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photo: David Dew

Leading young lady Rider Gina Andrews is the latest subject of 'Pilots in Profile'.

Georgina (Gina) Andrews is one of the most promising lady riders to emerge on the scene in recent years, and is making her mark under Rules as well as between the flags. (Her recovery from a horrendous blunder by Viable at Huntingdon recently must rate as one of the most outstanding of the season). She won the 2008 Princess Royal trophy for the leading U21 female rider, and last season finished fifth in the national championship. At the start of this season she had ridden 20 Point-to-Point winners. She was extremely successful in pony races and was runner-up in the 2006 13.2 & under national final at Aintree.

Date of birth: 3 February 1992

Marital status: Single.

Job or profession: I work at home with the horses, but last summer I worked in Newmarket for David Elsworth and also rode out for Walter Swinburn.

Are you from a racing background? If not, how did you get started in Point-to-Pointing? I have been involved with horses and racing all my life! Dad (Simon) won the Liverpool Fox Hunters' in 1988, and mum (Joanna, nee Hodge) rode Point-to-Point winners, while my second cousin is the former managing director at Newmarket, Lisa Hancock, whose father Hunter Rowe also won at Aintree, in 1969.

What was your first ride in public? Moving Earth at Cottenham, one week after my 16th birthday.

First winner - name the horse, Owner & Trainer, the date & the course: It was my first ride, Moving Earth, owned by Charlie Ward and trained by my dad, on 10 February 2008. I was excited and nervous at the same time! He was a quirky horse who sometimes refused to start, so Charlie came to the start and waved a plastic bag at him to get him to go! We were last jumping the first fence, but after a circuit we were about 20 lengths clear, and I never saw another horse.

Apart from the first winner, what has been your most memorable ride? Probably when I won the Fernie Gold Cup (4m Mixed Open) on Parsonhumfrywebber in 2008. I reckon I was nearly a fence behind at one point!

Is there a ride you look back on and think "could have done better?" There are plenty! But that's how you learn.

For which trainers to you mainly ride? In Point-to-Points, apart from dad's horses I've ridden for Nigel Bloom, Nigel Padfield, William Wales and Alan Hill, while under Rules I ride for Pam Sly.

Who has been most influential on your riding career so far? My parents, who've helped and supported me all along, right from the time when I started pony racing.

Which are your favourite courses? And for what reasons? Horseheath, where the course is always immaculate and the ground level. I also enjoy riding round Fakenham, where I had my first Hunter Chase winner.

What car do you drive? I failed my test twice - once for being in the wrong lane and the second time for going too slowly! - but passed about three weeks ago, so now I've got the car I wanted, a VW Golf.

Name your perfect night in and perfect night out: In is just watching TV - I'm a big soaps fan! Out is any sort of party!

Where do you like to go on holiday? Anywhere in the sun!

Who would be your ideal travelling companions to the races? Laura and Charity, with whom I've been friends for years. We always have a good laugh.

What's currently on your iPod? Jay Z, Jay Sean, Beyonce, Kesha, Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams, Michael Buble, Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Akon, Cheryl Cole, David Guetta - the list could go on and on!

What are your favourite films and TV programmes? Films are "Bridget Jones," "The Holiday Hangover," "Seabiscuit," "American Pie" and "How to Lose A Guy In Ten Days." On TV it's Eastenders, Emmerdale, Corrie and Waterloo Road.

Who are your biggest heroes in racing? Ruby Walsh - I don't think there's anyone better.

Which particular horse (in any discipline) would you like to ride? Ben Maher's showjumper Robin Hood, while in racing, it would have to be the Nicky Henderson-trained Punchestowns.

Apart from race-riding, in what other sports do you participate? I used to play hockey and netball at school, but I don't have time for anything else apart from racing now.

Do you have any regrets in your riding career to date? No, I've been very lucky so far.

What ambitions do you have in racing? To keep riding winners, and to be national ladies' Point-to-Point champion in the future.

What is your opinion on December racing? I don't have a problem with it, but I wouldn't want to start any earlier than we did this year.

What are your opinions on the changes in Point-to-Pointing in recent years, and what changes do you think would benefit the sport in the future? Allowing four-year-olds to run has been really good, but on the downside the increase in entry fees hasn't been the best idea, especially as the prize money hasn't increased. I also think Pointing would benefit if all tracks, not just some, could provide well-prepared ground.

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