Over The Stable Door: Parents back son in game that proved fatal for his brother

The Serbian Djokovic was cheered on by his emotional parents and tennis-mad siblings who were unequalled in their support for the new champion.

When asked about the family role in his success, his mother explained: “He sets us the highest goals and we run behind him to give him what he needs.”

A situation to which many parents can relate. And none more so than Alison and Willy Halliday from Keighley.

About the same time the Djokovic clan were jumping for joy at their son’s finest moment, Alison and Willy were stood at Market Rasen racecourse watching their youngest son, James, about to ride over hurdles.

This particular race is poignant – the Tom Halliday Memorial hurdle race is run annually on the anniversary of their eldest son’s death.

The 20 year-old Tom suffered fatal head injuries after his horse fell three from home in a hurdle race on July 3, 2005 – a tragic accident and one the family will never get over.

Yet Alison and Willy still attend every meeting, supporting James and his driving ambition, putting aside the emotion the game must now hold for them.

Tom was a quiet, softly- spoken boy who had a gift with horses which he inherited from his father.

He worked for Sue Smith in Bingley, having grown up on the yard, firstly among show-jumpers then racehorses.

Initially indifferent to working with horses (he knew from his show-jumping father how tough the industry was), Tom’s ability soon became clear and his intentions turned to becoming a jockey.

Considered one of the hardest workers on the yard, Tom was extremely well thought of by his employers and well-liked by his peers.

Like everyone in his trade, he was aware of the risks but driven by his passion.

He had won four races when his death came as a blinding reminder to all of us how close the path runs to a precarious cliff edge.

James was 18 when that fatal accident happened. He continued to race and in 2008 won the Tom Halliday Memorial scholarship, set up and funded by Market Rasen racecourse. The recipient is provided with expert training in areas including schooling, nutrition and the media. The award was a just reward to the memory of his brother and the unquestionable devotion of his parents.

Last week, I ventured south to catch my favourite band, Mumford and Sons, perform in Hyde Park in London.

The atmosphere was electric, 12,000 fans knew every word and rocked. Some fellow jockeys were attending but I guessed the chance of bumping into them was extremely remote.

I should have realised these guys are never far from the spotlight. They had confidently made a bet with me that they could get on camera, so I knew something was planned.

Suddenly, there they were on the big screen, crowd surfing in boxer shorts and getting showered in every form of liquid at the crowd’s disposal.

I laughingly thought how glad I was not to be sat next to them on the train journey home, then I realised I owed them £50.

I am teaching jumping lessons to a keen group of pony clubbers at the moment. Aged between six and nine, they are incredibly eager to be involved in the team events when they get older.

Supporting each other and learning to succeed together is a vital part of the tactics but we also aim to have fun.

I offer a small prize at the end of each session, which helps to keep attention spans at a peak.

This week, I taught them how to ride corners and straighten up for a fence, which they picked up like sponges.

Teaching pipsqueaks is very rewarding. Life is wonderfully straightforward through the eyes of a child. I am beginning to think they would do a far better job of running the country than the mess adults seem to make of it.