By Tony Organ
Percy Evans was born on 1st April 1910, the son of George Essex Evans and Beatrice Emily Evans (née Morgan). George was listed in the 1911 census as a ‘Groom/Coachman’ at stables in Uzmaston. Because this was a position where residency was essential, Percy lived for the first twelve months with his mother and grandparents at Llanstadwell. Their first home as a family was a cottage located at Cants Hill. This was one of several cottages at the bottom of Glenowen.
Percy served his apprenticeship as a jockey with Bartram Mitford Bullock, who sent horses out from stables in Ripon, Yorkshire. Percy went to India for the 1935/36 racing season and won twenty races at Madras. After the war he relocated to the Newmarket Stables and from there he rode winners on every race track in the country.
From 1946 his wins included: The Jockey Club Cup – Newmarket; The Steward’s Cup; Liverpool Spring Cup; Victoria Cup (twice); Rosebury Stake; Great Yorkshire Stakes; Jubilee Handicap; Portland Cup; Free Handicap; Cleveley Park; Ebor Cup; Cambridge Cup; Manchester Cup; Newcastle Cup; Brighton Cup
Percy Married Margaret Ray. They had one son and three daughters: Frederick, Jean, Janet & Dorothy. Percy died at Newmarket in 1974 at the age of 64.
When local press coverage reported on his successes, he was frequently referred to as
“the Mastlebridge Jockey”!