Steven Harrison, 28, was presented with the Griffins Richard Davis Achievement Award and a £2,500 cheque at Cheltenham Racecourse on Sunday, after successfully making the switch from being a jockey to become an established tree surgeon.

To win the trophy, the Cheveley Road resident had to beat six other former jockeys, including Ollie McPhail and Robert Biddlecombe.

He said: "I was speechless to find out I'd won. I know there are so many jockeys out there doing different things, I didn't think I stood a chance. The prize is going to be a huge help and will enable me to purchase some much-needed new equipment."

The award was set up by the Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme 12 years ago in memory of former national hunt jockey Richard Davis, who was planning for life out of the saddle before taking a fatal fall at Southwell in 1996.

During his nine years as an apprentice, Steven worked for trainers Roger Charlton, Alan Bailey and latterly Nick Littmoden, riding seven winners from 150 rides. Although retiring from the saddle in 2006, the freelance tree surgeon still rides out when time allows him for Mr Littmoden, who said: "Recognising that jockeys like Steven have already given to racing, I was happy to see him invest in additional skills and build an alternative future for himself. I was delighted to hear he had won this award."

Judging this year's award were Terry Boothby (Griffins Accountants), Ian Balding (Injured Jockey Fund trustee), Alice Murphy (Director of Care, IJF), Howard Wright (Racing Post), Andrew Chalk (JETS director), Josh Apiafi and Clare Hazell (Professional Jockeys Association).

Since JETS' inception in 1995, cash from jockeys' prize money and contributions from the IJF, have put more than £1 million into the scheme, which has helped more than 700 jockeys with career advice and training skills in order to gain employment after race riding.