FORMER jockey James Diment, who is now a partner in a Malvern commercial landscaping business, has been shortlisted for a major career development award. Presented by the Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme, it rewards jockeys for their initiative, effort and forethought in developing a new career after race riding, something which often comes all too early in the face of injury risks and average retirement ages in the early 30s.

Thirty-three-year-old Mr Diment from Peopleton, near Pershore, is one of nine to have been shortlisted for the Griffins Richard Davis Achievement Award, worth £3,000, which goes to the jockey (or former jockey) judged to have achieved the most in developing a second career. He has already been nominated for the award once before (in 2011) and, as such, is one of a few of those shortlisted to have put in a repeat application.

Mr Diment rode as a jump jockey from 2005-9, riding more than 50 winners as an amateur and later a professional.

On his retirement from riding, he trained in the operation of plant machinery and chainsaws, trailer towing and first aid.

Armed with these and marketing training and career coaching with JETS, he has been able to grow Ecological Landscape over the last few years into a thriving business, along with two other partners his brother Tom Diment and Keith Julier.

He said: “Five years old, Ecological Landscape is now firmly established and we are booked up nine months ahead. Our customers have included county councils, business and retail parks, racecourses, schools, and Eng-lish Heritage and we have worked on some massive commercial projects and have worked at some lovely properties such as Raymond Blanc’s and Rowan Atkinson’s.”

This will be the 18th year of the Griffins Richard Davis Awards, the annual career development honours established by the Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme in memory of the late Richard Davis who had started planning for his future before his fatal race fall in 1996. The 2013 winners will be announced on Sunday, November 17, when they will be presented with their awards in an official paddock presentation before racing at Cheltenham.