racing_news/

2007 Martin Wills Awards Launched
19/01/07

The Martin Wills Memorial Trust, a UK-registered charity, is offering its 15th annual awards for creative writing (fact or fiction) on, or with a background in, any aspect of horseracing by young people resident in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Particular importance will be attached to originality, use of language, and entertainment - a detailed knowledge of horseracing is unnecessary.

Those aged under 26 at 1 January 2007 (other than employees of the national and racing press and previous winners in their category, who are ineligible) are invited to submit a single typewritten article of under 1,200 words by 28 February 2007 to the Trustees, The Martin Wills Memorial Trust, Henley Knapp Barn, Fulwell, Chipping Norton, Oxon, OX7 4EN (fax: 01608-678 052). Name, date of birth, address and telephone number should be stated. The article must not be published prior to the announcement of the winners of the awards. No correspondence will be entered into, entries will not be returned, and the judges' decision is final.

The prizes will be £1,250 to the winner and £750 to the runner-up, with £500 for the best other entry from someone aged under 19 at 1 January 2007. In addition, the winning articles will be published in the Racing Post and The Irish Field, and work experience on the Racing Post will be on offer. Further, the winner of the under 26 award will retain for a year a bronze trophy of two galloping horses by Gill Wiles. The awards will be announced and presented at the Craven Meeting at Newmarket on Wednesday 18 April 2007, where those successful will be given an expenses paid day's racing, including a reception in a private luncheon room generously made available by the Racecourse, plus a tour of two leading stables.

This year's five judges are: Brough Scott, Editorial Director of the Racing Post, sports feature writer of The Sunday Telegraph and for 30 years chief presenter of Channel 4 Racing (Chairman); Eamon Dunphy, radio and TV personality in Ireland and a former professional football player; Lisa Hancock, Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses; Chris McGrath, racing correspondent for The Independent and winner of the Trust's inaugural competition in 1993; and Catherine Wills, DPhil art historian sister of Martin Wills.

The 2006 under 26 competition was won by 24 year old Thomas Reed from Northampton, a Warwick University History graduate and a marketing assistant. The runner-up was 23 year old James Milton from Diss, Norfolk, a Leeds University graduate in English Language and Literature with publishing ambitions. The 2006 under 19 competition, for the best under 19 entry, was won by 18 year old Georgina Hibberd from Hilmarton, near Calne in Wiltshire, a pupil at Wootton Bassett School.

The Martin Wills Memorial Trust commemorates Martin Wills, an amateur jockey, point-to-point rider, racing enthusiast and journalist who died in April 1992, aged 39.