A GROUP of amateur jockeys from Ryedale will be among those thundering around the Knavesmire in York at this year's Macmillan charity ride.

The race, titled the "Ride of their Lives", challenges 12 members of the public to race a fully-fledged thoroughbred racehorse in front of a crowd expected to be in excess of 25,000.

The riders will also enter the record books, as the race is part of the oldest and biggest charity raceday in the world - the Macmillan Charity Raceday - which will see its 46th year on Saturday, June 11. It has already raised more than £6.5m for charity.

Of the 12, four riders are from the Ryedale area: Owen Dukes, 48, Becky Robinson, 44, Debra Boyes, 35, and Ruth Carr, 39.

Other riders come from York, Hambleton, Harrogate, Ripon and Leeds, and as far afield as Bishop Auckland, Cumbria and Buckinghamshire.

All of the riders face months of intense training before the ride. In the months to come, they will be given riding tuition at the Northern Racing College in Doncaster and a training day back at York with former champion jockey Kevin Darley.

James Brennan, head of marketing at York Racecourse, said: "Once again a dozen brave amateurs have committed to ride their dream around the Knavesmire. With thousands watching they don’t want it to become a nightmare, so I know they’ll listen to Kevin and their other coaches as they prepare for the big day in June.

"They will be acutely aware that a successful ride means a successful fundraising event so please come to cheer them home."

Each of the riders has pledged to raise at least £2,500 each for Macmillan.

Nikki Denton, special events manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "We’re so grateful these 12 amateur riders are taking on such a huge physical challenge to raise money for Macmillan. Money raised for Macmillan helps fund our vital services which are there for anyone affected by cancer."

To purchase tickets for Macmillan Charity Raceday, visit yorkracecourse.co.uk

RIDER PROFILES

Becky Robinson, from Brompton by Sawdon, said: "Having been a devoted mother for the past 23 years, my journey with horses started later in life than most. My experience with Macmillan, however, started long before.

"I set out as an NHS nurse more than 25 years ago specialising in palliative patients, and I have witnessed on countless occasions the very often life-changing differences that dedicated Macmillan nurses make. They touch so many lives and deserve all the support we can give. It is this first-hand experience that has given me the drive and determination to raise as much money as possible for this incredible charity and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity."

Ms Robinson has aimed to raise £10,000 before the race. Her main event will be the "Full Monty Night" which is taking place at Wintringham Village Hall on Saturday, May 14, which will include a variety of different acts such as a Swan Lake rendition, All the Single Ladies and a FlashMob dance, as well as some comedy acts throughout the night. Tickets for the event are £20 which includes a free drink on entry and canapes.

Ms Robinson added: "My thanks go to Macmillan and York Racecourse for giving me the opportunity to fulfil the dream of riding in front of thousands of people. I am especially grateful to Team L Egerton Racing for trusting me enough to put me in the saddle."

Owen Dukes, from Acklam, said: "In my business life I'm the owner of a software company, but I have been involved in racing for a long time. I try to ride every day, but nothing like this."

Mr Dukes is aiming to raise £5,000 for Macmillan. He will be throwing a number of events, including a party at which more than 100 people already have tickets, a clay pigeon shoot, and his wife is organising a spa party. He said: "My wife's father died of cancer. She has done a lot of work for cancer charities. It was a chance to be able to support her and Macmillan."

"Macmillan's a fantastic charity and it's a long held tradition at York Racecourse."

Mr Dukes added that there are a number of things he needs to overcome in the months leading up to the race. "I'm riding more, both in the week and at the weekends, and I need to get fitter and I've got a bit of weight to lose."

Debra Boyes, from Pickering, is a farmer's wife who last year lost a friend to cancer, and her grandparents also died from the illness. She is not new to the equestrian world, having had horses and in summers taught at the pony club. She said that riding in the charity raceday was a long held ambition: "I've done nothing like this before. I've always wanted to though, this was a dream come true.

"I was drawn by the whole challenge - the training and the fundraising."

Debra is training doing circuits at Jack Berry House and riding at a yard in Malton with Dave Loughnane. In terms of fundraising she said she has several events coming up including a pub quiz on April 7 and barn dances. On April 1 she is holding a Yorkshire dialect evening at the Pickering Recreational Club with Adam Collier. There will be a pie and pea supper, with pies supplied by Auntie Anne's Bakery, and a "reet good raffle" with prizes including a meal for two and family days out. Tickets for the event are £10.

She said: "I couldn't do what Macmillan nurses and specialists do for cancer patients, but I can raise money to support them."

Ruth Carr, a local racehorse trainer from Stillington, said she has pledged to raise £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. She said: "I have really enjoyed being involved in the race for the last two years - providing horses - especially seeing the progress of Froot Atkins in 2014 who went from having never sat on a thoroughbred to finishing fourth on the big day.

"I found the atmosphere on race day very special and each riders story and association with Macmillan inspiring. Plenty of people have said I ought to be having a go and I've been making excuses for long enough - too fat, too busy, too unfit, too frightened. This year I'm 40 so it seems as good a time as any to bite the bullet."

In late February Ms Carr held a fashion show in the showrooms of Peter Thompson of York at Sutton-on-the-Forest. The event was attended by more than 100 local ladies, and it raised over £2,000. She followed this up with an online auction which finished March 23. People could bid on "family days out, pet portraits, a five per cent share in a racehorse for a year, lunch with AP McCoy at York in May, horse and riding wear, Robert Fuller prints, a top of the range power washer, an oriental rug and a visit to top sprint stallion Monsieur Bond for anyone with a broodmare."

Ms Carr added: "I have raised more than £8,500 so far and hope to exceed my target of £10,000. As an amateur rider I didn't ever ride at York so to have the chance to race again as a one off and at the same time contribute to the fantastic charity that Macmillan is makes me feel giddy and nervous at the same time."