Article by Alan Trout
William Thomas Birks rode for three seasons as an apprentice on the Flat in the late 1920s but was not able to land a winner. He served his apprenticeship with Jack Colling, one of the leading trainers, whose stables were at Ellesmere House, Newmarket.
William had his first ride in public on the opening day of the 1927 season when finishing unplaced on an unnamed two-year-old filly by Desman out of Immolation in the Tathwell Auction Plate at Lincoln. Riding for the first time in a field of 18 two-year-olds, all having their first race, could not have been an easy experience. It is very doubtful today that a trainer would put up someone who had never ridden in a race on a two-year-old making their debut. Michel Beary won the race on another unnamed two-year-old filly by Hounam out of Mother Hubbard (later named Cupboard).
Although William continued to have rides, including on those owned by Jack Colling, that first winner just did not come. He rode on successive days of Newmarket’s 1929 Guineas meeting, finishing unplaced on both Tees Head in a two-year-old maiden and Tom Pearson in a two-year-old seller.
Two of his last mounts were on Tyne Head, who he rode on the horse’s debut in the Duxford Two-Year-Old Selling Plate at Newmarket on May 15, 1929, finishing last of ten. Tyne Head was also his final ride, at Newmarket on October 3, 1929, when finishing last of eight finishers in the Wicken Two-Year-Old Selling Plate, Tommy Weston’s mount having bolted and failed to finish. The race was won by Dick Perryman on an unnamed gelding by Zria’s Charm out of Marie Rose.
Tyne Head was exported to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) at the end of that season while William Birks was seen no more as a jockey.
