HORSE RACING: A Stourport teenager is emerging as one to watch in horse racing after showing potential in his jockey training.

Darren Jones, 17, has continued his apprenticeship with Herefordshire-based champion trainer Venetia Williams after catching the eye at Newmarket Racing School.

Jones' love of horses and sheer hard work earned him apprentice jockey of the year from the many eight-week courses run at the Cambridgeshire venue.

The former Stourport High School pupil was presented with a silver plated jockey's whip at Newbury as a result and looks to be a real find for the sport's future.

Williams was so impressed she recruited Jones to work at her Kings Caple stables at Ross-on-Wye where he looks after the horses and learns his trade.

Jones' mother Diane said: "Darren started riding when he was six and from then on that's what he has lived for. He absolutely loves it.

"They are on about putting him in point-to-point races next season which will be the first step to him becoming a jockey.

"He has to keep his weight down but it's never a problem as he is naturally slim."