Wills honour for Reed

Thomas Reed, a Warwick University history graduate, took the first prize in the under-26 category at the 14th annual Martin Wills Memorial Trust awards.

The competition, for creative writing (fact or fiction) on, or with a background in, any aspect of horse racing, by a young person resident in the United Kingdom or Ireland, attracted 102 entries (54 senior and 48 junior).

Reed, 24, received £1,250 (€1,800) for his article, Who Claims In A Claimer, at a ceremony at Newmarket racecourse today.

In addition, he will retain for a year a bronze trophy of two galloping horses by Gill Wiles.

The under-26 runner-up was 23-year-old James Milton from Diss, Norfolk. He receives £750 (€1,100) for his entry, A Day At The Races In Kolkata”.

The under-19 competition was won by 18-year-old Georgina Hibberd from Hilmarton, near Calne in Wiltshire, who is a pupil at Wootton Bassett School. She receives £500 (€722.30) for her article, Soldiers And Kings.