Staff

Lucinda Russell

Trainer

Lucinda Russell started training in 1995 having previously evented, showjumped, trained point to pointers and been awarded a BSc Hons in Psychology at St Andrews University. Her ambition and drive has led the yard to be the leading national hunt yard in Scotland. She is proud of buying and producing fit athletic racehorses. and on a day to day basis she compiles the work list, rides out and does evening feeds.

'I love leading the team forward and watching the individual horses progress. We have built up strong teams of horses, owners, staff and jockeys, and with the solid foundation of experience, skill, determination and ambition I believe that the yard will thrive and grow.'

Peter Scudamore

Assistant Trainer

Peter Scudamore, Lucinda's partner, received an MBE for services to racing at the end of his riding career. When he retired he had been 8 times Champion jockey and his total of 1,678 winners made him the winning most National Hunt jockey of the time. He oversees the work on the gallops and schooling and forms a specific race plan for each horse.

'Lucinda has a recipe for success. Through her ethic of hard work she has led by example to form a happy team that produces top class racehorses. Combine that with the facilities and the excellent all weather gallop here at Arlary and you have winners'

Jaimie Duff

Assistant Trainer

Jaimie rode out at Arlary while still at school and joined in 1995, 17 years ago... which is more than half her lifetime! She became Assistant Trainer in 2000. Jaimie is responsible for planning the travel logisitics and the race day organisation. Jaimie often does the long distance travelling and will oversee their work if they are away from home.     

'I have worked here for many years and seen the yard progress and grow. I enjoy the travelling, my favourite racetracks are Cheltenham and Aintree because we have had some good winners there. I have a great working relationship with everyone and feel that we have built up a wonderful team of horses and staff.'

Alison White

Head Girl

Ali joined Arlary in 1999 and was promoted to head girl in 2000. She oversees all the yard's horses and staff. Ali is also a very competant horsewoman and works the horses well up the gallops. She has a great depth of veterinary knowledge and will administer veterinary care under the guidance of our vets.

Ali had a baby boy, Arthur, in Setember 2012 and is currently on maternity leave.

'I love the challenge of improving the horses and helping them fulfil their potential. It is great to see the yard move forward, the team strengthen and develop and for us to become the top yard in Scotland and see us right up there in the UK trainers table'

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Peter Buchanan

Jockey

Peter Buchanan came to Arlary in April 2004 having riden as an amateur in his native Ireland and as a conditional in England. He rode out his claim after 18 months at Arlary, and is now one of the top jockeys in the North. Pete will educate the young horses at home, and ride them in their fast work.

'I enjoy every aspect of the racing industry, especially the buzz of coming throught the finish line first. We have so many great horses in the yard and some very promising ones for the future.'

Mark Ellwood

Head Lad

Mark is one of our head lads, overseeing the fast work at home and also representing Lucinda at the races if she is not able to be there. Mark has ridden many point to point and hunter chase winners, and although now retired from race riding he still helps with the schooling of the horses. He is a proficient work rider and looked after the Albert Bartlett winner Brindisi Breeze.

''People say perfection is unobtainable, but here at Arlary we strive for it every day."

Tracy Anson

Racing Secretary

Tracy is our secretary and is a point of contact for owners. She will let all the owners know when their horses are entered and declared and will also set up ownership registration if required. As a PA to Lucinda and Scu she has a varied job description.

"Its exciting to come into the yard in the morning and find out what horses will be running. Especially when nearly every race day is a good one with nearly 90% of our runners being placed or winning this season"

Nick Orpwood

Trainee Assistant Trainer

A protege of Grand National winning trainer John Leadbetter, Nick has plenty of experience riding in point to points and as an amateur. He joined us in the summer of 2012 and will ride as an amateur under rules for us. In December 2012 Nick was promoted to trainee assistant trainer.

Mhairi Stewart

Part Time Secretary

Mhairi comes in part time and helps Tracy in the office. She is available in the office from 2pm as a point of owner contact. She brings with her a wide experience from a busy career in the public sector. 

 "Joining the young, dynamic and winning team here, all committed to the horses and to being the best, is a dream and a thrill.  It is fantastic coming into a busy yard, seeing the horses progress and the team go from strength to strength."

