Laureates | British Horse Society Share this Twitter FaceBook Colonel Sir Michael Ansell Although an excellent all-round horseman, showjumping was Colonel Ansell’s greatest passion. During his time as a prisoner of war in Germany, he formulated a plan for the revival of British showjumping, which was largely responsible for the success and popularity of the sport today. Upon his return to England, Colonel Ansell was elected Chairman and Vice-President of the BSJA. He quickly introduced the requirement to register horses and ponies, as well as the recording of results. He also initiated the grading system, thus allowing novice horses a fairer chance of winning and progressing. Colonel Ansell also helped to launch the first BSJA National Championship in 1945. The course design was innovative and entertaining, and the show was a resounding success. The BSJA also took over the selection of the British international showjumping team, which has been successful ever since. He was Chairman of The British Horse Society and the BSJA for 20 years, and was the first president of the British Equestrian Federation. George Bowman George Bowman is 19 times British National Carriage Driving Champion.

Caroline Bradley David Broome David Broome’s riding career began at the age of two, when he was given his first pony. In 1959, aged just 19, he became British showjumping’s leading money winner. During his career, David represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games four times, earning individual bronze medals in 1960 with Sunsalve, and 1968 with Mr Softee. He also has the distinction of being the only rider to have won the men’s individual championship three times, the British National Championship six times, and to have lifted the prestigious King George V Gold Cup on five occasions. After representing Great Britain 106 times in Nations Cup events, David retired from international teams in 1994, having spent more than 30 years as one of the world’s top showjumpers. Douglas Bunn Douglas Bunn was born on 1 March 1928. A barrister, he had a lifelong interest in showjumping, having been Chairman, President, and Honorary Vice-President of the British Showjumping Association.

Having competed successfully on ponies before turning to horses, Douglas owned many showjumpers, notably The Maverick, latterly ridden by Alison Dawes. He competed Beethoven successfully himself before giving the ride to David Broome, who won the World Championships in La Baule in 1970 on this horse. Douglas was also Chef d’Equipe of many British teams. In 1960 he opened the All England Showjumping Course at Hickstead, incorporating many permanent obstacles in its international arena. Hickstead is now home to many prestigious events in the national and international calendars including the Royal International Horse Show, the Hickstead Derby, the British Nations Cup, and the Schools Showjumping championships. Sophie Christiansen OBE Sophie Christiansen is a leading light of para dressage who has won several medals in three consecutive Paralympic Games. At 16, she was Great Britain's youngest athlete in the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games and won her first Paralympic medal at these Games before winning three Gold medals at the European Championships in Hungary the following year.

Her Paralympic medal record since has totalled three Golds, one silver and one bronze, becoming Great Britain's first Paralympic triple Gold medallist at the 2012 Games. She also claimed Gold at the 2007 World Championships in the freestyle dressage, taking bronze in the individual dressage event. Sophie was appointed as an MBE in 2009 and as an OBE in 2013 for services to equestrianism. Kristina Cook Kristina Cook was just ten years old when her father Josh Gifford trained Aldaniti to win the Grand National and it was almost inevitable that she too would excel with horses. Her first major success was a Team Gold medal at the 1987 Junior European Eventing Championships and from there she has gone on to be a consistent member of the British team, winning European, World and Olympic medals. In 2009 she won her first major title, the Individual Gold at the European Championships in Fontainebleau, France, with Miners Frolic. Charlotte Dujardin OBE Charlotte's rise in the dressage world has been meteoric.

Their medals haul has included two Olympic Golds, two Golds and one Silver at the 2014 World Equestrian Games; five Golds, one Silver and one Bronze at European Championships; and two Golds in the Dressage World Cup. She was the first to hold all individual elite dressage titles: the individual Olympic freestyle, World freestyle and Grand Prix Special, World Cup individual dressage and European freestyle and Grand Prix Special titles. With a strong equestrian background including wins at the Horse of the Year Show and Hickstead, Charlotte took up dressage after encouragement from trainer Debbie Thomas. She was talent-spotted by Carl Hester MBE after becoming a groom on his yard and began taking coaching from Carl before being asked to develop Valegro in 2011. Charlotte remains at Carl's yard and was appointed an OBE for services to equestrianism in 2013. Anneli Drummond-Hay Anneli Drummond-Hay is the only rider to have competed at the very highest level in eventing, dressage and showjumping, winning a host of titles during her illustrious career.

At just 16 years old Anneli won the Pony European Championships, and is well remembered for her Burghley and Badminton Horse Trials wins on her famous horse Merely a Monarch, her place in the record books being assured by her winning Badminton by the largest margin in history. Following this Anneli turned to showjumping with Merely a Monarch and another horse, Xanthos. In 1963 she was a member of the winning Nations Cup teams at Rome and London and was leading lady rider at Rome and Geneva. Her Nations Cup appearances totalled five between 1963 and 1971, four on Merely a Monarch and one on Xanthos. Liz Edgar Liz Broome, who was born in 1943, quickly established herself as a talented rider, making her first appearance at the Horse of the Year Show at the age of 12. Three years later she was sweeping the board at county shows. In 1960 and 1961 Liz won the Young Rider Championship.

She has also won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup a record five times (1977, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1986). In 1980 Liz set another record by becoming the first woman to win the Aachen Grand Prix. Liz competed in the Nations Cup 16 times and has lifted the Cup on three occasions, in 1979, 1980 and 1985. Liz is married to Ted Edgar and, along with their daughter Marie, now runs a highly acclaimed training yard. Ted Edgar Ted, who was born in 1935, competed regularly in junior competitions before moving to the senior competitions at the age of 14. He won the Horse and Hound Cup in 1956, the National Championship in 1958, and the Leading Showjumper of the Year Championship at the Horse of the Year Show in 1958. In 1969 Ted bought Uncle Max and went on to win the King George V Cup later that year.

In 1971 Ted leased Uncle Max and another horse, Snaffles, to the Everest Double Glazing Company, which was the foundation of one of the most successful and long lasting sponsorship deals in the equestrian world. In 1980 Ted decided that, as the result of injuries, he was going to stop riding and start training full time at the Everest Stud, where he still works with his wife, Liz, and daughter, Marie. In his training career Ted has trained several leading riders including Nick Skelton, Lesley McNaught, Geoff Luckett and Janet Hunter. Ginny Elliott Virginia ‘Ginny’ Elliot is one of the most successful British event riders in history. Her career began with team and individual gold at the Junior European Championships in France in 1973, and over the next 23 years, Ginny amassed a staggering list of achievements. She achieved back-to-back individual and team gold medals at the European Championships in 1985 and 1987, and individual and team gold at the World Championships in 1986, in Gawler, Australia.

