One of the hurdles at Taunton racecourse, where Hawkins fell

Amateur jockey Richard Hawkins is continuing to make good progress after his fall at Taunton on 12 April.

The rider was knocked out when parting company with Tiger Dream in a selling handicap hurdle at the Somerset track.

The 21-year-old has been treated at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital and is reported to be "making great progress".

A statement from the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) said: "He is now fully conscious and is able to speak briefly to his family on a daily basis."

Hawkins, who is from Exmoor and is the brother of conditional jockey Giles, had been in intensive care and began breathing without the use of a ventilator 48 hours after his fall.

He was having his 38th ride when he was injured, with his only win being at Exeter in May 2010.

A total of £3,500 was raised for the IJF at the Hawkins family's local point-to-point at Holnicote on Saturday.

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