RACING Welfare has announced the match-ups for the William Hill Racing Staff Boxing Night on Saturday at York Racecourse.

The event features a cast of boxers hailing from the Yorkshire racing centres of Middleham and Malton.

Sponsored by William Hill, the boxing night will see 22 competitors from the racing industry pit their fighting prowess against each other, following eight weeks of intensive training delivered by Ultra White Collar Boxing.

The list of boxers includes racing grooms, stud staff, farriers, racecourse employees and jockeys, all of whom are raising money for Racing Welfare as part of their participation.

The match-ups for the night are as follows:

Adele Mulrennan – Presenter/ITV Racing pundit vs Maiti Stirling – York Racecourse;

Ryan Batty – Farrier vs George Illingworth – Tim Easterby Racing;

Clifford Lee – Jockey vs Shane Gray – Jockey;

Gerasimos Minetos – Micky Hammond Racing vs David Cottle - Brian Ellison Racing;

Paul Mulrennan – Jockey vs Ryan Timby – John Quinn Racing;

Danny Cook – Jockey vs Matt Brown – Brian Ellison Racing;

David Gorman vs James Waggott – Micky Hammond Racing;

Carl Harwood – Sue Smith Racing vs Rory Bevin – Tim Easterby Racing;

Aidan Macdonald – Conditional Jockey Micky Hammond Racing vs Joshua James Scott – Nigel Tinkler Racing;

Robbie Fitzpatrick – Jockey vs Aiden Smithies – Apprentice Nigel Tinkler Racing;

Jacob Headley – Bond Thoroughbred Stud vs UWCB opponent;

Charlotte Lancaster – Elwick Stud Secretary vs UWCB opponent.

Speaking about his involvement with the event, stable jockey to Karl Burke, Clifford ‘Lightening’ Lee, said: “I have chosen to do the racing staff boxing to help out and raise money for Racing Welfare.

“They put a lot of time and effort to help people in many ways within the racing industry, so to give a little back will be a pleasure.”

Participant George ‘The Big Show’ Illingworth said he took inspiration from being a spectator at the 2018 event:

“I went to the Racing Staff Boxing event last time to watch my friend Roberto fight and I thought to myself that I wanted to participate in the next one,” he said.

“So here I am, fighting for a good cause as well as getting myself sort of fit in a way.”

Maiti ‘Mayhem’ Stirling highlighted the importance of Racing Welfare to racing as a reason to take part, saying: “Racing Welfare is a fantastic charity that helps all those involved in the racing industry.

“The boxing event seems like it will be a lot of fun. Improving my own fitness while raising money for charity seems like a win-win.”

Tickets for the event are on sale via the Racing Welfare’s website https://racingwelfare.co.uk/events/william-hill-racing-staff-boxing-night/ – the site also includes a full list of participants.

Racing Welfare provides a wide range of advice and guidance services, all of which are completely confidential and non-judgmental.

Support is available for a wide range of life’s challenges, including physical health, mental health, bereavement, careers advice, housing, money advice, illness, addiction, relationships and retirement. Racing Welfare’s services are nationally accessible with offices in all of the main racing centres and roving Welfare Officers covering the whole of the country.