Vale Ann Belcham

Ann Belcham, one of the pioneering females in thoroughbred horse training in New Zealand and a key early influence on the riding career of racing legend Linda Jones, has passed away.

Belcham, who also trained under her maiden name Bradley, trained with success initially in Paeroa and then Te Rapa, where she has a string of handy horses.

She died in Victoria last weekend, aged 93.

Not only was she a successful trainer but the woman who taught Linda Jones to ride before Jones went on to become the first flagbearers for female jockeys in New Zealand and our first female superstar of the saddle.

“Ann was a wonderful horsewoman,” remembered Jones from her Sunshine Coast home yesterday.

“She was so tough and even rode in rodeos herself when she was young and could ride anything.

“I remember going to her farm and riding horses when I was 12, up hills flat out with only a sack on their back, no saddle.

“She had a huge influence on my career and taught me so much and I’m sad to hear of her passing.”

Ann has spent the last 12 years living in Victoria to be closer to her daughter Sarah Moody, the wife of training great Peter Moody.

“Mum loved her horses and loved being part of Moody Racing, she would ask me for a list of what horses we had racing for every meeting,” Sarah Moody said.
“She also loved country music and playing her guitar.”

Sarah Moody said her mother, who had reverted to her maiden name years ago, passed away peacefully in her sleep. - Michael Guerin