Eleanor Warren

Head Girl At Arlary

El is one of our Head Girls and is in charge of the yard at Arlary. She helps Ali administer veterinary care to the horses, uses the therapy machines on any horses that need it, does arrival forms, worming and vaccination programs, and arranges the field turn out order and clipping.

'I love watching all the young horses come into themselves and blossom into the racehorses that they are destined to be. The horses are always happy as there is such a variety of things for them to do to keep them entertained.'

Siobhan Carfray

Travelling Head Girl

Siobhan is our Travelling Head Girl. She helps Jaimie with the travelling logisitics and raceday production. When she is at home she helps Ali and El and Katie with the veterinary therapy.

'I enjoy driving the lorries, going racing and spending the day with the horses on a one to one basis. When i'm not racing I help manage the yard at Kilduff and do a bit of riding out too'

Jennifer Aitkin

Head Girl at Kilduff

Jenn worked at Arlary in 2005 and rejoined us in November 2010 as Kilduff Head Girl. She oversees the bottom yard with horses in training and those who are resting and recovering horses, working closely with the on site vets, Loch Leven Equine Vets.  

"I really enjoy seeing the recovering horses going from strength to strength at Kilduff, its a very rewarding place to work. As the yard increases in size so does the number in full training at Kilduff, and its great to see our horses go out and win."

Katie Whyte

Head Girl At Kilduff

Katie came here from school and has stayed ever since. She was a finalist of the Outstanding Achievement Award in the BHA Stud and Stable Staff Awards 2008. She oversees the top yard at Kilduff, riding out and overseeing the training of the horses there.  

'I enjoy going up the gallops and leading up the horses at the race meetings.'

Grant Cockburn

Conditional Jockey

Grant joined us in the Summer of 2009 having ridden with success in pony races. He held his amateur license until Spring 2011 when he turned conditional. As an amateur he partnered Quinder Spring to a six timer in point to points, winning the Wilkinson Sword for best under 21 grentleman point to point rider award. At home Grant schools the horses, helps with the breaking in and rides the horses in their fast work up the gallops. He spent part of the summer of 2012 riding for French trainer Emmanuel Clayeux

'I love every day at Arlary, helping to make the team as strong as it can be. Our drive and ambition reflects everyone who works here and makes the future very exciting. I am looking forward to the remainder of the season and helping add to our ever increasing list of winners'

Craig Nichol

Conditional Jockey

Craig joined us in the summer of 2010 having ridden out part time and done his work experience with us. He has ridden in point to point and rode his first winner on Badger Foot in March 2011. He is very good with the wayward horses and is adept at schooling. He spent a spell with Jim Bolger in the summer of 2012, and will ride as a conditional for us this season.

"I've really enjoyed riding in amateur races this past year and now I am looking to gain my licence to ride against professionals, I am looking forward to continuing the success of our yard"

Graham Watters

Conditional Jockey

Graham started full time at Arlary in Setember 2012. He rode in irish point to points, having over 200 rides, and 14 wins. He brings with him a wealth of exerience with young horses, and will ride as a conditional for the yard. He offers excellent value for his claim and should continue to be successful under rules.

Steven Fox

Amateur Jockey

Steven came to Arlary in January 2011 to ride work and progress onto taking out his jockeys license. He has plenty of experience having ridden out for Tim Vaughan and his uncle, Mark Mcniff. Having ridden over thirty winners pony racing he rode as an amateur in 2011/12. He rode his first winner in point to points on Badger Foot in 2011. He rode four winners under rules as an amateur and then five as a conditional jockey. Steven reverted to amateur in February 2013 and will ride in point to points and under rules.

"I'm really pleased with my progress this past year and the Arlary winners I've had the privilege of riding. I hope to keep this up by gaining my licence to ride against professionals and hopefully make a greater contribution to the yards success"

Rachael McDonald

Work Rider & Point to Point Jockey

Rachael has been here since the Summer of 2007 having come on work experience from school. She is an excellent work rider and helps school the horses. She has ridden point to point winners and took out her category A amateur license in 2012.

Lucy Henry

Work Rider

Lucy is a proficient jockey who worked part time for us in the summer of 2012 and then joined full time in the New Year 2013. She has three day evented and is excellent at working the horses on the flat as well as on the gallops. In the spring of 2013 she trained and rode her own point to pointer with some success. Lucy helps out when needed in the office as well as riding out.