She also had a remarkable record at Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials, winning both events on three occasions. One of her most successful partnerships was with a horse called Priceless, who is also in the Hall of Fame. William Fox-Pitt William Fox-Pitt ‘s background is steeped in horses; his mother was a member of the British three-day event team and his father completed Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials. Perhaps not surprisingly, William excelled at eventing from an early age, winning medals at Junior and Young Rider European Championships. At the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, he was a member of the British team that finished fifth. At the Athens Olympics eight years later, he won a team silver medal, adding to his many international honours. He has won five European team gold medals, two European individual silver medals, a World team bronze from Jerez in 2002 and World team silver in Aachen in 2006.

In 2005, he was British Open Champion for the third time at Gatcombe Park; in 2006, he won both the British Intermediate Championships and British Novice Championships, and won his sixth Burghley title in 2011. Pippa Funnell Since winning her first European title in 1999, Pippa Funnell has achieved an impressive array of international honours. She has won three European team gold medals, Olympic team silver in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 and team bronze at the World Equestrian Games in 2002. Her individual triumphs include gold at consecutive European Championships in 1999 and 2001 with Supreme Rock, and an Olympic bronze medal with Primmore's Pride. In 2003 Pippa earned herself a place in the history books as the first rider ever to complete the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing by adding the Burghley title to victories at Lexington and Badminton Horse Trials. The same year Pippa also became the first rider to win Blenheim International Horse Trials three times, a title she took again the following year.

She finished 2003 as the world’s leading event rider. In May 2005 Pippa won her third Badminton title in superb style with Primmore’s Pride, leading from the start and narrowly defeating her great rival William Fox-Pitt on Tamarillo. William Funnell Showjumper William Funnell, a veteran of many Nations Cup teams, has enjoyed success at the highest level of the sport, with wins including the Hickstead Derby in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011 and the La Baule Derby in 2011. He has won over 20 international titles and represented Great Britain across the globe. William has also been bringing on young horses for over 20 years and together with his wife, Pippa, and Donal Barnwell, William runs the Billy Stud, breeding competition horses in Surrey. Mary Gordon-Watson Mary is perhaps best known as a member of the eventing team that brought home gold for Britain in the Munich Olympics of 1972, with Richard Meade, Bridget Parker and Captain Mark Phillips.

The Times newspaper subsequently rated that victory as one of the 30 greatest sporting achievements of all time. That British team was the first since the Dutch in 1928 to retain the three-day event title for their country. Remarkably, the horse ridden by Mary in 1972, Cornishman V, had also helped to win the title at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico with Richard Meade as his rider. Mary won individual gold on Cornishman V at the European Championships in France in 1969 and the World Championships at Punchestown in 1970. She is one of only three riders to hold both titles at the same time. Mary also won team gold at the Europeans at Burghley in 1971. Mary has gone on to become one of our most distinguished equestrian writers. Lucinda Green Lucinda Green has achieved some of the highest accolades in the sport of eventing, having been World Champion in 1982 and twice European Champion.

She has helped the British team to win a whole host of titles including gold at the 1982 World Championships in Luhmuhlen, European team gold at Burghley in 1985, three European team silver medals and team silver at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984 riding Regal Realm. In a sparkling career, Lucinda has also won Badminton Horse Trials on six occasions. In 1983 and 1984 she won consecutive Badminton titles with Beagle Bay, a horse on which she also won Burghley in 1981. Cynthia Haydon Cynthia Haydon was Britain’s leading Whip in the post-war years of 20th century. Carl Hester MBE Dressage star Carl became the youngest ever rider to represent Britain when he made his debut at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. He represented Britain at the Sydney Olympics, and he has more than 30 national championship titles to his name. Bertie Hill Bertie Hill became an amateur jockey in point-to-point racing, after serving in the Second World War, and went on to represent Britain in three-day eventing.

He won the 1954 European individual and team gold on Crispin, and a gold medal at the 1956 Olympic games in Stockholm. Bertie and his wife opened a riding school in the 1960s and trained a number of future international riders, including Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips. Jane Holderness-Roddam CBE Jane Holderness-Roddam was the first woman to compete in an Olympic three-day event and in doing so became part of the Gold-winning British eventing team at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, before going on to win Badminton in both 1968 and 1978 and Burghley in 1976. A past Chair of numerous equestrian organisations, Jane is also the author of over 25 books. She was appointed a CBE for services to equestrian sport in 2004 was presented with the Queen's Award for Equestrianism in 2009 and now owns West Kington Stud in Wiltshire with her husband. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh As an equestrian, The Duke of Edinburgh is probably best known for his work in the carriage driving discipline.

He favoured four-in-hand carriage driving and drove The Queen's team of Fell ponies. He represented Britain at several European and World Championships and, in 1968, he initiated the formulation of new rules for the modern Horse Driving Trials. Prince Philip devised the rules for the Pony Club mounted games in 1957, and the Prince Philip Cup celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2007 at the Horse of the Year Show. In 1986 the Australian Pony Club received permission to use Prince Philip’s name for its mounted games and a separate cup was created for its tournaments. Prince Philip was President of the International Equestrian Federation from 1964 to 1986. He was also an accomplished polo player. He has written a number of books on equestrianism, including Competition Carriage Driving, The Noble Horse, Driving and Judging Dressage and 30 Years on and off the Box Seat. HRH The Princess Royal Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was a leading member of the British eventing team at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Throughout her career the Princess had a number of international successes, not least winning the 1971 European Championships at Burghley with her outstanding horse Doublet. In 1973 Her Royal Highness competed as an individual in the European Championships at Kiev in the Soviet Union. The following year, she finished 12th at the World Championships at Burghley. In 1975, Her Royal Highness won team and individual silver medals in the European Eventing Championships held in Luhmuhlen, West Germany, riding HM The Queen’s horse Goodwill. The Princess was consistently placed at Badminton Horse Trials throughout the 1970s, including a fifth place finish in 1971 with Doublet, fourth in 1974 and sixth in 1979 with Goodwill. Lorna Johnstone Lorna Johnstone was the oldest ever female Olympic competitor when she took part in the dressage at Munich in 1972, finishing 12th.

