Instructor Team Profiles
Malcolm Bygrave - Training Manager
Malc was one of the first ever students at the NRC when he enrolled in 1984. He has extensive experience of working in the racing industry, having been employed by various trainers including Clive Brittain, Charlie Nelson, Peter Calver, Linda Ramsden, Gerard Butler and Karl Billot in Jersey, where he rode 10 winners from 75 rides in public.
Malc returned to the NRC as an instructor in 1992, a position which he filled for ten years before leaving to re-familiarise himself with the racing industry. He then worked as head groom for Gerard Butler and undertook stud duties at North Farm Stud, Oxfordshire.
He returned to the college in 2004 as a Quality Assurance Officer (QAO). His contribution to college was recognised and in 2005 he was promoted to the position of Chief Quality Assurance Officer. In 2006 he was appointed Chief Instructor and in 2007 Training Manager.
Apart from obtaining his NVQ's up to and including Level 3 in Racehorse Care and Management, Malc is also an assessor and internal verifier, accredited by British Horseracing Education Standards Trust (BHEST). He has also obtained a Certificate in Education, the IOSH managingsafely qualification and is a qualified first aider.
Georgina Sherry - Student Welfare Officer
Georgie joined the NRC instructor ranks in November 2005. In June 2006 she joined the quality assurance team, a position which took her the length and breadth of the country assessing students in the workplace. She later resumed her previous position as an instructor and in August 2009 was appointed Student Welfare Officer.
Georgie was brought up in South Yorkshire and her early years were spent at Finningley Riding School where she achieved her BHS exams and Pony Club B test. A position with the Cottesmore Hunt in Leicestershire produced a shift in focus for Georgie who went on to spend three years as a groom before being promoted to second man.
After the hurly burly of the hunting field Georgie travelled to the Royal county of Berkshire to trainer Gavin Hunter's East Ilsley stables. After four years of riding out and looking after flat racehorses she took up a similar position with Roddy Armitage, a jumps trainer.
She combined her experiences in racing and used them as a launch pad to secure employment in Newmarket, initially for handler Gerry Bloom before embarking on what turned out to be a 18 year stint at The National Stud.
During her time at the stud she became an integral part of the team and took on the pivotal role of assessing the Diploma students. She also took a keen interest in the arrival and departures department, which controlled the movement of bloodstock as well as managing the foaling unit. On average 120 foals were born each season.
Ironically when Georgie was an impressionable youngster she visited The National Stud and can recall saying, even at that tender age that one day she would work there.
Georgie has many memories of her time at the stud, but remarks that Mill Reef, the 1971 Derby, King George VI and Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe winner who was retired to the stud was an exceptional horse as was the 1994 2000 Guineas hero Mister Baileys.
Georgie moved back to Yorkshire in 2003. She has a wealth of experience from which the students draw upon. She has achieved an NVQ level 3 in Racehorse Care and Management, Assessor and Internal Verifier status a Certificate in Education and level 1 Councelling Skills.
Vanessa Cashmore - Work Based Learning Supervisor & Verifier
Vanessa was recruited in February 2004 after completing an NVQ Level 3 in Racehorse Care and Management at the Northern Racing College. Following six months working as an instructor she joined the Quality Assurance team and in January 2010 was promoted to Work-based Learning Supervisor. During this time she has achieved assessor and internal verifier status, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, IOSH Managing Safely and is also a qualified first aider.
Vanessa rode out for a number of trainers while completing A-levels in Maths, Biology, and Psychology and a BSc. (Hons) in Equine Science. Upon completion of her degree, Vanessa was employed by trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, where her responsibilities included those of travelling head lass and racing secretary as well as riding out.
In her spare time Vanessa enjoys snowboarding, rock climbing and surfing
Emma Jane Smith - Roving Instructor
Emma was a student at the NRC in 2003 when she commenced her apprenticeship. Before turning her attentions to horseracing she achieved A-levels in Physics, Chemistry and Biology at Sheffield College.
From the early days Emma had a desire to combine a career in the racing industry with travelling. Her initial training began in Newmarket, Suffolk where Captain and Mrs. Christopher Coldrey employed her as a groom at the prestigious Herringswell Bloodstock Centre. During her time she became acquainted herself with horses that later went into training with the legendary Sir Mark Prescott. Emma looks back on this time with fond memories, recalling that it was an excellent grounding.
The sunnier climates of Greece beckoned after a long British winter and Emma continued her education by preparing young thoroughbreds on a yearling farm. Here she learned the skill of training and breaking in thoroughbreds from the ground, an art in itself.
An attractive position as head groom to trainer John White enticed her back to Britain. After shivering in the colder climate for a year Emma found herself flying to the other side of the world to Lindsay Park Racing Stables in Angaston, South Australia .
Here she worked under trainer David Hayes and his long-standing assistant Tony McEvoy (Uncle of flat jockey Kerrin McEvoy). Lindsay Park has sent out over 8000 winners, including a Japan Cup, three Melbourne Cups, six Victoria Derby's and five Australian Cups to name but a few of their major race successes. Emma readily admits this was some training experience.
Upon returning to Britain Emma worked for Newmarket handler William Jarvis, before moving closer to home and settling in Malton, North Yorkshire where she was key member of Julie Camacho's team.
Emma joined the College as an instructor in 2005. In 2008 she became a part of the Quality Assurance team, which involves her visiting students in the workplace and completing assessments towards their NVQ Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications.