Niall McAlinden

Rider & Farm Manager

Niall is from Northern Ireland and works at South Kilduff riding out, looking after the gallops and managing the farm.  He has a huge amount of experience working with horses and is particularly good at working and dealing with the youngsters.

Hamish Mcneill

Work Rider

Hamish is the late Campbell Gillies' cousin and he joined us in June 2012 having previously completed work experience at the yard. He has had a couple of rides in point to points and will continue to gain experience in point to points before taking out his category A license.

Lee Martin

Work Rider

Lee came to Arlary in December 2011 having completed work experience here in the summer. He is a good rider who is learning how to work the horses up the gallops and over fences. He helps with planning the preliminary conditioning training of the horses, adapting the length of time each horse spends on conditioning according to their progress.

Nicola Currie

Work Rider

Nicola has worked in showjumping yards and joined us in January 2012. This is her first job in racing but she is adapting well and rides to a good standard.

Rita Gillies

Assistant Yard Girl

Rita is Campbell's sister and she came to work for us full time in December 2012 having worked occassionally for us before then. She helps Katie and Jen at Kilduff and rides out Long Distance and Master Sebastian.

Erin Walker

Part Time Work Rider

Erin works here part time and is a very efficient reliable work rider. She also helps with the field turn out and will give Tracy a hand in the office if it is busy. 

'I love working with the racehorses and have done so for many years. Every day is something different and the whole team here works well together.'

Jamie Lyttle

Part Time Work Rider & Amateur Jockey

Jamie has three day evented in his native Ireland and has ridden out for a number of trainers over there. He rides for us at weekends and when his university lecture timetable allows. He is adept at schooling and working horses and holds his amateur license. He rode his first winner in point to points on Badger Foot in April 2011.

Mags Coward

Part Time Work Rider

Mags joined us part time in January 2013 to ride out and help on the yard. She has a wealth of experience, being former BHS Chairwoman Holly Coward's granddaughter and having her own equine business. She has evented, played polo, is an adocate of natural horsemanship and coaches all levels of riders, for more information see her web site www.magscoward.com

Lyndsay Allan

Part Time Work Rider

Lyndsay is at University studying business and began riding out for us at the beginning of 2013.  She rides out one day a week and one day at the weekend and events her own horses in her spare time.  She is also a keen follower of the point to points.  

Becky Starkey

Saturday Worker

Becky helps on both yards at the weekends and on her holidays from school.  She is in her final year and is hoping to increase her hours with us here when she finishes this June.  She works well on the yard and enjoys hacking and taking a few lots up the gallops.

Ewan Paterson

Yardman

Ewan lives on site with his family and is responsible for overall yard management of the two yards at Arlary and Kilduff. He keeps the gallops in working order - a particularly tricky job throughout the winter, does the majority of the tractor work, looks after the schooling grounds and fences and is in charge of the haylage and feed logisitics. 

David MacPhail

Yardman

David is responsible for overall yard management, general yardwork and pasture management at Arlary.  He is also in charge of the mucking out and bedding down of the stables in the back yard.

'I like the team spirit here and enjoy working around such relaxed and managable horses.'

David Watson

Part Time Yardman

David joined the team in 2011 as a part time yardman working a couple of hours twice a week. His hours have increased markedly since then and he is now a significant team member.  David works most mornings at Arlary and is incharge of mucking out and bedding down all the boxes in the front yard. 

Alan Paterson

Part Time Yardman

Alan helps out at Kilduff where he mucks out and assists with the farming. He is exceptionally reliable and nothing is too much trouble for him. This is Alan's first job with horses but having worked with stock before he is competant around them.

Steve Cottam

Part Time Driver

Steve is a member of the Dig In Syndicate and has helped with lorry driving on long trips to the races in the past.  Recently he has expressed an interest in taking on further responsibilty and is now becoming more involved with the preparation of the horses at the races and is helping around the yard at Arlary on quieter racing days. 

Recently retired, he is enjoying being able to spend more time with the horses and is also a dedicated foster carer. 

Stuart Huggan

Equine Dentist

Stuart Huggan is our equine dentist. He treats each horse on arrival, and those in training once every six months. Stuart is another from Hawick, and has always been involved in horses, riding  out until an accident made him change career. He trained in the United States and now trains his own students.