Mary King Mary King, who was born in Devon in 1961, became interested in eventing after an inspirational visit to Badminton Horse Trials with the Pony Club as an 11 year old. Mary competed at Badminton for the first time at the age of 24 and finished seventh. She subsequently won the event in 1992 on King William and again in 2000 on Star Appeal. In 2001 Mary broke her neck after a serious fall, but made a full recovery and attended the 2003 European Championship as part of the British team. Mary has also won four gold medals for team events at the World Equestrian Games and European Championships and represented Britain in four Olympic Games, picking up Silver in Athens. Mary has been British Open Champion three times and won a team silver in the World Equestrian Games in 2006. Colonel Harry Llewellyn Colonel Harry Llewellyn won two Olympic medals riding Foxhunter. Just a year after buying the horse as a six-year-old novice, Harry rode him to a bronze medal at the 1948 London Olympic Games.

The pair then triumphed at the 1952 games in Helsinki, the team winning Great Britain’s only gold medal at that Olympics. The partnership was hugely successful internationally, winning an amazing 78 competitions. They also remain the only horse and rider combination to win the King George V Gold Cup three times. Jennie Loriston-Clarke Jennie Loriston-Clarke is one of the greatest British dressage riders of all time. She had many successes at international level, including representing Great Britain at five Olympic Games and won bronze at the World Championships in 1978, the same year that she became a Fellow of The British Horse Society. After retiring from international competition, Jennie now judges dressage at the highest level. She was also the Chef d’Equipe of the British Under 21s dressage teams, who achieved success in European Pony, Junior and Young Rider competitions. In 2006 Jennie was the first person to receive the BHS Queen’s Award for Outstanding Services to Equestrianism. Ben Maher Showjumper Ben Maher began riding at the age of eight and went on to train as Liz Edgar after leaving school. He first represented Great Britain in the Olympics at 25.

At the 2012 London Olympics, Ben was part of the country's first showjumping Gold medal team in 60 years. Ben has won numerous international Grand Prix titles including at Olympia and the King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead, as well as team and individual medals at European Championships. Ann Moore Ann Moore began her riding career as a member of the North Warwickshire Pony Club and competed in showjumping competitions until she changed to horses at the age of 15. She soon formed a winning partnership with the brown gelding Psalm and from 1966 to 1972 the pair were virtually unbeatable. Ann’s major wins included the Queen Elizabeth II Gold Cup at the Royal International Horse Show and individual gold medals at the Women’s European Championships in St Gallen in 1971, and Vienna in 1973. Her greatest achievement however, was winning an individual silver medal at the Munich Olympics Games in 1972 with Psalm. Marion Mould Marion Mould is most famous for her partnership with Stroller, the 14.2hh pony with whom she won many prestigious classes against much bigger horses.

In 1963, Marion and Stroller launched their career as part of the winning junior European Championship team and many more successes followed. Their bond was so strong that Marion refused to part with Stroller in favour of a bigger horse, and in 1965 he helped her to win the Ladies’ World Championship. Marion was also the first woman to win leading rider in the same year. Two years later, the pair were also victorious in the Hickstead Derby, and were awarded the Wills Hickstead gold medal five consecutive times for points gained during the year. At the 1968 Olympics, Marion won the first ever individual silver medal to be awarded to a woman. All in all, the combination of Marion and Stroller won 61 international competitions. Richard Meade Richard Meade was a triple gold medallist eventer. Robert Oliver Count Robert Orssich The legendary Robert Orssich was the premier show producer of his day. He produced and showed hacks and hunters and was well known for the standard of presentation of his horses.

Producer of the hack Liberty Light and the heavyweight hunter Moonstone, Count Orssich is believed to be the only person to have won both the hack and hunter championships at White City in the same year. He also won championships at the Royal International, Royal Windsor, Horse of the Year, City of Bath and Royal Shows. Together with his friend, Geoffrey Cross, he was the instigator of the first Windsor Horse Show which started as a one-day horse and dog show in 1942 to raise funds for the War effort. Count Orssich was also President of Billy Smart’s Circus for several years. As a trainer, too, he achieved distinction with the successful rider Annie Davey benefiting from his tutelage. Tragically, in October 1987 Count Orssich suffered severe injuries following a freak accident when helping to load a horse, from which he was never to recover. Lee Pearson Lee’s remarkable career includes winning three gold medals at the Paralympics in Athens and another three golds at the Sydney Paralympics. He also won the National Elementary Dressage Championship against able-bodied riders.

Captain Mark Phillips In 1972 Captain Mark Phillips was a member of the British three-day event team which won a gold medal at the Munich Olympics. He won Badminton Horse Trials in 1971 and 1974 riding Great Ovation, and again in 1981 on Lincoln. Mark Phillips remains a leading figure in British Equestrian circles and has served as Chef d’Equipe of the United States Eventing Team. He is a pre-eminent course designer, trainer and journalist. Malcolm Pyrah As a World and European team and individual showjumping medallist between 1978 and 1988, Malcolm achieved an impressive array of international honours, representing Great Britain in more than 60 Nations Cups on more than 20 horses. A member of the British showjumping team in 1967/1968, his Grand Prix wins include Rome, Calgary and Aachen. Malcolm’s success goes beyond his own personal competition history.

As a renowned team manager his successes came during his tenure of the offices of Chef d’Equipe for both Senior and Young Rider Great Britain teams and team trainer for Great Britain between 1990 and 2000 (during which time Great Britain won both World and European medals). Malcolm also held the post of Chairman of International Affairs for Great Britain between 1996 and 2000. An accredited BSJA coach, Malcom has also trained international showjumpers, including Billy Twomey, Nick Skelton and Robert Whitaker. Anna Sewell Anna Sewell wrote the famous children’s classic, ‘Black Beauty’. She was also a pioneer of equine welfare. Anna had always loved horses. ‘Black Beauty’, written between 1871 and 1877, was her first and only novel. It has become one of the best-loved children’s books of all time, although Anna originally intended it to be read by those who worked with horses. The novel expresses Anna’s own views on cruelty to animals, and especially the use of the bearing rein. This was often used to excess during the nineteenth century, when fashion dictated that horses’ heads should be carried unnaturally high when in harness.

