Kerrin McEvoy Sculpture
ABOUT THE PROJECT
KERRIN MCEVOY
Kerrin McEvoy was born and raised in Streaky Bay and comes from a family with a rich racing history. His father, Phillip, was a jockey, his grandfather, Bill Holland, was a jockey and trainer, and was integral in the start of his racing career and his passion for horses and his uncle Tony McEvoy is a well regarded A class trainer in the racing industry.
Kerrin from a young boy knew he wanted to be a jockey. His passion, drive and tenacity has driven him to become one of the best jockeys in the country, and an inspiration to young country jockeys.
Kerrin has won the highest accolades in his sport. To date (2022) Kerrin has won three Melbourne Cups - the biggest horse racing event in Australia. Kerrin's first Melbourne Cup win was in 2000 on "Brew" (trained by Mike Moroney), where at age 20, he became the second youngest jockey to ever win "The Big One". After scoring four wins at Caulfield on Dubai Racing Club Cup Day, and then third in the 2002 Melbourne Cup on "Bee Keeper", Godolphin offered Kerrin a 6 week stint in Dubai where he won the UAE 1000 Guineas, riding “Mezza Soprano” to victory. This led to Kerrin's international career with the Godolphin stable in Dubai and England.
In 2004 he won the group 1 prestigious English St Leger at Doncaster on 'Rule of Law' from the Godolphin stable.
This was one of 10 group 1 victories he amassed whilst in Europe.
Kerrin returned to Australia in 2008, continuing with Godolphin in their Australian racing operations, where he amassed 20 Group 1 successes, including the 2008 Caulfield Cup on “All the Good '' and the 2011 Golden Slipper on “Sepoy”. In 2014 he announced his separation from the Godolphin stable and became a freelance rider.
In 2016 Kerrin had his second win at the famous Melbourne Cup, this time on "Almandin" (owned by Lloyd Williams). In 2017 he won the inaugural Everest Race on "Redzel" (trained by Peter and Paul Snowden).
One of Kerrin’s personal career highlights occurred in 2017 when he was recognised by his peers, and inducted into the South Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
In 2018 Kerrin won the Everest again on “Redzel”and just 3 weeks later went on to win his third Melbourne Cup on Godolphin's "Cross Counter" (trained by Charlie Appleby). In 2020 Kerrin won his third Everest on “Classique Legend” (trained by Les Bridge) .
As at March 2022, Kerrin has ridden almost 2,100 winners, 434 of which are group and listed races, including 79 group one successes.
Kerrin Mcevoy Horse Jockey Profile - Stats,News,Runners | Racing and Sports
Kerrin About - Family and Rides
THE FUNDRAISING
The community of Streaky Bay and surrounds rallied around to support the sculpture project, enabling the committee to raise the required funds within 18 months! Two major fundraising events were held in Kerrin’s home town of Streaky Bay with the remaining funds coming from donations and Local Government.
Kerrin McEvoy Sculpture Auction Night - Raised $30K
As part of the Melbourne Cup Tour a Dinner and Auction night was held in August 2019. Kerrin and Cathy McEvoy made a huge effort to attend the night, and they both entertained the crowd at dinner as they were interviewed by renown race caller, Terry McAuliffe.
Attendees were treated with a beautiful four course meal by the Streaky Bay Hotel and renown guest chef Tony Ford (Boston Bay Wines Cellar Door)
A very generous quantity of Auction items were donated from all over the Eyre Peninsula and broader South Australia. The most prized of all donated auction items were the four Kerrin McEvoy souvenir pieces, which were generously donated by the McEvoy Family. These items included framed Photos, Saddle Cloths, Silks, and even the Redzel Saddle which was used by Kerrin in one of his Everest Wins.
Dancing Stars of Streaky Bay - Raised $32K
A take off of the “Dancing with the Stars” TV Program, this fun fundraiser saw local celebrities, paired up as dancers and rehearse a dance to perform on the night. The event was streamed live on Facebook enabling viewers all over Australia and further abroad, as far as Brazil, to watch our local celebrities dance. Attendees and live stream viewers, donated generously in support of the dancers they thought performed the best on the night.
Donations $30K
Local community members, businesses and other supporters of the cause, generously donated $30,000 via outright donations and small community fundraisers.
State Funding - Liberal State Government $35K
The State Government provided the last piece of the funding with Premier Steven Marshall coming to Streaky Bay to present a cheque to the committee for $35,000.
THE STATUE
Australia is a nation that honours its heroes and in Streaky Bay this is exactly what we sought to do - honour our hometown hero Kerrin McEvoy for his outstanding contribution to thoroughbred racing in Australia and Internationally.
