William Colin Kingston Hives, known as Bill, held a Flat jockey’s licence for more than a decade but only had one success. However, he fared better over jumps with 14 wins between 1911 and 1916.
Born in 1889, he served his apprenticeship with William Nightingall, father of classic-winning trainer Walter Nightingall, and had his first ride on Queen’s Scholar, who finished unplaced in the Ashcombe Mid-weight Apprentice Handicap at Lewes on June 8, 1905, victory going to Claude Halsey on Bonanza.
His first ride over jumps was at Manchester on April 18, 1911, when partnering King Star, unplaced in the Easter Handicap Chase. He had his first win on December 30 of that year when Direction, owned and trained by William Nightingall, won the Surbiton Selling Hurdle at Hurst Park, beating Beaver II, the mount of Ernie Piggott, by 30 lengths. Both horses were running for the first time under National Hunt rules.
Bill had to wait nearly a year for his next victory but then rode three in the space of four days. At Gatwick on December 6, he won the Long Ditton Selling Hurdle on Beauty Bird; the following day at the same course he landed the Oxshott Selling Handicap Hurdle on Littleworth; and at Nottingham two days later he rode Sherwood Rise to win the Castle Selling Hurdle. All three were trained by William Nightingall.
He rode five winners in 1913 and, in February 1914, steered Levanter to victory in the Rendlesham Handicap Hurdle at Kempton, beating George Duller on the favourite Rayon de Soleil by half a length. He rode four times in the International Handicap Hurdle, one of the most important races of the National Hunt season, achieving his best placing when third in 1913 on Colonist.
He had his sole success on the Flat when Gum Shoe beat 22 rivals to win the Swaffham Welter Handicap at Newmarket on July 14, 1915, again trained by William Nightingall.
Having spent his riding career with Nightingall, it was appropriate that that trainer would supply him with his final winner, when Castleton took the Suffolk Maiden Steeplechase at Windsor on January 14, 1916. The seven-year-old was making his debut over fences, having already won four times over hurdles.
He had his final ride when unplaced on Front Line, again trained by William Nightingall, in the Wimbledon Three-Year-Old Maiden Hurdle at Kempton Park on November 28, 1919.
His wins were, in chronological order:
1. Direction, Hurst Park, December 30, 1911
2. Beauty Bird, Gatwick, December 6, 1912
3. Littleworth, Gatwick, December 7, 1912
4. Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, December 9, 1912
5. Sherwood Rise, Gatwick, January 8, 1913
6. Colonist, Kempton Park, January 24, 1913
7. Piper, Southwell, May 5, 1913
8. Levanter, Southwell, May 6, 1913
9. Levanter, Leicester, November 25, 1913
10. Levanter, Kempton Park, February 20, 1914
11. The Guv’ner, Southwell, March 21, 1914
12. Aldermaston, Sandown Park, February 5, 1915
13. Stargantes, Hurst Park, February 12, 1915
14. Gum Shoe, Newmarket, July 14, 1915
15. Castleton, Windsor, January 14, 1916