When used in this way, the rein made pulling weight difficult and could impede breathing. The rein, in this cruellest form, was banned partly due to the outcry caused by ‘Black Beauty’. Harvey Smith Harvey Smith is widely regarded as one of Britain’s greatest ever showjumpers. He won his first rosette on a milk cart pony, borrowed from a local farm! He represented Britain for the first time at the Nations Cup in Dublin in 1958, and became Leading Showjumper of the Year in 1959. Harvey represented Great Britain twice at the Olympic Games, achieving individual fourth place with Summertime in Munich, 1972. He has been on more than 70 Nations Cup teams and has won every national championship, along with more than 50 Grands Prix. Harvey has a reputation for buying and bringing on difficult horses and also for a varied career. He has spent time farming, bricklaying, on stage, wrestling and training racehorses! Ian Stark Ian Stark's first major eventing win was at Bramham Horse Trials in 1983 riding Sir Wattie.

In 1984, riding Oxford Blue, Ian helped the British eventing team win a silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. He won individual and team silver medals at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 with Sir Wattie. In 1990 Ian won a silver medal in the World Championships riding Murphy Himself, and two gold medals at the European Eventing Championships in 1991 riding Glenburnie. At the European Eventing Championships in 1997 he won team gold on Arakai, and won the Badminton Horse Trials in 1999 on Jaybee. In 2000, the British eventing team, with Ian riding Jaybee, won another silver medal at the Olympic Games held in Sydney. Ian came individual 10th at the same games on Arakai. He retired from competition upon completing the 2007 Rolex three-day event. He is now a senior selector, cross-country course designer and BE Accredited Coach. Ian’s outstanding contribution to coaching led to him being awarded with an Honorary Fellowship of The British Horse Society. Nick Skelton Nick Skelton is one of showjumping’s most prolific winners.

His illustrious career has spanned more than 30 years, making him one of the world’s most successful riders. Among Nick’s stunning array of achievements are six Olympic appearances, including team silver at the Alternative Olympics in Rotterdam, 1980. His international career also includes 1,225 wins, 60 Grand Prix wins and 160 appearances for Team GB, with 13 championship medals. Domestically, Nick has triumphed three times in the Hickstead Derby, and won the King George V Gold Cup four times. He also holds the British equestrian high-jump record, having cleared more than 7ft 7in on Lastic in 1978. Nick’s overall winnings amount to more than £4 million. A near-fatal accident in 2000 led Nick to retire in 2001. However, he is now back to competing, after being given the all-clear by a specialist in 2002. Pat Smythe Pat Smythe was the first female showjumper to achieve success at both national and international level.

Pat’s career began riding polo ponies, but her first major showjumping successes were with the brilliant grey mare, Tosca, with whom she was the first lady to ride on a Nations Cup team. The team won the Prince of Wales Cup in 1952. Pat also won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the most coveted of all ladies’ prizes. With Flanagan, Pat achieved four Ladies’ European Championships and she and Flanagan also represented Great Britain at the 1956 Stockholm Olympic Games, where they won team bronze and Pat became the first woman to compete in an Olympic equestrian event. Laura Tomlinson Laura started riding when she was three, hitting the floor more often than not in the early days! By her teens she had started to enjoy success, winning pony team silver at the Europeans at the age of 14. Since then she has been on the British championships team every year through juniors, young riders and now seniors. Laura has benefited from the help of Klaus Balkenhol and her father, Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer, who is now her trainer. Her breakthrough came in 2009, when she achieved a personal best and set a new British record in Den Bosch, Holland.

This was followed by wins in Hagen and another personal best and British record in Lingen. Later that year Laura represented Great Britain at the Windsor European Dressage Championships with Mistral Hojris (Alf) where she won team silver and individual bronze. She finished 2009 ranked sixth in the world. More success followed in 2010, including three silver medals at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. Laura rounded off the year as the first Briton to win the Reem Acra FEI World Cup. In 2011 Laura rose to world number two and was part of the gold medal-winning British team at the European Championships in Rotterdam, where she took individual bronze. Vin Toulson Leading showman Vin Toulson was a producer of top hunters, clinching wins at the Horse of the Year Show across the 1970s and 1980s. The former point-to-pointer was also renowned for breeding top-class hunters in his latter years. John Whitaker MBE During a long and distinguished career, John Whitaker has earned himself a reputation as one of the most talented and empathetic horsemen of all time.

His inspirational partnerships with Ryan’s Son and Milton were among the most successful in showjumping history. John has represented Britain at six Olympics, winning an Individual silver and two team silver medals. At the European Championships John has won four team and two individual silver medals, as well as three team and one individual Gold. Most recently, John represented Great Britain in the Super League Nations Cups of 2007 and 2008, winning firsts at Rome and Rotterdam (2007) and Rome (2008). Michael Whitaker For many years Michael Whitaker has been one of the best recognised faces in British showjumping. He has achieved an impressive string of victories, winning the prestigious King George V Gold Cup on four occasions. In 1980 he became the youngest ever winner of the Hickstead Derby at the age of 20, a title he reclaimed for three successive years in the early nineties with the talented horse Monsanta. Michael has an outstanding record with the British team, having competed at four Olympic Games, four World Championships and a remarkable 12 European Championships.

His medal haul includes a World team silver medal, World team bronze, eleven European Championship medals and a team silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. Michael has also competed in no fewer than 169 Nations Cups, winning on 34 occasions. Wilf White Wilf White was born in 1904 and grew up to become a stalwart of Nations Cup showjumping and a key figure of the sport. Very narrowly missing out on individual Gold at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics with Nizefala, the famously laid-back Wilf was nevertheless part of the British team who took team Gold that year. After then helping the country to team Bronze in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, he was honoured with an OBE in 1958 for his services to showjumping. Sheila Wilcox Sheila Wilcox rode in her first three-day event in 1955, partnered by High and Mighty when she was aged just 18. A year later, she completed Badminton Horse Trials in second place.

At Badminton in 1957, Sheila topped the leader-board throughout and won and went on to achieve two more Badminton triumphs, making her the only woman in history to have won the event for three consecutive years. Sheila and High and Mighty represented Great Britain in the 1957 European Championships, where they achieved both team and individual gold. Two years later, the partnership helped the British team to another gold medal. After a fall left her partially paralysed in 1971, Sheila began to compete in dressage. She also excelled in this discipline, reaching Grand Prix level. Dorian Williams Dorian Williams was the first major equestrian commentator on BBC Television to capture mass audiences, and greatly popularise the sport in post-war Britain.

