Jessica McLernon, assistant trainer to Richard Fahey, took home the Employee of the Year Award, as well as the Leadership Award, at the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London on Monday evening. McLernon received the Godolphin Trophy as well as a £40,000 cheque, half of which will be shared amongst the staff at Fahey's Musley Bank Stables.
McLernon has rapidly risen through the ranks at Musley Bank since 2011, and she now manages day-to-day duties includes rotas, allocating staff to go racing and managing veterinary visits.
“The panel's job was as tough as ever with some inspiring stories of dedication, commitment and hard work amongst this year's finalists,” said Brough Scott, chairman of the judging panel. “However, we had to reach a final decision and Jessica is a hugely deserving winner for the amazing progress she has made in her career so far.”
Nick Rust, chief executive of the BHA, added, “Jessica's achievement in being named Employee of the Year should not be underestimated. This sport employs 6,000 people whose job it is to provide first-class care and attention to the 14,000 horses in training at any one time. To be named as the pinnacle of that remarkable, dedicated workforce is quite a feat.”
The other category winners on the night were Adrian Stewart of David Lougnane Racing who took the David Nicholson newcomer award; Petra Sebestikova of Luca Cumani's Bedford House Stables, who was successful in the Rider/Groom category; Sarah Taylor of Mickley Stud who landed the Stud Staff award and William Reddy, whose years of service with the Johnson Houghton family earned him the Dedication to Racing award. Each received £5,000, with an additional £5,000 going to the winners' yard or stud, with the exception of Stewart, who gets £2,000, with the same amount going to the yard, and a five-day educational trip to Dubai.
Also honoured were John and Jackie Porter, formerly of the Injured Jockeys' Fund, who landed the Rory MacDonald Community award for their work at Lambourn's Oaksey House. They received £5,000, with an additional £5,000 going to the charity of their choice.
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