Members of the Streaky Bay community, established a committee with the purpose of raising funds and erecting a life-size bronze statue of Kerrin McEvoy. This statue was placed proudly on the Streaky Bay Foreshore in celebration of his sporting achievements in the thoroughbred racing, where it was unveiled on 27th March 2022.
The bronze statue is a life-size replica of Kerrin with saddle and riding gear. The statue was created by the renowned and talented bronze artist, Ken Martin.
The statue creates a point of interest for both locals and visitors and serves as a monument of pride within the town, recognising Kerrin's achievements and his contribution to putting Streaky Bay and Country Racing on the map.
We can all connect to the story of what this sculpture represents: A young lad from a small country town who dreamt big and showed that with determination, discipline, hard work and belief in oneself, anything is possible, achieving national and international success in his industry.
Kerrin is a very humble local that we are extremely proud of. His statue will stand on the foreshore of our beautiful town and forever be an inspiration to local children and visitors, that dreams can come true.
KEN MARTIN - THE ARTIST
Immortalising memories with Sculpture - Recording history a moment in time that stirs our perception of the world or simply brings a smile to our face, sculpture is an art form that will delight and memorialise greatness for generations to come.
Ken Martin is an Eyre Peninsula artist, and one of the country’s most sought-after sculptors. As such it was so fitting to engage Ken to complete the sculpture of Kerrin.
Martin has, through hard work and raw talent, risen from a bloke carving in his back shed to make ends meet, to the artist charged with immortalising some of our greatest sporting athletes in bronze, including Barrie Robran, Jason Gillespie and Darren Lehmann at Adelaide Oval, and the full scale sculpture of three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva on the Port Lincoln foreshore. Not bad for a kid who left home and school at age 14. Ken’s words on working on the project “I first met Kerrin on 4th May 2018 at the Oaks Hotel Glenelg, a day before he rode at Morphettville.
I was delighted Kerrin agreed to the idea of a sculpture of him and to be photographed in his racing silks and gear as a starting point. Kerrin would not seek to have a sculpture created of himself but I believe he conceded to this with true community spirit.
I took over 200 images of Kerrin during this session while experimenting with various compositions inspired by the idea of weighing in, minus the scales.
The first thing that struck me about Kerrin was his remarkable focus and attention to detail. These qualities had to come into the sculpture! – For these are qualities that no doubt contribute to his success.
On return to my studio I created a drawing. The composition of the sculpture was left to Kerrin and I to work through, including adjustments such as wearing his helmet rather than it sitting on the saddle and the position of the saddle adjusted to expose more of the decorative stitching. Kerrin supplied reference material such as saddle, boots and goggles etc.
Following the drawing, a maquette (miniature 3D sketch in clay) was created providing all parties with a 3 dimensional view of the composition. Kerrin and I discussed the maquette when we met again at a Streaky Bay sculpture fundraiser in August 2019. Kerrin liked the composition and there were changes noted that would be included in the life size work, the most notable being the original requested serious expression to be changed to a smile.
Pressing on with the large work based on all information gathered, including detailed anatomical measurement for proportions, the plasticine sculpture was sculpted 5% larger than life size to allow for shrinkage in the casting process.
From the beginning it was obvious this sculpture needed to be one of the most finely tuned works of my career and would prove one of the most challenging. It was not only the sculptural demands of capturing that broad smile and focus in the eyes but capturing the true likeness amid helmet and chin straps.
I relish the challenge of a full body sculptural portrait where body language, right down to finger tips, tells the story. This sculpture has had its surprises to work through including the position of the saddle requiring anatomical adjustments to achieve a relaxed natural outcome.
Through no one’s fault there were significant delays much of which was due to the extraordinary times of 2020 to 2022. With the completed plasticine sculpture approved in late 2021, the foundry process began.
Cast in the lost wax system ( a technique that in principle hasn’t changed in 3000 years) moulds were taken , the sculpture cast in wax (in sections) , the waxes invested into plaster moulds, the wax burnt out and molten bronze poured into the cavity left by the melted wax.
When cooled the bronze sections where welded together and surface detail refined as per original sculpture.
At Kerrin’s request the colours and design of the silks are to be those of Sheik Mohammed’s i.e. red and white. The bronze patina cannot replicate this literally but with a good deal of research and consultation with the foundry it was decided to represent the silks in sepia tone patinas. This makes for an exciting and unique finish on this public bronze.”
GALLERY - PHOTOS - STATUE CREATION : The creation / the bronzing
