A JOCKEY who won the Grand National has swapped his racing silks for a red coat to join a North-East hunt.

Scottish-born Ryan Mania, 25, who rode Auroras Encore to victory two years ago, is the new kennel huntsman at the Braes of Derwent Hunt.

Mania, from Galashiels, who came in at 66-1, announced his retirement from horse-racing citing an ongoing battle with his weight as the main reason for his decision.

He said: “Being six feet tall, it’s never been easy to achieve the weight.”

His position is based in Whittonstall, on the border of Northumberland and County Durham, and means he is able to follow a passion he has enjoyed for years.

He said: “My love of hunting came from working with point-to-pointers.

“In order to qualify and keep them fit we used to take them hunting twice a week.”

Mania’s appointment is one of a number of management changes the hunt, which dates back to 1854, has made this season.

Bill Gascoigne, who has been appointed chairman, said: “We’ve had a tremendously successful year with many newcomers keen to take up the reins and try hunting.

“We have access to some of the North-East’s most beautiful countryside through the generosity of a great number of landowners and farmers across Northumberland and Durham. Next season promises to be even better.”

Fox hunting was outlawed ten years ago and now, like all other hunts, the Braes of Derwent, in order to operate within the law, follow trails laid by hunt staff prior to meetings.