Williamson, George

Nottinghamshire home to Beverley in Yorkshire and rode horses trained by Tom Green.

He had his first ride in public as an amateur at South Notts Hunt in 1886 and gained his first victory the same day aboard Radcliffe. He subsequently turned professional and was champion National Hunt jockey in 1896 with 45 winners.

In addition to riding in Britain, he rode frequently in Europe, enjoying many winners in Vienna and also winning Czechoslovakia’s most famous steeplechase, the Velka Pardubicka, on two occasions, on Alphabet (1890) and Hadnagy (1893). His major domestic winners included the Liverpool Hurdle twice, on Prince Frederick (1892) and Miss Patty (1895), and the Jubilee Hurdle on Amphidamas (1897).

However, his most famous association was with Manifesto, on whom he won the Grand International Chase in 1897 and the last Grand National of the century when storming home by four lengths in 1899.

Having landed some massive bets, the owner Mr J T Bulteel, gave George an extra £2,800 on top of his riding fee of £100.

 George Williamson's Grand National record:

1892:   Hollington   6th

1893:   Tit For Tat   4th

1894:   Carrollstown   7th

1895:   Leybourne   6th

1896:   Ardcarn   fell

1899:   Manifesto   WON

1900:   Manifesto   3rd

1903:   Manifesto   3rd 

 Full details of the above Grand Nationals can be found here Heroes and Heroines of the Grand National

 Curiously, George always race-rode with a toothpick in his mouth, and the one he had when winning the Grand National was mounted and made into a brooch by the trainer’s wife, Mrs W H Moore.

 He died at West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, on August 18, 1937. He had a race named after him, the George Williamson Steeplechase, which was run initially at Kempton in December before being transferred to Hurst Park in February. It was run for the last time in 1962, the same year that racing at Hurst Park came to an end.