The South African Jockey Academy recently held its Annual Speech Day and Prize Giving Ceremony at the Summerveld Club House. The event was privileged to have both The Honoury President of the South African Jockey Academy, Mr Ben Jonsson, and the Chairman of the Academy board, Mr Avison Carlisle. Guests that attended included Amorette Kramer, Ash Maharaj, Babu Nunan, Dudley Ford, Leigh Adams, Lorraine and Koos de Klerk, Mary Carlisle, Neil Butcher, Nicky Armstrong and Tony Rivalland.

The Guest of Honour was Mr. Rob Caskie, world renowned professional and motivational speaker, who gave the apprentices, guests and parents an insight into the adventure, dedication, hardship and toil that was endured by Shackleton and his crew, whom triumphantly escaped the ice without losing a life.

The following awards and prizes were awarded to Apprentices in 2014:

ACADEMIC AWARDS: 2014
EQASA EXAMS
The Equestrian Qualifications of Southern Africa Exams were held at the SA Jockey Academy during 2014.  The first and third year Apprentices sat the exams.  The subjects covered were Grooming & Turnout, Tack, Stable Management, Travelling & Trucking, Equine Physiology & Behaviour and Lunging.

The following learners were awarded certificates for achieving the requirements for Module 1.

Hussein Jbonomali
Calvin Ngcobo
Eric Ngwane
Tayla Mackinnon
Craig Bantam
Mpumelelo Mjoka

The following learners were awarded a certificate for achieving the minimum requirements for Module 2.

Brandon May
Mathew Thackeray
Shadlee Fortune
Tristan Godden
Tayla Mackinnon

GRADE 10
Hussein Jbonomali was awarded The Greg Holme Trophy

Greg Holme was a past pupil at SAJA, and was one of the jockeys tragically killed in the air disaster over the Free State on 12 April 1988. Greg’s parents donated the trophy in memory of their son.This trophy is awarded to an Apprentice in Grade 10 who achieved the highest results in the EQASA Exams.

GRADE 11
Mpumelelo Mjoka was awarded:
A certificate for achieving 78% in IsiZulu First Additional Language
A certificate for an improved aggregate in IsiZulu First Additional Language over a period of one year

Tayla Mackinnon was awarded:
A certificate for achieving 78% in Business Studies, 84% in Consumer Studies and 81% in Equine Studies
Half colours Academic for an aggregate of 72%
The Elizabeth Jonsson Trophy
The Elizabeth Jonsson Trophy was donated by Mr Ben Jonsson, our ex-chairman and now honoury president of the Academy, in memory of his mother, who was a very keen horsewoman and founder of the Pony Club in South Africa.This trophy is awarded to an Apprentice in Grade 11 who achieved the highest results in the EQASA Exams.
The Racing and Equestrian Floating Trophy
This trophy is awarded to an apprentice that achieves the highest aggregate in Grade 11.

GRADE 12
The grade 12 class of 2014 needs special mention. This class came together in 2012 and since joining the Academy that year, they have consistently excelled academically. For the first time ever at this academy, this group achieved a class average of 70% for their final Continuous Assessment mark in grade 12.

Shadlee Fortune was awarded:
A certificate for achieving 80% in Mathematical Literacy

Brandon May was awarded:
A certificate for achieving 81% in Life Orientation
Half colours Academic for an aggregate of 66%

Ntokozo Gumede was awarded:
A certificate for achieving 75% in IsiZulu First Additional language and 82% in Consumer Studies
Half colours Academic for an aggregate of 68%

Mathew Thackeray was awarded:
A certificate for achieving 80% in Consumer Studies, 76% in Life Orientation and 76% in Mathematical Literacy
A certificate for an improved aggregate in Business Studies over a period of one year
Half colours Academic for an aggregate of 68%

Tristan Godden was awarded:
A certificate for achieving 84% in Business Studies, 88% in Consumer Studies, 89% in Life Orientation and 86% in Mathematical Literacy
A certificate for an improved aggregate in Consumer Studies over a period of one year
Full colours Academic for achieving academic colours for 3 consecutive years
The Proxime Accessit Trophy
This trophy, sponsored by Nicky Armstrong who taught at the Academy for over 30 years, is awarded to an apprentice in Grade 12 who achieves the second highest academic results that is the runner up to the Dux.

