Maisy Williams delivered a trademark family masterclass as she had a Horse of the Year Show debut to savour by winning the Senior Newcomers Championship.
Maisy, the 18-year-old daughter of Great Britain European team bronze medallist Guy Williams, produced a thrilling jump-off performance with Billy Heinz to deny Charlotte Ash and Air Sandulay by just 18 hundredths of a second.
Guy, a renowned top-level performer against the clock, looked on at Birmingham NEC as Maisy and Billy Heinz clocked 30.93 seconds to land a class that was first contested at HOYS 39 years ago.
The podium places, meanwhile, were completed by Miles O’Donnell and Jackpot DS.
“She is really fast and so competitive and wants to win just as much as I do,” said Maisy, of the seven-year-old mare Billy Heinz.
“She is so fast, and he (dad) just says keep my brain going, don’t go too fast and just do every jump how we have practised and just have fun.
“I have watched this my whole life, and I have always dreamt of cantering down the centre line at Horse of the Year Show. Hopefully, next year, we will be in the international classes with her.”
Maisy could not have wished for a better start to her first HOYS, taking top honours after half the 24-strong field went clear, including four-time Senior Newcomers champion Nicole Pavitt.
But Maisy was not to be denied as she combined accuracy and speed with ice-cool riding under pressure to prevail and begin what could be a show to savour.
She will be among the starters in the Ripon Select Foods Puissance on Saturday night, an event that her father has excelled in so many times.
“My aim always is to win,” Maisy added. “I have done the puissance twice, have won one and was second in the other.
“I try and just copy exactly what dad says to do. Before I could even walk, I was at shows watching him, and I would love to be as good as him one day.”.
Hear the Lloyd Bell Interview here.
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2024, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk
