News

POINTING PEOPLE: DARREN EDWARDS

  • Posted: Wednesday, 10th August 2022
  • Author: Jake Exelby

Darren Edwards is currently fourth on the list of active riders, with 301 career victories in points alongside 29 under rules, of which the highest profile was Maximize in the 2004 Kim Muir Chase. He is also one of few leading riders who is not involved with horses full-time – his day job is Head of Sustainability for chartered surveyors Fisher German and, by his own admission, he does not often even sit on a horse during the week! Jake Exelby spoke to Darren – who is also the only jockey, and at 37 the youngest member, to sit on the PPA board – recently about juggling work and race-riding, and how he keeps fit.

How did you get into point-to-pointing in the first place?

My Dad – Gordon – rode himself and had a permit for a long time so we always had horses at home and I’ve ridden since I could walk. I used to do pony club and the mounted games and, although I won a pony race once, it was a one-off – my route into race-riding pre-dated pony racing. I had my first ride under rules at Plumpton, on a mare called Eileen Alanna, on 23rd September 2000, having turned 16 just 18 days earlier, and my first win on her at Market Rasen on 21st November the same year.

My first pointing season was the year of foot and mouth – I rode my first winner on Blade of Fortune for Gerald Greenway at Chipley Park, then the season stopped. At that point, I had aspirations to turn pro, but I was always quite heavy, so the decision to pursue further education made itself, as I’d have always struggled with my weight and would rather be a good amateur than a struggling professional.

How did your career take off from there?

When I was a teenager, living at home and racing a bit under rules, the West Country pointing scene was buoyant, and I got asked to ride more pointers – and for the right people. Then, because I stayed pointing, people got to know me and there are few people in the area I haven’t ridden for at some point. I’ve been riding for Dean Summersby for a long time – he’s been my biggest supporter over the past five or six years and we get on well.

Dean Summersby - big supporter

You seem to have a lower profile than other riders who’ve had your level of success – is that an issue?

Well I don’t think I’d have known I’d ridden my 300th pointing winner last season unless you’d told me! But I don’t feel under-recognised because I’m not an aspiring professional. I’ve been very lucky and feel privileged to have been given opportunities and to have ridden good horses. I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone other than myself and don’t worry what other people say or think – I know I’m not the most stylish over a fence or in a finish but, quite frankly, I don’t care!

Tell me about your role at Fisher German

I’m based at Exeter now – I moved back to Devon from Market Harborough a year ago – but it’s a national role as the company pushes for net zero emissions. My background is in farming and land management – I did a degree in the latter at the Royal Agricultural College – and I work on a lot of energy projects, from wind farms and solar panels to gas plants and power stations.

How do you combine your job and riding?

It all comes together in the end, although it can be challenging in peak season and I often have to turn down rides due to work commitments, which inform my strike rate, the number of winners I have and who I ride for – I won’t ride any old crap (!) and I do it to win, not just to take part. But if the horse is good enough, I’ll rearrange my diary!

I try to do plenty of schooling between October and December and to ride myself fit then. During the season, I rely on other forms of fitness – I do a lot of running and play squash.

Who's inspired you most in the world of pointing?

A P McCoy. He rode his first winner in England for Dad on Chickabiddy in 1994 and his drive, dedication and determination to win was second to none.

Chickabiddy - A P McCoy's first English winner

Which jockeys do you most admire? Why?

Gina Andrews and Will Biddick nowadays – their results speak for themselves. When I started, I was riding against the likes of Ashley Farrant, Neil Harris and Les Jefford – there were lots of good riders in the West Country. Further afield, it would be John Mathias, Julian Pritchard and James Tudor. And Richard Burton who, like me, juggled a career outside racing with riding in points – I admire people who can succeed in that.

Richard Burton - juggled riding with career

Who have been your favourite horses?

I went through a period when I rode for the Pipes at the Cheltenham Festival – the likes of Maximize, obviously, and It Takes Time, a classy handicapper who’d been placed in the Grand National – and I used to ride out for Philip Hobbs and sat on Flagship Uberalles and Rooster Booster. In points, I never had any top-class regular mounts, but the best would be Coombe Hill and Lucette Annie, both of whom were multiple winners who gave me great spins in the Cheltenham Foxhunters. I’ve also ridden a lot of prolific winners for Dean.

Darren riding Carrignagapple for Dean Summersby

Which are your favourite courses? Why?

