Proud and grateful Evan Williams among winners at Welsh Racing Awards

Evan Williams' fine autumn got even better on Sunday when he was announced as Welsh National Hunt Trainer of the Year for 2020.

Williams has won Graded or Listed events with Coole Cody, Silver Streak and Star Gate in the last two months and was proud to be honoured at his home country's third annual awards.

"It's very nice to get any type of recognition," said Williams, who is based in the Vale of Glamorgan. "I'm very grateful. I'm very proud to be Welsh and very proud to be part of the horseracing scene in Wales.

"As an industry in Wales we've got to keep pushing forward. There are lots of little stories emerging from Wales again this year, some trainers who have upped the ante, and it's always good to see competition coming through because that's what you need to keep anything strong."

Williams' stable jockey Adam Wedge was named Jump Jockey of the Year, having won the first two Grade 1 races of his career, including the Stayers' Hurdle on Lisnagar Oscar.

David Probert, who rode his 1,000th winner in June, won the Flat prize and David Evans was named Flat Trainer of the Year.

Brian Lee: recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award

Among the others honoured at the Racehorse Owners Association-sponsored awards, whose usual ceremony was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, were Lisnagar Oscar (top hurdler) and Potters Corner (top chaser), while Flat Horse of the Year was Pyledriver.

The judging panel also recognised a string of big-race wins for Welsh jockeys with special awards to Ben Jones (Ladbrokes Trophy Chase), Richard Patrick (BetVictor Gold Cup), Jack Tudor (Welsh Grand National) and Lorcan Williams (Midlands Grand National).

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Brian Lee, a journalist and author who has covered Welsh racing for more than 50 years and is still writing for local papers at the age of 84.

Rising Star was Charlie Price, who won the BHA’s Racing Excellence Conditional Training Series award, while Katie Powell, 18, who won on her first two rides as an amateur earlier this season, received the Staff Recognition Award.

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