William was an outstanding athlete who eventually settled in Stawell. He came third in the 1899 Gift and sixth in 1908, but it was as a 440 yard runner that he really dominated, winning the Pleasant Creek Handicap in 1899 and 1900 and coming second in 1901/2.
In 1908 he won the 880 yards Stawell Handicap. Altogether he had three firsts, three seconds and three thirds.