Williams takes long hard road to National triumph

By Justin Palmer

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - Jockeys invariably hail from the school of hard knocks and Grand National-winning trainer Venetia Williams was no exception when pursuing an amateur career in the saddle.

Such are the dangers involved in jump racing that every jockey knows any given race could be their last.

Williams had her one and only Grand National ride in 1988 and it ended with her being unceremoniously flung onto the turf after a fall at the infamous Becher's Brook.

Williams was stretchered away unconscious but quickly recovered to ride again. Unfortunately she was not so lucky two weeks later when she sustained a broken neck in a fall at a provincial track.

"I always used to fall head first. The brain is heaviest maybe or girls are bad fallers," the 48-year-old Williams recalled following her first Grand National victory as a trainer Saturday after 100-1 outsider Mom Mome sprung a big surprise.

Williams embarked on a training career in 1995, the same year that Jenny Pitman, the first and only other female trainer to win the world famous steeplechase, landed the race for a second time.

"You just dream to have one winner when you start training and then, once you have one, you dream about getting to double figures - (but) you don't dream here, this is just beyond dreams," added Williams.

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