1989-1994 Roddy Armytage
Roderick Armytage, born in 1934, universally known as Roddy, spent his life in racing, starting out as assistant to Neville Crump at Warwick House, Middleham before moving on to assist Frank Cundell. He then launched his own training career at Nelson House, East Ilsley near Lambourn where he spent 26 successful years. He married Susan (nee Whitehead), an international showjumper, and they had two children, Marcus, born in Oxford on 17th April 1964, and Gee, who were both accomplished jockeys, Marcus winning the 1990 Grand National on Mr Frisk for owner Harry Duffey. Gee rode many winners for her father, particularly when he moved to North Yorkshire. His first winner, in August 1962, was Fire Raiser ridden by Terry Biddlecombe. He enjoyed his most successful season in 1971-72 when he notched up 37 winners. His best horse during his time in East Ilsley was Barona who won consecutive Scottish Grand Nationals in 1975 and 1976. In addition, Roddy won the Tingle Creek at Sandown, the Feltham Chase and the Foxhunters. In 1989 Roddy sold Nelson House Stables to Simon Sherwood and relocated to Brough Farm on the edge of Middleham. He trained 8 runners in his first year at Brough Farm, and 8 and 9 for each of the next two years, but then numbers began to decline, 6 in 1992, 5 in 1993, and by 1994 he was down to 4 and knew that the time was right for him to retire at the age of 59.
His best horse during his 6 years at Brough Farm was Merry Master who daughter Gee rode to victory on 10 occasions, and it provided Roddy with his last winner in a race run in his honour, the Roddy Armytage Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Monday 30th May 1994. He suffered from Multiple System Atrophy, a rare degenerative neurological disorder and sadly died on 31st August 2014 aged 80.
1975 Scottish Grand National BARONA 33/1 owned by Colonel Bill Whitbread, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Paul Kelleway
1976 Scottish Grand National BARONA 12/1 owned by Colonel Bill Whitbread, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Paul Kelleway
1990 Levy Board Stakes National Hunt Flat race at Carlisle MERRY MASTER 6/1 owned by G Lansbury, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Gee Armytage
1991 Middleham Novices Hurdle at Catterick MERRY MASTER 7/2 owned by G Lansbury, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Gee Armytage
1991 Matts Bank Novices Hurdle at Newcastle MERRY MASTER 13/8 fav owned by G Lansbury, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Gee Armytage
1991 Two Turtle Doves Novices Chase at Carlisle MERRY MASTER 5/1 owned by G Lansbury, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Gee Armytage
1991 Bet with Tote Novices Chase at Carlisle MERRY MASTER 15/8 fav owned by G Lansbury, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Gee Armytage
1992 Edinburgh Woollen Mill Novices Chase at Carlisle MERRY MASTER 9/4 fav owned by G Lansbury, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Gee Armytage
1992 Askham Richard Handicap Chase at Wetherby MERRY MASTER 9/2 owned by G Lansbury, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Gee Armytage
1992 Go Racing in Yorkshire Handicap Chase at Wetherby MERRY MASTER 6/4 fav owned by G Lansbury, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Gee Armytage
1992 Wharf Handicap Chase at Wetherby MERRY MASTER 13/8 fav owned by G Lansbury, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Gee Armytage
1994 Roddy Armytage Handicap Chase at Wetherby MERRY MASTER 11/8 fav owned by G Lansbury, trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Gee Armytage
1995-1996 Kate Milligan
Kate Mary Milligan, born in Scotland in 1960 into a family of 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls, travelled to Middleham to work for Neville Crump at Warwick House. She loved working with horses and rode as an amateur under both codes, although she was better known as a successful event rider, qualifying for the British Novice Championship Finals. In 1989 she began training as a permit-holder, basing herself on Kirkgate, sending out her first winner, Scandalous Rumour at Musselburgh in the Harperrig Novices Hurdle on 23rd January 1989 and she achieved two more winners before deciding to join Mick Hammond, who was then based at Tupgill. She was assistant to Micky Hammond for 4 years, but in the 1995-1996 season she successfully applied for a public trainers licence and began training from Brough Farm with 14 horses, replacing Roddy Armytage. She spent a further year at Brough Farm, training a string of 15 horses, although the year proved to be a disappointment for her, notching up just 3 wins, although her horses were placed on 18 occasions. She was described as a very good stockwoman and a brilliant character by more than one jockey who rode regularly for her, although everyone said that she insisted she wanted things to be done right in an old fashioned-sense, which was probably instilled into her during her time spent with Neville Crump. Unfortunately, she suffered from multiple sclerosis, although the disease did not dampen her spirit, but it did begin to take its toll on her towards the end of her career. By 1997 she had transferred her string of 15 to Fell View stables in East Witton.
1989 Harperrig Novices Hurdle at Musselburgh SCANDALOUS RUMOUR 9/2 owned by Mrs J M Milligan, trained by Miss Kate Milligan and ridden by S Turner
1995 Robson Brown maiden Chase at Hexham MISTI HUNTER 2/1 owned by J N Hinchliffe, trained by Kate Milligan and ridden by Richard Guest
1995 Hucknall Selling Hurdle at Nottingham JOYRIDER 6/1 owned by The Joyriders, trained by Kate Milligan and ridden by Richard Guest
1995 Raffyard House Selling Hurdle at Catterick JOYRIDER 4/6 fav owned by The Joyriders, trained by Kate Milligan and ridden by Richard Guest
2017-2020 Mrs Julia Brooke
Julia Brooke, mother of Henry and Danny, trained point to point winners, but in 2017 she applied for a dual trainer's licence and set off on her career as a fully fledged trainer at Brough Farm, Middleham. Her assistant was younger son Danny, and she continued to hold the licence until 2022, when she then handed the licence to Danny and became his assistant.
2020-present Danny Brooke
Danny Brooke, younger son of Julia Brooke, along with his elder brother Henry Brooke, were introduced to horses and ponies from a very early age and often competed in showjumping events, took part in hunting, and contested Pony Club races. He became assistant trainer to his mother at Brough Farm in 2017, when she held a dual trainers licence, having also trained point to point winners. In 2020 Danny applied for a licence in his own right and was successfully granted it just before the age of 22. He has trained at Brough Farm for the past 3 years and is ably assisted by his mother in a role reversal.
2022Recovery Connection Enterprises of Middlesbrough Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield SONNING 15/8 fav trained by Danny Brooke and ridden by Henry Brooke
2022 Athelstageford Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh SONNING 100/30 trained by Danny Brooke and ridden by Henry Brooke
2022 Brian Waller Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield SILKSTONE 13/8 trained by Danny Brooke and ridden by Emma Smith-Chaston
2023 Racing TV Handicap Chase at Ayr ROCCO STORM 5/2 trained by Danny Brooke and ridden by Connor O’Farrell
