3 minute read

Lyle Hewitson has been discharged from hospital after suffering a broken collar bone in a nasty fall at Fairview on Saturday after his mount Gitano Giant broke down.

The leading apprentice now faces a race against time to be ready in time to ride in the Vodacom Durban July.

However, he did not sound optimistic and said, “I will use all means possible to heal it better and faster but I will only come back when strong enough and the July is only six weeks away.

Hewitson had his first ride in the professional ranks on March 6 last year and has already notched up 177 winners, including one overseas.

He had a ride in last year’s July, setting the pace on Dynamic and finishing a 3,95 length 12th.

He has wrapped up this year’s SA Apprentice Championships already, having had 103 winners this season, 76 clear of joint second-placed Eric Saziso Ngwane and Diego de Gouveia.

He was also seven clear of Callan Murray, on 36 winners to 29, when the latter ended his apprenticeship earlier in the season.