Mrs VDS Williams BSJA HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS - The Official Website of British Showjumping home : Media : BSJA HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS BSJA HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS Friday 11 September 2009 During the Association’s AGM held on Tuesday, 8th September 2009, the following people were awarded with Honorary Life Members of the Association : ANDREW BLACK FROM EAST LOTHIAN, SCOTLAND Andrew has been involved with show jumping for many years with all four of his children competing on both horses and ponies and each of them qualified at some stage in their careers for the Horse of the Year Show. His daughter, Isobel, and Son, Andrew Jnr, still compete today and his granddaughter is also keeping up the family tradition on the pony circuit. Andrew first joined Scottish Branch Council as Area Representative for Edinburgh in 1987, a position he still holds today. He was Chairman of Champions of Scotland Show in 1993 and 1994 and held the office of Chairman of the Scottish Stewards between 1992 and 1994.

He was elected as Chairman of Scottish Branch from 1995 – 1998 and represented the Branch on the BSJA Executive Board. Andrew was a Judge for many years from the 1970s until his recent retirement. He is a very generous sponsor of show jumping in Scotland and has been a major sponsor at the Royal Highland Show for over 20 years. He runs a successful family haulage business and the company livery of black and red is a familiar sight on the rosettes for the classes he so generously sponsors. LIZ EDGAR FROM WARWICKSHIRE Liz, sister to David Broome and married to Ted Edgar, is a former leading International Show Jumper. At the age of twelve Liz made her first appearance at the Horse of the Year Show and by the age of fifteen she was sweeping the board at county shows. Liz has represented her country on numerous occasions and has won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup a record five times in 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1986. In 1980 she became the first woman ever to win the Aachen Grand Prix on Everest Forever.

In 1971, Liz gave birth to a daughter, Marie, who also went on to represent her country and be crowned Individual Junior & Young Rider European Show Jumping Champion for four consecutive years from 1988-1991. A member of the Executive Board since 1997, Liz was appointed Vice-Chairman in 2001 and made Chairman of the UK Show Jumping Development Committee in 2008 and is still actively involved with British Show Jumping. SALLY LOCH FROM STAFFORDSHIRE Sally was born in the heart of the racing fraternity in Epsom and from an early age was riding out at various racing stables. In 1952 Sally married Peter Loch, an RAF Pilot who was posted to RAF Cosford in 1968 and Sally soon became involved with the RAF Saddle Club. In 1971 Sally, along with a few loyal helpers, turned one of the aircraft hangers into an indoor arena and ran Junior & Senior BSJA shows there throughout the winter for some 20 years.

Sally trained with Jon Doney as a Course Builder in 1976 and also became a Judge at around the same time which enabled her to course build and judge at RAF Cosford. Sally’s three daughters, Jacqueline, Jane and Wendy all rode and mixed their riding careers with helping to run the shows, preparing and maintaining the arenas. In 1972 the family became friends with Fred Hartill and RAF Cosford became a training ground for the great Pennwood Forge Mill. Sally still judges at many BSJA shows as well as helping at Pony Club, BHS and BSPS events and her enthusiasm for horse sport is still evident for all to see. ANN MARTIN FROM NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Ann has always had a love for horses and as a child she was a member of her local Pony club. She married Peter Martin in the late 1950’s and was soon following Peter around the country course building with two small children in tow. Ann became a Time Judge in the mid 1970’s and was promoted to the full Judges panel soon afterwards. In 1989 Ann was appointed Deputy Area Representative for Northamptonshire, a position that she still holds to this day.

Ann, for many years, has been show secretary for numerous shows including the successful Castle Ashby Show and manages to combine this alongside her Judging commitments. Her dedication and tireless voluntary work for show jumping has made Ann an outstanding ambassador of the Association and we hope she continues to enjoy her involvement for many years to come. PETER MARTIN FROM NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Peter first became involved with Show Jumping when he volunteered to help out with the Collecting Ring at the British Timken Show. He was soon promoted to helping the Course Designer, Mike Hickman, in Ring two which then started his love of course designing and he soon became the resident Course Designer for the British Timken Riding Club. Peter started training to be a BSJA Course Builder in 1967 under the tutelage of the late John Gross, and built his first BSJA show at City of Birmingham in 1971. Peter has been amongst the team of Course Designers at The Horse of the Year Show and The Royal International Horse and was appointed as Advanced Course Designer in 1992. He is now also a Supervisory Course Designer.

Peter was asked to become a BSJA Judge in 1965 and to this day, is still actively involved with judging at both BSJA and British Eventing events. JEAN PATERSON FROM ANGUS Jean has a long-standing association with show jumping with both her children, Sheena and Graham competing on ponies and horses. She was Area Representative for Tayside from 1984 to 2008. During this time Jean held the office of Chairman of Scottish Branch from 1992 to 1995 and represented the Branch on the BSJA Executive Board. Following her term of office as Chairman she then took on the role of Chairman of Finance for the Branch from 1995 until 2002. Jean has been a Judge since the 1970s and was also a Pony Club show jumping Steward for many years. Her son, Graham, is a BSJA Course Designer and Jean continues to be actively involved with the sport as a Judge. She is also a great supporter of all equestrian events, particularly in Angus and Fife.

GEORGE PEACOCK FROM NORTH YORKSHIRE George learned to ride himself as a boy and went on to ride with the Hurworth Hunt, eventually hanging up his boots in 2000. George and his late wife, Ruth, hosted hunt meets for the Hurworth Hunt branch of the Pony Club at Leake Hall where they farmed for over 50 years. George was an active member of the Pony Club Committee for some 15 years. He continues to judge show jumping at the branch’s horse trials and team show jumping as well as all the local shows that he has supported for many years. George also enjoys working with BSJA trainees and supports them as they become full panel Judges. Taking a leading role in the organisation of show jumping at his local show at Borrowby, George works tirelessly, often for over 12 hours until the last class has finished. George is well respected for his knowledge, experience and commitment and his amazing ability to concentrate for long periods while judging show jumping of all standards. MALCOLM PYRAH FROM NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Malcolm started riding at local gymkhanas from the age of 11.

On leaving school he went into the Civil Service and it was not until he was 23 that he decided on a career with horses. Malcolm’s first appearance on a Nations Cup Team was in Madrid in 1972, a competition which Britain won. He has seen phenomenal success with several memorable horses, including the talented, Towerlands Anglezarke. With Anglezarke he represented Britain for many years on Nations Cup teams, including the Gold Medal winning team at the European Championships in Dinard in 1985 and St Gallen in 1987 and went on to represent Britain at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988. In April 1980 Malcolm was awarded the British Equestrian Federation’s Medal of Honour for his services to British Show Jumping and during the 1990’s he was appointed Team Trainer to the British Young Riders Show Jumping Team. Malcolm has since retired from show jumping but still has a keen interest in the sport and owns many show jumping horses.

