North Yorkshire based racehorse trainer, Brian Ellison was born in newcastle upon Tyne on June 28th 1952, the same day that the red hot favorite, Souepi, won the Pitmen's Derby (Northumberland Plate) at newcastle's Gosforth Park racecourse.

Brian, the son of a Tyneside shipbuilder, has been involved with racehorses throughout his working life, but as a child Brian's passion was for football. Brian attended john Marley High school in Newcastle, and he boasts, "I was one of the best footballers in the school."

However, despite his talent, he was laughed at by the school careers advisor, who said that he would not make it as a professional footballer due to his height. It was then that he came up with the idea of becoming a jockey but again he was laughed at, due to the fact he had never even sat on a horse.

After his first riding lesson, he became more determined, and at the age of 15 Brian Ellison, only 4ft 9 and weighing 6st 5lb, left school to pursue a career in horse racing.

His first job was a stable lad for trainer Harry Blackshore. A job that paid only £4.50 per week, £4 of which was taken back for digs. At 17, Brian left to become a conditional jockey for Mr. R. Lamb and rode his first winner, Ponder Rock, at Hexham in only his second race.

Brian was regarded as a 'journeyman jockey' and admits that "most of the horses I rode were bad ones." His most memorable riding success came in 1976 when, in a handicap chase, he rode Tex to victory beating the legendary Tingle Creek.

It was at hexham in 1989 that Brian Ellison, having just taken out is licence as a racehorse trainer, trained his first winner. During his first year, he also continued with his riding but was then told by the racing authorities to make a decision - either train or ride, so at the age of 39, he ended his riding career with no regrets.

Brian trained his first racehorses from rented stables in Malton, North Yorkshire before moving to another rented property in Lanchester, Co Durham in 1995. At this time, he had fewer than 10 horses, with little success and looking back he recalls, "There have been times when I've been down to six or eight horses, wondering where the next winner's coming from. You have to stick at it and keep grafting away". Within 2 years of his move, the number of winners steadily increased, Brian became more noticed and the number of horses escalated to over 30.

5 years later, Brian was given the opportunity to purchase his own yard, back in Malton, and despite his love for his native North East, and the success he had achieved from the yard in Lanchester, to purchase his own yard was to fulfill Brian's long standing ambition. In August 2000, Brian Ellison and his string of 30 horses moved to Spring Cottage stables, Malton and it is here that Brian intends to stay.

His determination to succeed and his love of racehorses are evident for all to see and the relaxed, friendly atmosphere in and around Spring Cottage Stables is most welcoming to owners and their guests. Always one to look forward, Brian says "I can now walk around my yard and know that the quality of the horses I train is improving all the time. I want to be at full capacity, with horses that can win good races. Every winner is important to me. I don't care if it's flat or jumps, I just want winners. Winners make everyone happy, owners, staff and especially my bank manager! I am lucky in the fact I am supported by some good owners and I have a fantastic team behind me. especially my lovely wife, Claire and daughter Lorraine, my valuable assistant trainer."