Lorcan’s leading the way in pony racing

Lorcan is a self-confessed sports fanatic but it is his horse-riding skills that have earned him wins at most local point to point pony races but also at top racecourses like Goodwood, Newmarket and Kempton Park, to name just a few.

 

It was at Newmarket that he received his award for being champion from AP McCoy, who is Lorcan’s undoubted hero and someone in whose footsteps he would love to follow. Lorcan knows that it will take a great deal of hard work but he is already committed to his equine sport, as he proves by getting up sometimes as early as 5am to help ‘muck out’ the horses before riding them prior to attending Greenhill School. He again rides in the evening, no matter what the weather, and one of his favourite places to exercise his ponies is on Amroth Beach

 

Lorcan has been involved in pony racing at South Pembs Pony Club since he was nine years old and would be the first to admit that he has received every encouragement from his family at their farm in Amroth. Mum Lorna rode point-to-point in her younger days and dad Chris is also fully involved, whilst older sister Taryn (18) has represented Wales with her working hunter pony. The family also train point-to-point horses at Amroth Farm.

 

When he set out Lorcan had a little pony called ‘Talachan Morning Glory’, or Benji for short, and in his first outing at Erw Lon he came last but thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of taking part. But he showed his ability to learn quickly because a year later, when he was riding ‘Pennway Tap Dancer’, he won all 32 of his races in the 13.2 hands section at venues like Lydstep, Banwen Miners, Kilwendeg and Trecoed, walking away with the title of area champion.

 

 

When he moved up to 14.2 hands ponies he became national champion, riding ‘Sunday’s Best’, and is again eager to repeat that success this season, despite a strange incident in his first race at the Duke of Beaufort’s races. A horse called ‘Push the Button’ jumped off and ‘Pennway Tap Dancer’ thought the race was over so started off slowly, and although Lorcan charged through the field over the six furlongs he was beaten by a nose!

 

But then he bounced back with victory at Barbury Castle, near Salisbury, which was doubly great for Lorcan because all the other top young Welsh riders were there and they get on really well together. More recently, he was looking to compete well at Lydstep over the bank holiday period and for those races, in both the 13.2 and 14.2 categories he was looking to give experience to some younger horses, but still won one race and came second in the other.

His and his family’s commitment was amply demonstrated the following day because they made the long trek to Exeter and came back with more success!

 

 

Outside of his pony racing, Lorcan enjoys a whole range of sports, with rugby for Greenhill School and Tenby as a try-scoring winger. He set out in tag rugby as an eight year old under the watchful eye of Chris Williams and has scored his share of tries. He also plays cricket for Cresselly and plays pool at the Temple Bar – and enjoys watching plenty of sport.

 

Such is Lorcan’s admiration for AP McCoy that he actually wrote to the champion jockey, unbeknown to his parents, and his enterprise was rewarded with a picture of AP riding in the Grand National, and signed by the great man! It now takes pride of place amongst Lorcan’s many trophies!

 

 

He has also been invited to Sandown Park Racecourse to receive a special certificate to mark his great work in the 13.2 category of pony racing, with Megan, the daughter of top racing trainer Paul Nicholas, joining him for the 14.2 hands class – and then he is in the finals of both at Newmarket on the 27th April.

 

We wish him every success there because there is no doubt that Lorcan Williams is flying the Pembrokeshire Flag with great distinction in pony racing – and we are sure to hear a great deal more about this speedy young jockey in years to come!