KEITH WATSON FROM SOUTH YORKSHIRE Keith was first introduced to Show Jumping in 1959 with the Dearne Agricultural Society and he became a Trainee Judge with the BSJA in 1961 and subsequently went on to become a Full Panel Judge. In 1980, Keith took over the responsibility of looking after the Area 16 timing equipment and still holds this position today. Keith was selected to be Time Judge at the Pony European Show Jumping Championships when they were held in Lincoln in the 1980’s and over the years he has judged at many great County Shows such as Great Yorkshire, Newark and Notts and Lincolnshire County. Keith has made a considerable contribution to the training of the current panel of Judges in South & West Yorkshire and is a great asset to the Area. TERRY WATSON FROM SOUTH YORKSHIRE Terry first became involved with Show Jumping as a member of the Pony Club and in 1959 was invited by the Area 16 Committee to become a trainee Judge and worked alongside Eric Roberts and Bill Morris.

Terry was appointed to the Judges panel in 1965 and was responsible for the Area 16 timing equipment from 1970 to 1980. Over the years Terry has judged at county shows and show centres all over the country including Great Yorkshire, Newark and Notts, Bramham, and the Festival of Show Jumping. Terry has been a member of the South and West Yorkshire Area Committee for many years and was Deputy Area Representative to Leslie Credland and David Ambler until he retired in December 2008. Terry has been a great servant to the Area and is ever available to advise and help. · 10 hrs · Hickstead Derby 1963, its third year. Douglas Bunn opened his dream in 1960 of owning the greatest show ground in the world, to what has now become a shining star in the Equestrian world, "The All England Jumping Course" quite simply know to so many of us as Hickstead. It is located in the village of Hickstead near Bolney in Sussex, England and has put this tiny spot in the English countryside on the worldwide map.

In this clip are some of the greats of the Golden Age of Show... Jumping, however, the announcer behind this clip is having difficulty with some of the pronunciations of several riders names and their horses. Such greats are on here including Pat Smythe, David Broome, Anneli Drummond-Hay, Ted Edgar, Ute Richter and Nelson Pessoa. Enjoy, sit back and relax while you witness some of the toughest competition in the sport with some of its greatest horses and riders. Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you.

· Yesterday at 2:02am · A very young Nick Skelton riding Maybe. Our double gold medalist Nick Skelton's riding career goes back to the sixties. Here he is riding Maybe on the winning British Nations Cup Team back in the seventies. As we know, the rest is history with his dream coming true last summer in Rio when he won the individual Show Jumping Gold Medal riding Big Star. Just four years before this great combination were members of the winning team Gold Medal on home turf at the London Olympics. ...He is receiving the O.B.E. this year from the Queen, however, myself and many thousands of others believe he should be Knighted and in all of our eyes, he is "Sir Nick" arise great Knight. If this is not rectified in the very near future, then it is an injustice, this is the least the "establishment" can do for an amazing senior British sportsman. Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon.

Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you. · January 17 at 2:12am · Derek Ricketts. Derek was born on January 30th, 1949 and became one of Great Britain's top International Riders. He was known for his sharp eye and numerous wins with Beau Supreme and Hydrophane Coldstream. Coldstream was an exceptional show jumping horse, who has gone down in the show jumping history books with Derek as his successful rider. Derek and Coldstream represented Great Britain at many international show jumping events and championships winning numerous National a...nd International Grand Prix's. They represented Great Britain on Nations Cup Teams and Derek eventually became the person who would take over from Ronnie Massarella as Great Britain's Show Jumping chef d'equipe. These were very tough shoes to fill and Derek tried unsuccessfully.

After becoming a successful trainer when he retired from the sport as a rider working with a new generation of Show Jumpers, Derek was given the job of Team Manager for the British Show Jumping Team. He left the position at the beginning of 2010. Here is a super photograph of Derek winning the Welsh Show Jumping Derby riding Hydrophane Coldstream. Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you.

· January 15 at 3:39am · Royal International Horse Show Wembley Stadium 1968 I have had several people ask me when the Royal International Horse Show left the White City Stadium. I believe this clip when it moved to Wembley Stadium answers the question. The last R.I.H.S. was held at White City in 1967. It did go back there once a few years later, however, after two years on the famous Wembley turf, the football players were up in arms about the tearing up of the turf and it moved indoors to the Empi...re Pool. Afterwards, it moved to the National Exhibition Center and eventually found its permanent home at Hickstead in 1992 and is held there every July. The R.I.H.S. has become one of the biggest equestrian events on the summer calendar in Europe. Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon.

Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you. · January 14 at 2:18am · Royal International Horse Show, Wembley 1972. Even though it says below the Horse of the Year Show, this is actually the 1972 Royal International Horse Show staged at the Empire Pool, Wembley. Many incredible riders took part, especially as it was just before they all left for the Olympics in Munich, Germany. A lot of you have asked for longer clips that you can watch and I found this one, please enjoy. Included are riders from all over Europe including the D'Inzeo brother, M...ichael Saywell, Harvey Smith, David Broome, Alan Oliver, Stephen Hadley, Johnny Greenwood and many others. Presenting the King George V Gold Cup that night was H.R.H.

Princess Margaret who was there with her husband Lord Snowdon, Anthony Armstrong-Jones. The sad news out of Great Britain yesterday was that he had passed away at age 86. Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you. · January 12 at 2:35am · The Vibart Show Jumping Club. I wonder how many remember the Vibart Show Jumping Club in Pool-in-Wharfedale, Yorkshire. Andrew Fielder is one of my oldest and lifelong friends as is his sister Tracey. We had hours of fun there and I was their commentator for two years at the winter shows.

It was here I first met the Whitaker's as very young boys, many of the top show jumpers had their start here. Some of the best food in Yorkshire was served out of the Vibart Club kitchen. An...drew is doing wonderfully and now riding Dressage living in the Newcastle area with his wife Maddy. They have been married now for about forty five years and I knew that this would be a marriage made in Heaven and for life. Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you. · January 11 at 2:24am · Four of the Golden Age greats.

Another superb Nations Cup win for Great Britain in 1975 with four of the absolute best. Left to right, Harvey Smith and Salvador, Graham Fletcher and Tauna Dora, Paddy McMahon riding Penwood Forgemill and David Broome with Heatwave. All still very active in the horse world and four of our shining stars of British Show Jumping. It was wonderful and such a pleasure to be a part of many of their successes. If only we could bring those days back an...d once again see them all competing at Wembley, the pure magic of show jumping. Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon.