Callan Murray was awarded:
A certificate for achieving 84% in Business Studies, 85% in Consumer Studies, 79% in Equine Studies, 85% in Life Orientation and 89% in Mathematical Literacy
A certificate for an improved aggregate in Business Studies and Equine Studies over a period of one year
Full colours Academic for achieving academic colours for 3 consecutive years.

POST MATRIC
Eric Ngwane was awarded:
A certificate for successfully completed a one-year course in Equine Studies

Simphiwe Ngcobo was awarded:
A certificate for successfully completed a one-year course in Equine Studies

Calvin Ngcobo was awarded:
A certificate for successfully completed a one-year course in Equine Studies
The Amanda Jonsson Trophy
The Amanda Jonsson Trophy was donated in 2005 by Mr and Mrs Jonsson, in memory of their daughter, Amanda.
This trophy is awarded to a Post Matric Apprentice who achieved the highest results in the EQASA Exams.

RIDING AND GENERAL AWARDS: 2014
Ryan Munger was awarded The Rakesh Jeewanlall Award
This award, of racing equipment, sponsored by Mr Jeewanlall, is awarded to the most well-mannered and disciplined, passionate and improved apprentice for the year.

Luyolo Mxothwa was awarded The Robbie Thompson Award
This award, a gift voucher for racing equipment to the value of R2500, sponsored by Robbie T Horseracing, is awarded to an apprentice who is voted the most popular apprentice by his colleagues.

Craig Zackey was awarded The South African Jockey Academy Ambassador Trophy
This trophy, donated by Mr Chris Saunders, an ex chairman of Gold Circle and legendary race horse owner, is awarded to an apprentice who represents the Academy nationally and internationally in a positive and professional manner. Craig represented the Academy at international apprentice races in the Asian Young Guns apprentice Challenge and the Macau Apprentice Invitational Races.

Eric Ngwane was awarded The Lindsay Family Floating Trophy
This trophy has been donated by the Lindsay family in honour of two great thoroughbreds Bass Drum and Abbey Boy. It is awarded to a first year Apprentice who has shown the most riding progress during the year.

Akshay Balloo was awarded The Happy Chimes Trophy
This trophy donated by Christopher Taylor, is named in memory of Mrs Jackie Bridel’s horse ‘Happy Chimes’. It is awarded to a second year Apprentice who has shown the most riding progress during the year.

Mathew Thackeray was awarded The Bennie Norton Trophy
Mr and Mrs Norton donated this trophy in memory of their son, Bennie, who died tragically in 1998, during the 5th year of his apprenticeship. Mr and Mrs Norton have asked that this trophy be awarded to an apprentice, who does not have the advantages of coming from a horse racing family, and who has achieved success against all odds.

Callan Murray was awarded The Oric Pretorious Trophy for Esprit d’corps

This floating trophy is presented to an apprentice who has demonstrated good fellowship.

Callan Murray was awarded The Ronald Khumalo Prize
This cash prize, kindly donated by Avison and Mary Carlisle in memory of apprentice Ronald Khumalo, who passed away during 2009. Is awarded to an apprentice for who shows constant positive attitude towards owners, trainers and their peers.

MAJOR AWARDS
Eric Ngwane was awarded The Headmaster’s Award
This is an award given at the discretion of the headmaster. This year it goes to an apprentice who has shown courage and determination under challenging circumstances, an apprentice of whom we are all proud.

Callan Murray was awarded Nicky Armstrong Trophy
This trophy is awarded to the Dux, who achieves the highest academic results in Grade 12.

Callan Murray was awarded McDonald Trophy
This trophy was presented to the Academy in 1961, by Mr WJG McDonald, then Secretary of the Durban Turf Club. It is awarded annually to an apprentice resident in KwaZulu Natal. Factors taken into account when deciding on this award are:
Jockeyship
Courtesy
Horsemanship
Co-operation
Integrity
Personality
Striving to avoid infraction of racing rules