Emma has completed her NVQ level 3 in Racehorse Care and Management and a Certificate in Education. She currently enjoys success as a jockey on the Arab Racing circuit.
Victoria Behan - Roving Instructor
Victoria started working with racehorses at the age of 14 while still at school. She already had experience at ponyclub and showjumping and had her own ponies on her father’s farm in Clane Co. Kildare. She gained invaluable experience of the Irish racing industry while working for David Braod during summer holiday.
Paul joined the Northern Racing College instructor team in July 2008, having spent his entire working life in the racing industry.
Despite not coming from a racing family, Paul was fortunate in that his father frequented a public house which was a favourite with leading flat jockey John Carroll.
At the time John was stable jockey to racehorse trainer Jack Berry, who was more than pleased, at John's suggestion, for Paul to visit his stables at weekends in order to learn the ropes. It wasn't long before Paul was working competently from the ground with the horses and had mastered the basic requirements to exercise a racehorse; and all before he turned thirteen.
Upon completion of full-time education Paul enrolled onto the Northern Racing College Foundation Course. This formal training provided him with another string to his bow. In 1996 Paul joined North Yorkshire trainer Micky Hammond where he obtained an apprentice jockey licence.
Wishing to broaden his experience further he accepted an offer to join the all conquering stables of Jersey handler Joan Le Brocq. With the move came more rides, this time as an amateur rider. Reflecting on this experience Paul credits Mrs Le Brocq with teaching him the most important attributes to being a good rider and a horseman.
Returning to England Paul joined high profile trainer, Mark Johnston, at his Kingsley House Stables in Middleham, North Yorkshire. For the next seven years he was entrusted to travel horses throughout Europe and as far a field as the USA, Canada and Dubai.
Prior to joining the Northern Racing College Paul spent two years with Middleham trainer Jedd O'Keeffe, where he was Head Groom. Responsible for the day to day running of the yard Paul took a keen interest in the training of the horses, an aspect of the industry which for many years had held much appeal.
The move to the College brings Paul a full circle to where it all started in 1996. His experiences as a student allow him to empathise with the learners he now teaches.
Paul fondly remembers his Derby runner, Fight Your Corner, who he accompanied to Epsom in 2002.
Dan Swan – Training/Roving Instructor
Fran Harper – Training/Roving Instructor
Fran joined the Northern Racing College Instructor team in August 2009. With a wealth of experience in flat and national hunt stables, coupled with rides on the racecourse as an apprentice and amateur jockey Fran has a huge amount of industry knowledge.
Learning to ride from the age of five Fran gained valuable experience. Taking responsibility for her first pony at the age of 12 she continued riding in all manner of equine disciplines.
Taking a keen interest in racing, following visits to race meetings with her family, she started working weekends and during the school holidays at the stables of Toby Balding.
Completing full-time education at the age of 18 Fran enrolled on the nine-week Foundation Course at the British Racing College, Newmarket. In 2003 she was awarded the "12 Club Award", which honours the best male and female British Racing School pupils in any given year.
Graduating from the British Racing School Fran returned to the Hampshire stables of Toby Balding where she remained for a further two years riding as an apprentice.
A move north beckoned and Fran joined the North Yorkshire stables of Nigel Tinkler where she rode as an apprentice jockey. With a season in a flat yard under her belt she moved to the larger stables of Richard Fahey, also in North Yorkshire where she took on the responsibility of Assistant Head Groom.
During her 4 ½ years with Mr Fahey she was fortunate enough to look after the very good race mare, Anna Pavlova, who she travelled to France and Ireland to land valuable prizes.
Before joining the Northern Racing College Fran worked for Lincolnshire trainer, Chris Bealby as Pupil Assistant Trainer.
When not working Fran enjoys showing and judging dogs. Her family dogs include Hungarian Vizslas. She is also a keen runner, preferring sprint distances.
Fran has achieved an NVQ Level 3 Racehorse Care and Management and an Assistant Swimming Coach Award. She has also just taken her license out to ride as an amateur alongside being an instructor.
Hugh Mckenna – Training/Roving Instructor
Despite having no family involvement in the racing industry Hugh knew very soon that he wanted a career with horses. He describes watching a horse being lead back into the winners’ enclosure as “electrifying” and remembers vividly, “the hairs standing up on the back of my neck as I listened to the crowd cheering that win.”
Aged 15 Hugh enrolled onto the 10 month training programme at Irelands Racing Academy and Centre of Education.
Despite never before having sat on a racehorse he displayed the required confidence and ability in the saddle to successfully complete the programme. During his time at the Academy he worked for John Mulhern before joining the all-conquering John Oxx stable. Hugh’s first ride was in an Irish National Hunt Flat Race, often referred to as a “bumper.” As well as a dozen rides in bumpers Hugh has also ridden with success in the Point-to-Point field.
In 2008 Hugh was offered a position in England at the Lambourn stables of National Hunt trainer Charlie Mann, a position he held for 14 months before taking up the post as Assistant Instructor at the Northern Racing College.
Hugh’s final ride under rules was on 1st February 2009 in a 2m 6f Hunters’ Chase at Fontwell Racecourse where he finished third on the David Phelan trained Good Gordon.
Claire joined the NRC in April 2010 as a part time Assistant Training Instructor.
