Burning desire: former jockey Nathan Alison relaunches career as a fireman

Former apprentice jockey Nathan Alison is set to don a very different type of safety helmet in the near future as he is in the latter stages of an ambitious career change to become a firefighter.

The former 3lb claimer, who partnered 54 winners in a career that spanned a decade, has finally quit the saddle to pursue a new vocation with Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service in Newmarket.

This week, Alison joined 13 would-be firemen and women at RAF Wattisham in Norfolk to complete his training for his new role, which he plans to combine with his regular job of riding out for trainer Hugo Palmer.

Nathan Alison at Brighton in 2017Credit: Alan Crowhurst

At just five feet tall, Alison admits he is the smallest person on the two-week course but it does have some advantages. He said: "They are certainly putting us through our paces on this course, including lots of physical work and practice with hoses, but I'm enjoying it.

"I may be the smallest on the course and have to have my uniform especially made, but I reckon I will be handy in burning buildings as I would be able to get through windows others can't."

Alison had 553 rides in a career that started out with Jim Boyle in 2008 but last year decided on a change of career while he was still young enough. The 30-year-old said: "I didn't sit on a horse until I was 15 and I rode out my 7lb claim with Jim before I moved to Newmarket and joined William Haggas.

"There I found a better quality of horse and more opportunities and I rode a lot of winners at Somerville Lodge, including in some nice handicaps, but in the latter years it was a bit stop-start. Finally, a bit like Kieren Fox, I decided that enough was enough and I would hang up my race-riding boots and pursue something else."

Nathan Alison winning on Flippant at NewburyCredit: Mark Cranham

After drawing a blank for a while, It took a chance encounter at a non-racing event to trigger Alison's interest in his current role. He added: "We were at the Soapbox Derby that they had in Newmarket for the first time this year where Suffolk Fire & Rescue had a stand and my friend reckoned I should give it a go.

"They were looking for people and I thought I might be a bit small but they said I should apply anyway. I've gone through all the stages and when I've finished my training, the plan would be to ride out at Hugo's in the morning and be on call from 1pm in the afternoon until 6am in the morning."

On the responsibility of being on the front line of one of the emergency services. Alison added: "I've always liked helping people and it will be great to be a proper professional. It's a good challenge and very importantly keeps me active just like race-riding."

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