A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you. · January 10 at 4:34am · Joe Turi and Kruger Another great rider for the ages, such a popular man and another of our great show jumping friend taken far too soon. Joe was loved by everyone and it was a terrible tragedy when he left us. Many have asked me to put something up on here about Joe. Please enjoy this clip, a wonderful, talented and popular rider, R.I.P. great man. Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" wit...h many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you.

· January 9 at 6:23am · Harvey Smith who made the Harvey Smith "V" famous. What is left to say about this amazing, colorful and exciting character who came out of Yorkshire? There has only ever been one Harvey Smith and there will never be one like him again. Apart from being one of the most brilliant riders of all time, Harvey was also one of the greatest characters of all time. He changed the English Dictionary with, "And a Harvey Smith to you too" lol! Harvey did not care about the establishment,... to him, they were just another group to contend with and that is exactly what he did. Many of them feared him, however, they also had great respect for him. Even the "Snobs" of the sport could not help admire him and one of his good friends was Princess Ann. Harvey is still a great character and is loved the world over my so many. Our sport is not the same anymore without all of those great characters, led by the biggest character of all, Yorkshires Harvey Smith, the King of Bingley.

Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you. · January 8 at 2:29am · The great Caroline Bradley and Tigre. I am about to leave for the Palm Beach Series final day of the first week at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, however, I could not leave without posting one of my most requested of all time from the followers of the Golden Age of Show Jumping. The one and only Caroline Bradley who left us far too soon. Here is Caroline showing her brilliance with Tigre, a horse she adored and Tigre adored her also, enjoy!

Now is the time to order that speci...al New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you. · January 7 at 2:32am · Jappeloup and Pierre Durand representing France. This amazing little horse with Pierre won the 1987 European Show Jumping Championships in St.Gallen, Switzerland. They took the individual gold with John Whitaker taking the silver for Great Britain aboard the incredible Milton. Jappeloup was small and nobody in Bordeaux wanted to buy him, you can see his height compared to the other horses.

As I remember Pierre Durand refused once to buy him until the horse had good results wi...th his previous owner. Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you. · January 6 at 2:36am · Eddie Macken and the one and only - Boomerang. Once in a lifetime a horse like Boomerang comes along. Something so special that they go way beyond the normal and Boomerang certainly did that. I am not going to write very much about him as Eddie tells the story perfectly in this video. An incredible partnership that happens to a rider once in a life time.

Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping..." with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you. · January 5 at 2:31am · The great Foxhunter and Colonel Harry Llewellyn. One of the greatest and most famous horses to ever come out of Great Britain. Harry and Foxhunter won it all and very quickly became a household name. Many have asked me why is there a piece out of his left ear. When he was a foal, he was bitten by a mare, probably protecting her foal, thus the missing piece of ear. This combination represented Great Britain on many occasions including at the Helsinki Olympic Games in 1952.

The...y were a part of the Gold winning Team in show jumping. A record that stood until the British team won the Gold Medal at the London Olympics in 2012. Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you. · January 4 at 1:42am · Alwin Schockemöhle on Warwick Rex History was made at the Montreal Olympics when Alwin and Warwick Rex became the first ever horse and rider to jump a double clear round over an Olympic course. It was pure magic, incredible precision and one of the easiest looking rounds to watch, even though this was the Olympics.

Alwin and his great horse Warwick Rex made it look easy. The German federation almost left them off the team, however, Alwin was one of the best in the world, one... of the most stylish and one of the most talented of all time. He had great horses and was an absolute household name throughout Europe. This is a total pleasure and honor to watch and I had the pleasure several times in England to introduce them into the arena. The Golden Age of Show Jumping, what a pleasure to have been a part of this magical time in our sport. Now is the time to order that special New Years gift for yourself, a loved one or a friend, "The Golden Age of Show Jumping" with many five star reviews. Forwards written by Harvey Smith and Paddy McMahon. Your local book shop will order it for you or you can just go direct to Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line, thank you! While there, you can also pick up my five star rated children's book, Toby Rogue. This wonderful book of a mischievous little Shetland pony has many five star reviews already on Amazon. A perfect gift for the children in your life, please leave a review, for both books, thank you.

· January 3 at 3:38am · Horse of the Year Show - Wembley - 1972 You will recognize many of the incredible show jump riders and their horses from the true Golden Age of Show Jumping in this clip including Ann Moore on Psalm, Harvey Smith, David Broome, Paddy McMahon, several of the top German riders and of course the magic of what was Wembley. The eventual winner was Hendrik Snoek riding Faustus, their third victory at this incredible event, the 1972 Horse of the Year Show! This was my first commenta...ry at what was to me, the most prestigious show in the world, though I did not announce this particular class. The 1972 H.O.Y.S. has a very big place in my heart and a Wembley that I will never forget. I am not sure who the announcer is in this clip, he was not part of the Wembley team. Also, today is Andrew Fielders birthday of Vibart fame, Happy, Happy Birthday my friend, hope it is the best ever, miss you! :-) Robert Whitaker: Our 'lager loutish' wedding?

It was mostly early nights... - Telegraph Equestrianism Robert Whitaker: Our 'lager loutish' wedding? It was mostly early nights... Robert and Kate Whitaker, part of one of Britain's most successful sporting dynasties, on showjumping, their plans for a family - and how their beachfront wedding ended up on TripAdvisor Robert Whitaker Photo: COPYRIGHT : JULIAN SIMMONDS Robert Whitaker and his wife on their wedding day Photo: Robert Whitaker By Victoria Lambert Comments When Robert and Kate Whitaker’s January Barbados wedding made the news – thanks to a TripAdvisor review of their hotel last month , which ranted that their ''posh wedding had spoiled our holiday’’ – the down-to-earth couple were stunned. ''We were genuinely amazed that anyone could have been upset,’’ says 37-year-old Kate, friendly and laid-back as she pads about her house in jodhpurs and brightly coloured socks. The Whitakers, and about 60 relatives and friends, were also accused of “obnoxious and rude behaviour” and compared to ''a load of Blackpool lager louts’’.

It was bewildering, says Robert, 32: ''We thought we’d made friends with everyone staying in the hotel. It had been a terrific week.’’ Robert Whitaker and his wife Kate on their wedding day The poison-pen reviewer – who identified herself only as Adrienne3 – no doubt expected some sympathy, but instead, public support has flooded towards the Whitakers, not least as sunny wedding photographs confirmed the happy couple are part of one of Britain’s quietest, most unassuming yet successful sporting dynasties. Anyone who remembers the golden age of showjumping in the 1960s and 70s, when jump offs and the Big Wall were thrilling and regular segments on Grandstand, would have been tickled pink to see that wedding party line up. For there on the beach, possibly snapped in public for the first time ever without jodhpurs, were the senior Whitakers: John (Robert’s dad) and Michael (his uncle). Between them, the Whitaker brothers, who began riding professionally in the early 1970s, have succeeded at every significant level from Olympic competitions to European championships, not to mention winning the hearts of hundreds of female fans. Or perhaps that was just their horses.

