NOT JUST HORSEPLAY
Remember the name Holly Williams, as the 12-year-old is going places in the world of show jumping, writes Tracy Hargreaves
They say talent runs in your genes and that can be said of Lancashire’s 12-year-old Holly Williams as she is following in her mum’s footsteps and making her mark on the show jumping world.
Mum Jemma Knox first got into horse riding quite late at the age of 13 when she got her first pony. As a horse mad teenager, horses and ponies were her life and she left school to take it up full time when she was offered a job by Tracey Newman, a Great Britain show jumper herself, working on her yard in Bolton.
Jemma very quickly progressed with her riding and joined the Great Britain under 21 team at the age of 18, travelling all over the world, becoming successful in competitions. At 19 she qualified for the Olympia International Show Jumping Championships in London and was one of only 28 British riders to compete in one of the biggest shows of the year.
“It was very full on,” says Jemma. “Long days, hard work and a lot of commitment, but I loved it.” At the age of 20 she realised she wanted to set up her own yard and make more money for herself, that’s when Jemma and her family moved to Chorley and Jemma set up Knox Sport Horses riding for other people and producing (training) horses.
At the age of 21, Jemma was expecting Holly, but continued to work on her yard, however it became harder for Jemma as Holly grew up, to look after Holly and compete full time. “Holly had got the same bug as me and was already riding well on her pony. She was competing in competitions and became the youngest champion in the Scope festival at the age of six!
“Horses took over our lives and I felt like a part time mum because I was away at shows so much,” said Jemma.
“I decided I wanted to concentrate on a different career path and that’s when I set up Sculpt Aesthetics. We let the pony and Holly have a break for a month after the championships, so Holly could get back into school work, and wound down the yard. After several months Holly still hadn’t ridden, so we made the mutual decision to sell Holly’s pony.”
However, it wasn’t long before Holly missed the riding and begged her mum for another pony. “We didn’t get one straight away,” said Jemma. “She went to a riding school at first but continued to nag us for her own pony. By this time, she was 10 and was more independent at riding. We wanted her to realise that you have to work hard and not get everything that you ask for, but she had gone from strength to strength, the break had done her good.”
Holly now has three ponies all stabled at Brookfield Equestrian. The yard is run by Jenny Brookfield who had worked with Jemma previously for many years, so it seemed fate that Jemma and Holly would end up there.
“I spend a lot of time there,” says Holly “I help Jenny out with the horses and have my own ponies that I compete on and take to shows in the UK.”
So, how is Holly managing at school? “I’m home schooled, so I don’t miss out on anything,” she says. “My mum says it’s important to have something to fall back on. I do my studies in the morning and then after lunch I head to the yard where it’s obviously very full on training and looking after the ponies and then it’s basically, tea and bed. If I’ve a competition, I have lots of practising to do. I’m just like my mum, I’m very competitive. There is a great social scene at the yard, we play netball once a week and go out, but we all know it’s hard work and I like to do everything myself, so I know it’s right.”
Jemma added: “Holly is incredibly organised. She will tell us when we need to get the vet out for routine visits, she plans all her shows, cleans her own kit, picks out which ponies to ride for which competition and she looks after her prize money. We currently pay for everything ourselves and don’t receive any sponsorship money, so it’s important she knows not to waste money. We’re always on the look-out for any local businesses who want to invest in Holly and her future.”
So far last year Holly has already competed in the National Championships, where she was competing against 16-year-olds, the Summer Scope Festival, where she gained fourth place, she qualified for the British novice final, the youngest in her class to qualify and gained North West Champion competing in the puissance.
Now at the age of 12, there is no stopping this determined young lady. “I just want to carry on as long as I can,” says Holly. “I definitely want to make a career out of it and follow in my mum’s footsteps and make the Great Britain show jumping team.” And I’ve every faith that she will.
jemma@sculptaesthetics.co.uk
