Meet the team
We're here to listen to your employment concerns and guide you through your options.
George McGrath
Chief Executive
George started working in racing when he was 14. He was apprentice to Ian Balding and his first ride was in the Queens silks, but a love of pies and a lack of direction meant this was short-lived! After working as a headman, assistant trainer and travelling headman he became Chief Executive of NARS. He enjoys cooking and Jamie Oliver is his favourite chef – however his missus says it’s not Jamie’s 30-minute meals but George’s 2-hour meals! He is a keen golfer with an ambition to get to a single figure handicap, from his current 11.
Georgina Edgecombe
Office Manager
Georgina has worked in various roles before joining NARS. From point to point and Godolphin retraining where she worked for 6 years reschooling ex racehorses to find new career paths after their time in racing had come to an end, to more office based roles providing secretarial support.
Georgina has also obtained her Extended National Diploma in Applied Forensic Science & Law.
Kevin Parsons
Union Learn Project Manager & Sports Coordinator
Kevin spent seventeen years in the industry in various roles before joining NARS where he now heads up our Union Learn project, helping many staff to achieve qualifications and improve their CV’s. It has however been a while since he last rode out, his love of food and dodging the gym being the main reason.
Executive council
The Executive Council is the governing and managing body of NARS. George, the Chief Executive, reports to and takes direction from the council.
If you would like to have your say about how NARS is run, you can put your name forward to be elected. Elections take place every 2 years; only full members of NARS can be elected and membership of the Executive Council will be for a 2 year period.
There are 4 regions and 3 allocated seats for each region. There is also a seat reserved for women and one for ethnic minorities.
The Executive Council must meet at least 4 times per year.
Greg Davis
Greg started in racing at 16 years old and was apprentice to the late Derek Kent. Aspirations of being a jockey were curtailed swiftly by “ability” and genes as he grew in height rapidly. In 1984 a travelling head lads job became available in Jimmy Faxes yard. A very worthwhile 2 years spent there then saw him take his Class 1 HGV license and move to Jim Ratcliffe horse transport in Newmarket. In 1989 he worked for John Gosden in Stanley House Stables, as horsebox driver, where he stayed for 10 years. Between 1999 and 2005 he had my only spell out of racing since leaving school when he went to drive for Turners haulage. In 2005 he began working for Godolphin as a horsebox driver where he is still employed. Greg is passionate about the racing industry generally and wishes to see standards constantly improve where possible. He enjoys contributing to the NARS quest to raise maintain and improve the working standards for racing staff throughout the country.
Claudia Fisher
Claudia has worked in racing at the “coal face” since the age of 18, and subsequently spent 13 years working in PR and Marketing for Arena Leisure, when under the ownership of Trevor Hemmings. On moving to Newmarket, she spent 7 years in fundraising and communications for Racing Welfare before becoming self-employed from 2007 – 2016, working in a range of racing related positions. At the same time, sh rode out first lot and kept a horse in training. After 5 years in HR and Health and Safety for Luca Cumani, she is now with Amy Murphy Racing carrying out a similar role.
Louisa Allen
Louisa has been Head girl at Jim Boyle’s in Epsom for 15 years. When she’s not working, she can be found retraining her ex-racehorse Victor. He is her money pit as her partner says. Her response is that if he continues to say this Victor will stay but her partner might not!
Richard Farmer
Richard is a work rider for Jim Boyle in Epsom and has been there for 15 years. He’s ace at poker — pun intended and would love to go to Vegas with a big wedge of cash and not worry about losing it! After that his next loves are Kronenbourg and food — any and lots!
Jemma Marshall
Jemma Marshall is the chair for the Lambourn regional committee, she has also successfully helped stage the AGM there. Jemma also organises the Lambourn football and pool competitions. She works for Tom Wards and has ridden over 73 winners in her career.
Pete McCulloch
Pete works for Hugo Palmer in Newmarket and lists his hobbies as beer and golf and depending on the combination they are taken in his handicap differs! He swears his golf is better than George’s.
John-Ross Burdon
John-Ross has worked as head lad for Andrew Balding for over 3 years having spent 15+ years in Newmarket and a winter in Australia previously for trainers such as Henry Cecil, Roger Varian and Chris Waller.
Shaun Johnson
Shaun started working in racing in 1996 and since 2017 has worked for Lycetts team champion winners Kubler racing as their transport manager. He has been on the NARS Lambourn committee since it was formed and am proud to say we have improved many aspects of working in racing in the area.
