A FORMER jockey who rode to victory in the Champion Hurdle and was the runner-up in two Grand Nationals has died at the age of 82.

Pat McCarron, from Darlington, was best known for his National rides on Freddie, who was runner-up two years in a row and was favourite for the 1967 race.

The former jockey, who went on to run a haulage company with his wife Maureen, died last week.

Originally from Northern Ireland, Mr McCarron was first put on a horse by his father, a riding school owner, at the age of three.

Aged 15, he moved to Middleham, in North Yorkshire, to be an apprentice for trainer Harry Blackshaw.

After moving south to Royston for several years, when he raced on the flat, having 44 winners, he returned to Middleham to start jump racing in 1961.

It was during his second stint at Middleham he met Maureen, and after marrying in 1963, the couple had two daughters, Tracey and Sally.

He went on to win the Champion Hurdle and Princess Royal Hurdle on Magic Court in 1964 and a year later won the Cheltenham Trial Hurdle on the same horse.

One of his best known rides was Freddie, who he rode to second place at the Grand National two years in a row.

He had a total of five rides at the national, with three on Freddie, one on Blond Warrior and one on Swan Shot, when he fell at Becher’s Brook.

And on one occasion he also rode around the famous Aintree course, alongside showjumper Harvey Smith, with a BBC camera to give viewers a rider’s view of the race.

Mrs McCarron said: “It hadn’t been done before. It was quite humourous and I think they both enjoyed it.”

His favourite courses were Wetherby and Cheltenham, and he also had a love of the big occasion.

He rode Freddie to victory in the Great Yorkshire Chase and Gallagher Gold Cup, as well as the Mildmay Memorial Chase in 1965, when he was presented with his trophy by the Queen Mother.

He had other big wins at local events, including the Durham National, at Sedgefield, and the Colonel Squeak steeplechase, at Wetherby.

He had a total of 244 wins over jumps before he was forced to retire in 1972 following a fall which left him with a third skull fracture.

Affected by epilepsy as a result of the injuries, Mr McCarron went on to successfully campaign for safer helmets and was involved in the Injured Jockey Fund.

Mrs McCarron said: “In those days it was so different to what it’s like now.

“He loved it though, it was his life.”

She added: “It was sad when he had to retire. In those days helmets were like papier mache and if you fell, they crumpled.

“When he was taken to hospital in Newcastle the specialist was concerned about the safety so they got together and he advised on getting a stronger helmet.

“He appeared on TV to promote it and and they did manage to get more safety brought in.

“He was disappointed not to ride again but we coped.”

His funeral takes place at St Augustine’s, in Darlington, at 12.45pm on Friday, March 20.