Mr William Bevill, son of amateur rider Charles, first rode in the Grand National (or 'the Liverpool', as it was then generally known) in 1856 on the ill-fated six-year-old Banstead, which was destroyed after coming down on the second circuit, dislocating its shoulder.
He tried again in 1860, and finished fifth on his own horse, Link Boy (not Irish Boy as given in many publications) behind Anatis. Willy had his last ride in the race in 1863; he fell on The Orphan, a headstrong, unruly brute belonging to Mr Tilbury, a horse dealer. It was the most uncomfortable of rides: having bucked and reared all the way to the post, The Orphan then galloped into, instead of over, the thorn fence preceding the water. He fell heavily, giving Willy a nasty fall. This was the same obstacle at which his friend George Ede was killed in 1870.
Willy also twice rode in the Epsom Derby. In 1862, the year Caractacus caused such a shock in the hands of 16-year-old John Parsons, he partnered his own Alvediston, which, at 100-1, not unexpectedly ran unplaced.
He had better luck in 1869 riding Lord Royston's Alpenstock (which had just won the City & Suburban) into fourth place. Apart from Mr George Thursby, Willy was the only amateur at that time to have ridden in the race.
Willy's first success had come way back in 1855 when he won a steeplechase at Wansford on Gerard, by Alarm, a horse owned by his father, Charles. Though there were only three runners, it was still exceptional riding as he was up against two of the best amateurs of the day, Frank Gordon and Alec Goodman.
He had just six rides that first season, three on the Flat and three over jumps. They yielded two winners: Gerard (as mentioned) and Georgium Sidus, which won a flat race at Bedford.
In 1857, Willy - then living at Brigstock in Northamptonshire with the idea of learning farming -was asked by a local innkeeper to ride his horse, Discord, in a match with another local horse to be ridden by the formidable George Ede who, curiously enough, was also living in the area for the same reason.
Approaching the not insubstantial final fence, the two were locked together, George's horse going so much the better. Had George managed to keep it on a straight line, it would have surely won. As it was, it went out of its way to jump a weak place in the fence it had spotted with the result that Willy, regardless of the consequences, had taken the shortest route, gaining a head advantage which he held to the end.
In 1863 the National Hunt Steeplechase was run at Market Harboro' - Willy was booked to ride Cheviots for 'Cherry' Angell, a distinguished owner of the day. The course was exceptionally severe, the water in front of the stands being sixteen feet clear.
Only five went to the post (from an original entry of forty-three). Willy's mount, a six-year-old carrying 12 st 3 lbs., was made favourite. They were beaten by the 4-1 chance Socks, a mean-looking horse with no pedigree to speak of.
On giving up jump racing, Willy concentrated on the flat with no little success.
From 1855, the year he began riding, until his retirement in 1888, Willy rode in 1,132 races. He was successful on 312 occasions and second on 290 other.
For many years after quitting the saddle he superintended the training of Lord St. Vincent horses at Telescombe, near Lewes.
William Bevill died in early May, 1920.
