Maisy Williams takes the win in the Senior Newcomers at her first Horse of the Year Show
Wednesday 09 October 2024
.jpg "Maisy Williams takes the win in the Senior Newcomers at her first Horse of the Year Show")
Maisy Williams delivered a trademark family masterclass as she had a Horse of the Year Show debut to savour by winning the Senior Newcomers Championship.
Maisy, the 18-year-old daughter of Great Britain European team bronze medallist Guy Williams, produced a thrilling jump-off performance with Billy Heinz to deny Charlotte Ash and Air Sandulay by just 18 hundredths of a second.
Guy, a renowned top-level performer against the clock, looked on at Birmingham NEC as Maisy and Billy Heinz clocked 30.93 seconds to land a class that was first contested at HOYS 39 years ago.
The podium places, meanwhile, were completed by Scottish based Miles O'Donnell and Jackpot DS.
"She is really fast and so competitive and wants to win just as much as I do," said Maisy, of the seven-year-old mare Billy Heinz.
"She is so fast, and he (dad) just says keep my brain going, don't go too fast and just do every jump how we have practised and just have fun.
"I have watched this my whole life, and I have always dreamt of cantering down the centre line at Horse of the Year Show. Hopefully, next year, we will be in the international classes with her."
Maisy could not have wished for a better start to her first HOYS, taking top honours after half the 24-strong field went clear, including four-time Senior Newcomers champion Nicole Pavitt.
But Maisy was not to be denied as she combined accuracy and speed with ice-cool riding under pressure to prevail and begin what could be a show to savour.
She will be among the starters in the Ripon Select Foods Puissance on Saturday night, an event that her father has excelled in so many times.
"My aim always is to win," Maisy added. "I have done the puissance twice, have won one and was second in the other.
"I try and just copy exactly what dad says to do. Before I could even walk, I was at shows watching him, and I would love to be as good as him one day."
Full results can be found here
Tickets are still available for the 75th Anniversary Horse of the Year Show. Simply visit the ticket purchase page at hoys.co.uk/tickets/book-tickets/ and use the code HOYSBSMEM24 in the promo code box for 20% off Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday Evening tickets.
Image: 1st Class Images
.jpg "Young Riders Shine at Aintree Equestrian Centre Large Pony Premier")
