As Andy and I are watching the runners on the final circuit, Stuart Morris was 20 lengths clear only to fall at the same fence. Let's just say we had a good laugh in the truck taking us back to the Weighing Room.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING IN RACING - WHAT WOULD IT BE? Amateur jockeys being paid. Why do we get nothing when we do the same job as the pros?
IF YOU HADN'T TAKEN UP RIDING - WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE? I was mad keen on football at the time playing for Cheltenham Town School Boys; or following my father in to the Army.
WHAT IS THE DAFTEST THING A FELLOW RIDER, AN OWNER, OR TRAINER, HAS EVER SAID TO YOU? Can't remember who it was, but at Brampton Bryan a few years ago some lad said to me, approaching four out, have we got another lap to go? I said yes. We never had another lap to go, so I tracked him to three out then kicked on past him and stole the race from him.
WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BEST AND WORST RIDES YOU HAVE GIVEN A HORSE? Best - Bengal Boy at Garthorpe a couple of years ago in a hot members. I kicked on a long way out and nicked it. That was a great feeling. Worst - Just Jove at Brocklesby for Caroline Bailey. I was riding desperately at the time, really negative at my fences, and gave the horse no help at the ditch and ended up falling off it. Caroline gave me a massive bollocking and it worked. I rode a winner the next day and went on to have a good season. Cheers Caroline.
DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS IN YOUR RIDING CAREER? For leaving Venetia Williams' to early; I should have stayed another season or two.