Liam Treadwell
1986 - 2020
1986 - 2020
Liam Treadwell was born in the West Sussex town of Arundel on January 3, 1986, the son of Mark and Lorraine Treadwell, who worked for Arundel trainer John Dunlop. He attended the local Angmering School, leaving at 17. His ambition was always to be a jockey and to ride in the Grand National. He did more than just ride in it – he won it on a 100-1 shot.
Liam Treadwell was born in the West Sussex town of Arundel on January 3, 1986, the son of Mark and Lorraine Treadwell, who worked for Arundel trainer John Dunlop. He attended the local Angmering School, leaving at 17. His ambition was always to be a jockey and to ride in the Grand National. He did more than just ride in it – he won it on a 100-1 shot.
He began his racing career as an apprentice on the Flat with Amanda Perrett and then moved north to be based with David Nicholls. He rode 28 winners on the Flat in Britain before switching codes to join Venetia Williams as a conditional jockey in 2004.
He began his racing career as an apprentice on the Flat with Amanda Perrett and then moved north to be based with David Nicholls. He rode 28 winners on the Flat in Britain before switching codes to join Venetia Williams as a conditional jockey in 2004.
On April 4, 2009 Liam sprang one of the biggest surprises in the Grand National’s long and illustrious history when riding the Venetia Williams-trained Mon Mome to Grand National glory, beating Comply Or Die by 12 lengths. It was only the fifth time a horse starting at 100-1 had won the race. It was also Liam’s first ride in the Grand National in what was his first season in jump racing.
On April 4, 2009 Liam sprang one of the biggest surprises in the Grand National’s long and illustrious history when riding the Venetia Williams-trained Mon Mome to Grand National glory, beating Comply Or Die by 12 lengths. It was only the fifth time a horse starting at 100-1 had won the race. It was also Liam’s first ride in the Grand National in what was his first season in jump racing.
After his Grand National victory, Clare Balding interviewed him and made playful fun of his apparently bad teeth. Both the BBC and Balding apologised for the error but it proved a blessing in disguise because Liam was then contacted by a dentist who carried out £30,000 of dental work on him for free.
After his Grand National victory, Clare Balding interviewed him and made playful fun of his apparently bad teeth. Both the BBC and Balding apologised for the error but it proved a blessing in disguise because Liam was then contacted by a dentist who carried out £30,000 of dental work on him for free.
Liam also tasted Cheltenham Festival success in the 2013 Byrne Group Plate aboard Williams’ 50-1 outsider Carrickboy, who made all under a perfectly-judged ride to defeat Vino Griego by a length and a half.
Liam also tasted Cheltenham Festival success in the 2013 Byrne Group Plate aboard Williams’ 50-1 outsider Carrickboy, who made all under a perfectly-judged ride to defeat Vino Griego by a length and a half.
On December 5, 2015, he scored another memorable victory over the famous National fences when bringing Bennys Mist home nine lengths clear of Seventh Sky in the Grand Sefton Chase.
On December 5, 2015, he scored another memorable victory over the famous National fences when bringing Bennys Mist home nine lengths clear of Seventh Sky in the Grand Sefton Chase.
Liam was stable jockey for Findon trainer Nick Gifford for two seasons and rode 45 winners for him. His best season in numerical terms was the 2013/14 campaign when he rode 42 winners.
Liam was stable jockey for Findon trainer Nick Gifford for two seasons and rode 45 winners for him. His best season in numerical terms was the 2013/14 campaign when he rode 42 winners.
He enjoyed his greatest moments in the saddle alongside his long-time supporter Venetia Williams, for whom he rode a total of 125 winners. But he also suffered some bad falls including head injuries in a spill at Bangor-on-Dee in 2016. He suffered another bad fall at Aintree in 2017, and then soon after returning he sustained a shoulder injury at Cheltenham.
He enjoyed his greatest moments in the saddle alongside his long-time supporter Venetia Williams, for whom he rode a total of 125 winners. But he also suffered some bad falls including head injuries in a spill at Bangor-on-Dee in 2016. He suffered another bad fall at Aintree in 2017, and then soon after returning he sustained a shoulder injury at Cheltenham.
Liam announced his retirement on February 13, 2018, aged 32, the primary reason being the legacy of the fall at Bangor which had knocked him unconscious and caused recurring problems.
Liam announced his retirement on February 13, 2018, aged 32, the primary reason being the legacy of the fall at Bangor which had knocked him unconscious and caused recurring problems.
However, after spending nearly a year working as head lad for Ed de Giles, he returned to race-riding in 2019 and rode ten winners during the 2019/20 season, all for Alastair Ralph, for whom he was assistant trainer. The last of those was on 25/1 outsider Little Brian at Hereford on March 16, 2020, two days before racing was placed into temporary lockdown due to the rapidly increasing coronavirus pandemic.
However, after spending nearly a year working as head lad for Ed de Giles, he returned to race-riding in 2019 and rode ten winners during the 2019/20 season, all for Alastair Ralph, for whom he was assistant trainer. The last of those was on 25/1 outsider Little Brian at Hereford on March 16, 2020, two days before racing was placed into temporary lockdown due to the rapidly increasing coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Liam was found dead at his home at Billingsley, near Bridgnorth, aged 34, a tragic end for a likeable and well-respected man.
On Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Liam was found dead at his home at Billingsley, near Bridgnorth, aged 34, a tragic end for a likeable and well-respected man.
His weighing room colleague Tom Scudamore said: “Liam was sort of fellow who never appreciated how talented and popular he was. He rode a National winner and a Cheltenham Festival winner yet he’d always play those achievements down.”
His weighing room colleague Tom Scudamore said: “Liam was sort of fellow who never appreciated how talented and popular he was. He rode a National winner and a Cheltenham Festival winner yet he’d always play those achievements down.”
Liam Treadwell rode 308 winners under National Hunt rules plus 28 on the Flat. His biggest wins were:
Liam Treadwell rode 308 winners under National Hunt rules plus 28 on the Flat. His biggest wins were:
Grand National on Mon Mome (2009)
Grand National on Mon Mome (2009)
Byrne Group Plate Chase on Carrickboy (2013)
Byrne Group Plate Chase on Carrickboy (2013)
Grand Sefton Chase on Bennys Mist (2015)
Grand Sefton Chase on Bennys Mist (2015)
Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle on Aso (2015)
Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle on Aso (2015)
Rehearsal Chase on Otago Trail (2016)
Rehearsal Chase on Otago Trail (2016)
Swinley Chase on Tenor Nivernais (2017)
Swinley Chase on Tenor Nivernais (2017)