Julia Bennet
Julia Bennet has been on the executive committee for a few years now and recently joined the Racecourse Inspectors team. After many years working as a travelling head girl, she has taken on a more admin based role in racing. She remains a strong advocate for all racing staff. Her weekends when not racing revolve around open water swimming, whitewater kayaking without swimming, and looking after her beloved rescue dogs.
Lynda Lewis
Lynda’s first job in racing was at 18 years old before working in a well know book makers as relief assistant manager. Lynda then came back to Newmarket when she was 25 years old. She has worked in and out of the industry whilst bringing up her daughter and she obtained four diplomas in Health and Social studies. In a local nursing home Lynda was the union steward and health and safety representative. Lynda has worked for several trainers and has held various roles within the industry, but after a few years she realised she couldn’t ride one side of a racehorse and was more suited to show jumping and classical riding. Lynda currently works for William Haggas and she loves being part of his team, albeit a small part.
Mark Ellwood
Mark is based with Nick Alexander in Kinneston, Scotland and no longer has hobbies or interests as he is a new Dad! Before that he enjoyed travelling and has a deep love for a camper van.
Racecourse inspectors
Our 10 racecourse inspectors travel across the UK to inspect all racecourses, flat and jumps from a racing staff perspective. All inspectors currently work in the industry and are well versed in the role of travelling staff. The work the inspectors have put in to our Star Ratings for racecourses has proved to be invaluable. We meet twice a year for training and their feedback to NARS is vital to our success.
If you would be interested in joining this team, please email us your CV.
Greg Davis
Greg drives for Godolphin, he is based is Newmarket and has been there since 2005. Greg says the older he gets the faster he was! He won the Stable Staff cross country race at Cheltenham Festival in 1984, quick shower then led up one ridden by Mr R Dunwoody just before he turned professional. And yes, the photos are in black and white!
Mark Ellwood
Mark is based with Nick Alexander in Kinneston, Scotland and no longer has hobbies or interests as he is a new Dad! Before that he enjoyed travelling and has a deep love for a camper van.
Pete McCulloch
Pete works for Hugo Palmer in Newmarket and lists his hobbies as beer and golf and depending on the combination they are used in his handicap differs — He is sometimes referred to as The judge!
Cheryl Powell
I have worked with horses for over 15 years and in racing for about 12 years and have been a travelling head person for about 10 of them years. I enjoy going racing and meeting different people at the races and seeing the hardwork put in at home come to light on the track. My other interests outside of racing is photography, reading, exploring new places and spending time with my family, friends and my dog.
Helen Halliwell
I’ve always had a passion for horses and grew up with having my own horse before coming into racing over 20 years ago. I’m travelling head girl at Pegasus stables for James Fanshawe for whom I’ve worked for over 18 years and have rehomed several of his horses for their retirement.
Fran Brown
Fran has always been around horses. She started her racing life in the early eighties working for Denys Smith in the North. She then moved to Newmarket in the late eighties and worked for various trainers including Mick Ryan. All of her jobs were travelling roles and she has seen an awful lot of changes over the years. Fran also works part time at Nicky Richards Racing.
Sarah Guest
Sarah got into racing whilst still at school working in a point to point yard at the weekends. She has worked up the ranks to assistant trainer for John O’Shea where she has now been for the past 20 years. As assistant trainer she pays great attention to the welfare and training of both the horses and the staff. She helps staff through development and training to help them find their career in the sport.
Jo Meadowcroft
Jo has worked in racing since 2014 having previously worked in polo & hunting. Jo worked in national hunt yards as both a groom and travelling groom. Jo has her own retired racehorse who she is happy just having some fun on. She also enjoys running and hiking in her spare time and currently works as the 2nd travelling groom for Olly Murphy.
Sarah Peacock
Sarah was born and bred into racing with her father being a trainer and mother an amateur jockey. She also had a few amateur rides on the flat when she was younger. After working in yards and learning the ropes, for the last 8 years she been doing the head travelling role for Tom George National Hunt, but this year made the switch to travelling head for Hugo Palmer on the flat. Sarah found that within racing the travelling and going racing is where her passion lies.
Julia Bennet
Julia Bennet has been on the executive committee for a few years now and recently joined the Racecourse Inspectors team. After many years working as a travelling head girl, she has taken on a more admin based role in racing. She remains a strong advocate for all racing staff. Her weekends when not racing revolve around open water swimming, whitewater kayaking without swimming, and looking after her beloved rescue dogs.
National trustees
To safeguard the interests of NARS, its assets are invested in the joint names of the Trustees. It is down to the Executive Council as to how these assets are dealt with.