We’re lucky in the Devon & Cornwall area to have a good mix of tracks. The likes of Buckfastleigh and Upcott Cross are fair, and better than some National Hunt tracks, while idiosyncratic places like Great Trethew and Wadebridge are great for education.

Racing at Buckfastleigh

What has been the highlight of your time as a jockey?

Maximize always comes up and riding a Festival winner is great. However, I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have done at the time – it was my first ride at the Festival and I thought there would be many more!

A younger Darren after winning on Maximize at Cheltenham

What do you love most about pointing?

It’s great fun and everyone can have a go as there are few barriers to entry. You see a real range of abilities, but there’s nothing to stop you getting involved. It’s also an education facility, not just for horses and riders but for trainers. The likes of Tim Vaughan and Evan Williams have used what they learnt in pointing as the backbone of their career.

What's been your personal funniest moment in the sport?

It was at Umberleigh in 2002, the year Evan won the riders title. He was tied for the lead before racing and I was on Longstone Lad in the Mens Open. We were going along the bottom where – as you know – the jumps are close together, on the final circuit. I was leading alongside Tim, saw a fence dolled off and flags being waved and heard shouting behind me. I steered round the fence and took Tim with me, but it was the wrong jump! Evan was ten lengths behind, but went on to win the race… and the championship. It had been him shouting and he knew full well what he was doing! (Note to readers: the in-running comments for Longstone Lad in the annual read “rider cock-up”).

What are your ambitions in pointing?

I’d love to say, “to win a Foxhunters”, but I need a horse good enough – the closest I’ve come is when Poole Master was beaten less than 15 lengths at Aintree in 2017. So really, just to continue enjoying it and being successful. I’m 37 now and don’t see myself riding beyond 40 as I’m juggling plenty of balls as it is and there are plenty of other things to do. For example, the ski season clashes with pointing so I haven’t been for years, which doesn’t please my other half!

Darren on Poole Master

What changes have you seen during your time? For better, for worse?

The season used to start in January, but now it’s late October or early November. It was warranted at the time, but with fewer horses, the length of the season should be reduced – it’s simple supply and demand. There would obviously be ramifications, but crap racing isn’t good for anyone.

We used to have to hunt pointers, for which there were pros and cons. It’s less hassle for trainers now, but sending some jockeys out hunting would improve their race-riding. The changes have happened for the right reasons, but we need to continue to adapt.

What’s it like being on the PPA board?

Being the only (current) jockey on it is interesting. It’s easy just to think about your own bubble but, on the board, you see the full picture. You have to understand what’s going on all over the country and it’s opened my eyes to the challenges faced by different stakeholders, such as the link with hunting and the MFHA, fixture committees and the practical and financial pressures – like sponsorship, and what it takes to put on a meeting.

Pointing has to move with the times but we mustn’t turn the traditionalists away from the sport. And it has to be accessible and affordable, otherwise people will go and do something else.

With horse numbers at their lowest ever level, what are your concerns about the future?

The decline in numbers is a concern, as is the ageing demographic of the people who put on the sport. It’s an amateur game and relies on volunteers and we’re not getting the youngsters coming through. I think hunting faces similar challenges.

What reasons do we have to be optimistic?

Lots of people at the top of professional racing have come through pointing, so why shouldn’t this continue to be the case in future?

What are your plans for next season?

To enjoy myself. Dean’s got a nice bunch of horses, including Liberty Rock (Darren’s 300th pointing winner). He’s only run half a dozen times and has won his last two, having nearly died after being infected by a piece of birch when racing over hurdles. He’s got plenty of ability.

What are your non-horsey hobbies?

Anything sport related – I love chasing a ball, be it football, golf or squash – and home improvements.

Who are your favourite authors?

I rarely have the time to read but if I do, I enjoy a good autobiography - normally one by a sporting personality.

What are your life ambitions?

To enjoy whatever I do.

Where is your dream holiday destination?

I like exploring new places but, if returning to somewhere I have been previously, Dubai.

What superpower would you choose and why?

To be able to fly. A lot of precious time is lost driving around so – if I could fly – it would give me a lot of time back and the views would be better!

Who else should I do one of these features on?

Philip Hall - he's worth listening to, is a great advocate for point-to-pointing and, whenever I speak to him, he's normally somewhere exotic!

Philip Hall - worth listening to