A YOUNG jockey hailing from Gretna is celebrating after being named Champion Conditional Jockey.
Patrick Wadge was handed the trophy on Saturday at Sandown’s Jumps Finale meeting following an impressive season of 37 winners.
The 22-year-old is based in Kinross with trainer Lucinda Russell.
He started working there five years ago after following in his brother Cameron’s footsteps.
It took Patrick 63 rides to get a first win in April 2022. He persevered and the future now looks bright.
Speaking to Great British Racing, Patrick said: “My mum’s still in Gretna and she has people coming up to her saying how well I’m doing and stuff.
“It’s nice hearing stuff like that. It makes you realise there’s a lot of people watching and you have support.
“There was multiple times where I thought I’d had enough. I doubted myself.
“It was the people behind me that supported me and pushed me through.”
The Conditional Jockeys Championship was decided on the number of winners of National Hunt races from Monday May 1 2023 to Saturday April 27 2024.
