Young horse racing writers recognised

The winners of the 15th annual Martin Wills Memorial Trust awards received their prizes at Rowley Mile Course in Newmarket on 18 April.

The awards, for creative writing on, or with a background in, any aspect of horse racing, by a young person, attracted a record number of entries this year.

Fabrice Tomlin from Reading was triumphant in the under 26 category with his article “Corporatism — the scourge of racing”. The 25-year-old was awarded £1,250 and a bronze trophy. The runner-up in this section was Catherine Deshayes who received £750 for her piece entitled “Best Dressed Lady”.

Radley College pupil Mark Crawford won the under-19 category and with it £500 for “Regret”, an article about an injured jockey.

Caitriona Cox, 13, from the Isle of Man came first in the newly created under 15 section with her article “Cleaning Up” — and received £250.

All four articles will be published in the Racing Post and The Irish Field.

The judges were: Brough Scott, Editorial Director of the Racing Post, Lisa Hancock, Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses, author Sean Magee, Barry Newcombe, Chairman of the Sports Journalists’ Association and Catherine Wills, the sister of Martin Wills. Martin Wills was an amateur jockey, point-to-point rider, racing enthusiast and journalist who died in 1992.

Brough Scott said: “The whole idea of these Martin Wills Awards was to enthuse young writers with a racing interest. These winners are a wonderful confirmation of that original intention.”

Visit www.mrwc.org.uk/willswritingawards to read the winning entries.

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