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Born in Swansea on 14 January 1948, John Albert Norman Williams rode over jumps and, later, exclusively on the Flat. Between 1988 and 1995, he rode 349 winners on the level.
Born in Swansea on 14 January 1948, John Albert Norman Williams rode over jumps and, later, exclusively on the Flat. Between 1988 and 1995, he rode 349 winners on the level.
His involvement with horses began with gymkhanas and show-jumping, but being small he was destined for a life in racing. On leaving school he became apprenticed to Fulke Walwyn at Lambourn, but when after a couple of years the promise of rides had not materialised, he returned to his homeland and joined the Morriston, Glamorgan stables of Dr Arthur Jones.
His involvement with horses began with gymkhanas and show-jumping, but being small he was destined for a life in racing. On leaving school he became apprenticed to Fulke Walwyn at Lambourn, but when after a couple of years the promise of rides had not materialised, he returned to his homeland and joined the Morriston, Glamorgan stables of Dr Arthur Jones.
Dr Jones was a man with a reputation for being very fair with his apprentices, and John was soon riding regularly for him. His first winner came on Polyfool in the one-mile Apprentice Selling Handicap at Kempton Park on September 22, 1967.
Dr Jones was a man with a reputation for being very fair with his apprentices, and John was soon riding regularly for him. His first winner came on Polyfool in the one-mile Apprentice Selling Handicap at Kempton Park on September 22, 1967.
John began to combine riding under both rules, mainly because Dr Jones had a few jumpers in training and asked John to ride them. His first victory over hurdles came at Newton Abbot on May 7, 1969 on a horse called Roke in the West of England Professional Novice Riders Selling Handicap Hurdle. Three years earlier, Roke had finished second with John in a Wolverhampton apprentices’ race.
John began to combine riding under both rules, mainly because Dr Jones had a few jumpers in training and asked John to ride them. His first victory over hurdles came at Newton Abbot on May 7, 1969 on a horse called Roke in the West of England Professional Novice Riders Selling Handicap Hurdle. Three years earlier, Roke had finished second with John in a Wolverhampton apprentices’ race.
Gradually he turned his attentions more towards the winter game and built up a following on the West Country tracks. Operating primarily as a freelance, he was a popular journeyman jump jockey throughout the 1970s, averaging around 15 winners a season but achieving a career-best score of 27 in the 1978/79 campaign.
Gradually he turned his attentions more towards the winter game and built up a following on the West Country tracks. Operating primarily as a freelance, he was a popular journeyman jump jockey throughout the 1970s, averaging around 15 winners a season but achieving a career-best score of 27 in the 1978/79 campaign.
Among the best horses he rode were Royal Toss (on whom he finished third in the 1971 Whitbread Gold Cup), Otter Way, Bas and Macmillan.
Among the best horses he rode were Royal Toss (on whom he finished third in the 1971 Whitbread Gold Cup), Otter Way, Bas and Macmillan.
John twice won the Norwegian Grand National. He rode in that race eleven times and was placed in nine of them. He partnered his 1978 Norwegian Grand National winner Trybun in the Colonial Cup at Camden, South Carolina. Unfortunately, the horse broke a blood vessel early on but John nonetheless rated riding in the race among the highlights of his career.
John twice won the Norwegian Grand National. He rode in that race eleven times and was placed in nine of them. He partnered his 1978 Norwegian Grand National winner Trybun in the Colonial Cup at Camden, South Carolina. Unfortunately, the horse broke a blood vessel early on but John nonetheless rated riding in the race among the highlights of his career.
Another of his overseas successes was the Grosser der Speilbank at Hannover, the German equivalent of Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Another of his overseas successes was the Grosser der Speilbank at Hannover, the German equivalent of Cheltenham Gold Cup.
On home soil, he had four mounts in the Grand National itself, the first two of them on Boom Docker. In 1976 they were going well when being brought down at Becher’s second time by the falling leader, Golden Rapper.
On home soil, he had four mounts in the Grand National itself, the first two of them on Boom Docker. In 1976 they were going well when being brought down at Becher’s second time by the falling leader, Golden Rapper.
The second time was in 1977. At halfway, Boom Docker had jumped impeccably and was 30 lengths clear of the field at halfway, only to refuse at the seventeenth fence when still holding a commanding lead.
The second time was in 1977. At halfway, Boom Docker had jumped impeccably and was 30 lengths clear of the field at halfway, only to refuse at the seventeenth fence when still holding a commanding lead.
John later reflected on the reason for Boom Docket’s refusal. “A loose horse which had fallen first time round passed me going in the opposite direction, and that made up his mind. He started to take off, but with the fence being so wide he was able to actually stop at the base of it. I jumped a few more fences on him and I could still have got back in touch, but then he pulled himself up again going to Becher’s.”
John later reflected on the reason for Boom Docket’s refusal. “A loose horse which had fallen first time round passed me going in the opposite direction, and that made up his mind. He started to take off, but with the fence being so wide he was able to actually stop at the base of it. I jumped a few more fences on him and I could still have got back in touch, but then he pulled himself up again going to Becher’s.”
In 1980, John rode Kininvie, who gave him a good ride until being baulked at the 19th fence when Prince Rock refused in front of him. Finally, in 1983 he rode longshot Never Temper with the aim of just getting round, but the horse got tired and refused at the last ditch.
In 1980, John rode Kininvie, who gave him a good ride until being baulked at the 19th fence when Prince Rock refused in front of him. Finally, in 1983 he rode longshot Never Temper with the aim of just getting round, but the horse got tired and refused at the last ditch.
Standing 5ft 2ins and weighing a mere 8st 3lb, John was comfortably able to ride on the Flat as well as over jumps, combining the two from the mid-1970s. He wound down his National Hunt career in the mid-1980s and from then on focussed exclusively on the Flat.
Standing 5ft 2ins and weighing a mere 8st 3lb, John was comfortably able to ride on the Flat as well as over jumps, combining the two from the mid-1970s. He wound down his National Hunt career in the mid-1980s and from then on focussed exclusively on the Flat.
He achieved his two biggest Flat successes on Toby Balding’s sprinter Green Ruby, landing the 1986 runnings of the Stewards Cup and the Ayr Gold Cup. He also won the 1993 Cesarewitch and 1993 Goodwood Stakes on Aahsaylad.
He achieved his two biggest Flat successes on Toby Balding’s sprinter Green Ruby, landing the 1986 runnings of the Stewards Cup and the Ayr Gold Cup. He also won the 1993 Cesarewitch and 1993 Goodwood Stakes on Aahsaylad.
In addition to his four rides in the Grand National, John had the rare distinction of also having ridden the Epsom Derby. He finished thirteenth on Bookcase in 1990 and twelfth on Well Saddled in 1992.
In addition to his four rides in the Grand National, John had the rare distinction of also having ridden the Epsom Derby. He finished thirteenth on Bookcase in 1990 and twelfth on Well Saddled in 1992.
He retired from the saddle in 1993, which gave him more time to indulge in his favourite sporting pastime, golf.
He retired from the saddle in 1993, which gave him more time to indulge in his favourite sporting pastime, golf.
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