Certainly John partnered two of the UK’s most famous and loved equines: Ryan’s Son and Milton, who each won more than a million pounds in prize money and adorned just as many bedroom walls as Donny Osmond. Showjumping was a slightly rougher, less safety-conscious sport in those days, and the public adored it. Most British cities ran showjumping competitions, and riders on the circuit included the dashing David Broome and fiery Harvey Smith – who famously gave judges the ''V’’ sign before switching horses, you could say, to train a Grand National winner with wife Sue in 2013. There was the impossibly plucky Marion Coates, too, who rode her little pony Stroller to a silver Olympic medal in Mexico City, and Caroline Bradley, who died at 37 from a heart attack at a show. We could take immense pride in the fact that Britain simply seemed unbeatable most of the time. Tennis this was not. Yet gradually fans seemed to drift away. TV moved on. The Premier League began to dominate broadcast schedules. Inside the ring, however, the rosettes continued to mount up . British riders kept on quietly winning.

And today we are still one of the top four or five nations in equestrian sport, which is worth £3.8 billion UK-wide (not including racing). Scott Brash, a builder’s son from Peebles in Scotland, has been world number one since 2013. There is depth in British showjumping too, with eight UK riders in the world top 100; Robert himself is currently ranked 61. At the London 2012 Olympics, GB took gold in the team showjumping event, and we can expect to qualify for Rio in 2016. Of course, riding is a fairly unique sport in that there is no upper age limit and the sexes compete on equal terms. So perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that Michael and John are still saddling up and scoring clear rounds. Yet hot on their hooves are the next generation, featuring the likes of Ben Maher, who has also topped the rankings, and 22-year-old Spencer Roe. And then there are the Whitaker offspring: William, Ellen, Stephen - and of course, Robert – in whose warm and cosy Kent home I am currently drinking tea.

Through his windows I can see high-stepping horses with the leggy grace of supermodels, being exercised by equally long-limbed grooms. Robert and Kate, who first met as children on the showjumping circuit, have 11 showjumpers at the moment. The dark bay Catwalk IV is probably Robert’s best ride. But another, Finbarr V, is better known to the general public, thanks to his special talent for the Puissance. This event, in which riders take it in turns to jump an increasingly high wall and are eliminated if they fail to clear it cleanly, has long been a favourite with crowds. Currently, 7ft 10 inches (cleared by Frankle Sloothaak on Optiebeurs Golo) is the highest wall achieved, in 1991, but Robert holds the world record for bareback Puissance. On Finbarr he jumped 2.12m, in 2011, with such apparent ease, points out Kate, ''you can’t even tell he’s not using a saddle unless you look hard’’. Robert Whitaker posted this photograph of the wedding party on his Facebook page But what is it like to face the wall?

''It’s not too bad,’’ Robert says, all wry Yorkshire understatement. ''You wouldn’t try though if you didn’t trust your horse completely and know he could do it.’’ Such feats may never be bettered, not least as showjumping has become safer – like many dangerous sports, it takes the health of both horse and rider seriously these days, which means not aiming them at enormous jumps simply to make the public go “ooh”. The jumps are built more carefully too, with poles made of lighter materials that also increase the chance of faults. This has the added benefit of making the sport more exciting. But there is a need to find ways to re-engage the public and get showjumping back on to terrestrial TV more often. Because there is a real danger British riders will be priced off their own horses thanks to lower levels of sponsorship and prize money in the UK, combined with the huge expense of producing even one top class horse (and riders need more than one to stay competitive, due to the risk of injury). Prize money in the UK has risen in recent years, with winners sometimes receiving as much as £100,000.

But abroad, in places like Calgary and Aachen, winners take home £1million with their red rosettes. It has been known, moreover, for British riders to produce a superstar horse and then be forced by necessity to sell to a foreign owner from a wealthy country like Dubai. Robert admits it can be frustrating: “You could end up competing against horses you’d trained up and hoped to ride yourself,” he says. The Catch-22 situation is worse when it comes to qualifying for competitions such as the Olympics: riders cannot succeed professionally without the best horses, which can be worth millions; but they may not be able to afford to compete, let alone buy hay, unless they sell their top showjumper. Robert is not down-hearted, though – he has a loyal owner called Mandy Hall, who has supported him for 10 years. And he was born to compete. “I was lucky; I grew up on a farm, everything was there,” he says. Is John a tough trainer? “I was never pushed,” says his son. “But of course I was taken to shows all over the country” - his father was World Number One for an amazing five consecutive years - ''and aged about 15, I got serious.

Dad never told me what to do but he was there if I wanted him. He still is.’’ He adds: ''My dad is very laid back; he doesn’t worry about anything. He makes the best out of a bad situation. I’m not as natural a rider as him – I’ve had to work quite hard.’’ Robert Whitaker of Great Britain competing in Calgary Will he encourage two-year-old Evie, the couple’s daughter, to follow in the family stirrups? Kate, who also competed before becoming a mother and now brings on the young horses, laughs. ''We have a little miniature pony she likes to feed treats to every day. That’s all so far.’’ Evie is no stranger to life on the road though. Robert competes at three or four shows every week, in the UK or abroad where, says Kate, there has been a change in ethos among young equestrians. ''I remember years ago there was more partying. But not now. Maybe it used to be like the Jilly Cooper novel Riders , but nowadays, everyone stays fit and disciplined. There’s so much at stake.’’ Which brings us back to their now famous wedding.

Kate says: ''Honestly, I’m the kind of person who’d be going around saying you’re making too much noise, or it’s time for bed. So it just wasn’t like that. In fact, it was mostly early nights because of Evie. It was just lovely to get the family together because showjumping life makes it so hard. January is about the only time off we get.’’ Perhaps we won’t have to wait too long to see Robert and our other favourite riders back in the sun though; there’s a lovely stretch of sand at Copacabana beach they can chill out on. Once they’ve won Gold for GB at Rio, that is.

Question: David Broome was a succcesful competitor in what sport in the 1960s and 1970s?
Answer: Show jumping