A former jump jockey has received an award after making a new career as a firefighter.

Gary Crone, 31, of Ancholme Close, Didcot, joined Oxfordshire Fire Service after failing to achieve his ambition of becoming a top-flight jockey.

The unusual career change earned him a special racing industry award recognising his effort and initiative in developing a new career.

The award was presented by the Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme - Jets - which advises Jockeys who decide to start a new job.

Mr Crone started in racing as a stable lad in Sussex and went on to achieve modest success as a national hunt jockey.

He doubled as a jockey and worked in the stables of trainer Andy Turnell at East Hendred, near Wantage, before becoming head lad for Wantage trainer David Gandolfo, where his wife Louise is travelling head girl.

Mr Crone said: "The expert career advice I received from the Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme was a great help in making what was a major career change to the fire service."

The annual career development prizes, which are worth £500, were established six years ago by Jets in memory of the late Richard Davis who suffered a fatal race fall in 1996.

Mr Crone, who is now based at Rewley Road fire station, in the centre of Oxford, said he planned to put his prize towards buying a computer.

Jets career coach Dana Mellor said: "The calibre of candidates for these awards just gets higher and higher every year.

"We are particularly pleased the scheme has been able to help them in such a wide variety of chosen careers."

The non-profit making scheme is financed by jockeys' prize money deductions and donations from the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Jets has helped more than 450 current and former jockeys to acquire new skills. More than 40 per cent have moved on from race riding -- because of injury or by choice -- to establish new careers.

The awards were presented at Cheltenham Racecourse by Terry Boothby of the sponsors, Newbury-based chartered accountants and business development consultants Griffins, following the Jets Handicap Hurdle race.