A TWELVE-year-old boy from Coggeshall will be joining dozens of other mini-jockeys to race Shetland ponies around Hylands Park as part of the Duke of Essex Grand Prix Polo event this weekend.
Children under 14 and below 5ft tall will be competing in as many as ten races, some with up to six jumps in a Grand National style event on ponies.
The competition, which raises money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, will be a warm-up for the main annual polo event held at Hylands Park, Chelmsford.
Oli Stammers told the Chronicle: "When I race I feel like a professional. The feeling you get is amazing and I feel good giving to children stuck in a bed when I'm out doing things.
"I've been riding since I was less than a year old, so I have had a lot of experience losing – and winning is a lot better.
"I hope I can win. I've got a good pony, so I think I can do well. The important thing when racing is to get a good start and not to get left behind, otherwise you have to push into the bridle. I try to do a Frankie Dettori jump when I do win."
The Honywood School pupil has attended the British Racing School in Newmarket for training and will participate in this year's summer's camp.
He has also competed at the East Anglian Point-to-Point, Fakenham racecourse and came second at a Cheltenham Pony Club meeting and won at the Suffolk Show.
Oli's mother Katie Fuller, 39, said: "We're so proud of him,. He's done so well and is such a good little jockey.
"Racing is now his main goal. He constantly studies the form, has the television on racing and studies fitness and feeding programmes to improve his pony.
"They have all the same equipment as adult jockeys – goggles, silks, and they parade the ponies around the paddock like the professionals do, so it's like a mini-Grand National.
"I want to give a special mention to his sister Lucy, who helps out so much with grooming and preparation for races.
"Honeywood School have been great too, as they've been very supportive when he's had to go all over the country for races."
Ponies can still be sponsored for the 'dinky derby' by going to www.dukeofessexpolo.co.uk.
