The South African Jockey Academy held its annual Prize Giving and Speech Day at the Clubhouse at Summerveld on Friday 8 December and was attend by various racing dignitaries including The honoury President of the South African Jockey Academy, Mr Ben Jonsson, the Chairman of the Academy board, Mr Avison Carlisle, Academy board members Graeme Hawkins and Raf Sheik as well as guest speaker, Paul Lafferty. SAJA legends and old boys Michael Roberts and Garth Puller were also in attendance and rarely miss this annual event.

It was a special and enjoyable day that saw Paul Lafferty delivering an insightful, inspiring and thought provoking speech to the apprentices that succinctly mapped a road to success and happiness for these young men. Academy Principal, Graham Bailey, echoed Paul Lafferty’s speech, stressing integrity and professionalism as tenants for success.

Riding Awards Winners
• The Greg Holme Trophy was won by Luke Ferraris
• The Elizabeth Jonsson Trophy was won by Jason Gates
• The Justin Bircher Most Improved Athlete Trophy was won by Kabelo Matsunyane
• Justin Bircher Athlete of the Year Trophy was won by Jason Gates
• The Rakesh Jeewanlall Award was won by Serino Moodley
• The Robbie Thompson Award was won by Diego De Gouveia and Serino Moodley
• The South African Jockey Academy Ambassador Trophy was won by Mpumelelo Mjoka
• The Lindsay Family Floating Trophy was won by Luke Ferraris
• The Happy Chimes Trophy was won by Lyle Hewitson
• The Bennie Norton Trophy was won by Ashton Arries
• The Oric Pretorious Trophy for Esprit d’corps was won by Denis Schwarz
• The Ronald Khumalo Prize was won by Ashton Arries
• The Headmaster’s Award was won by Khanya Sakayi
• The Vinay Harry Inter-House Trophy was won by Lambert House
• The McDonald Trophy was won by Denis Schwarz
Academic Award Winners
• The Racing and Equestrian Floating Trophy for the highest aggregate in Grade 10 was won by Yuzae Ramzan
• The Racing and Equestrian Floating Trophy for the highest aggregate in Grade 11 was won by Jason Gates
• The Amanda Jonsson Trophy was won by Kabelo Matsunyane
• The Proxime Accessit Trophy was won by Diego De Gouveia
• Nicky Armstrong Trophy and the Dux for 2017 is Denis Schwarz