Show Jumping - Rider Profiles

John Whitaker MBE

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John Whitaker began riding at the age of six, and just twelve years later formed a wonderful relationship with ‘Ryan’s Son,’ a horse that had just 50p on his card. During the next 14 years together they formed a partnership of nearly-legendary show jumping success – the highlight of which was winning a Team Silver Medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. John may be better known for his second legendary partnership with the wonderful grey, Milton – the first horse to win over a million pounds in prize money! John and Milton represented Great Britain countless times and rarely had any faults. They won two team golds at European Championships as well as individual silver and team bronze at the World Championships in Stockholm in 1990. Their partnership spanned nearly a decade until John retired Milton in 1994. Milton died in 1999. John won the Hickstead Derby in 2000 as well as riding at the Sydney Olympics where the team was placed 8th overall. He won the Hickstead Derby for a second time in 2004, where he narrowly beat his niece, Ellen Whitaker. In 2005 he competed as part of the British team at the FEI European Championships in San Patrigano, Italy. He also rode as a member of the Nations Cup Team winning in Dublin and Lummen and coming 2nd in Lisbon, 5th in Hickstead and 7th in Rotterdam.

Recent Major Achievements:

• 2007 -British Open: 2nd Zinc Management Stakes (St Honores Liquido), 3rd Accumulator (Lactic Two), 1st British Open Show Jumping Championships round 3, 7th British Open Show Jumping Championships Final.
• Member of Super League Nations Cup Team: Rome 1st (Peppermill), St Gallen 8th, Rotterdam 1st.
• European Bronze Medal GB Team, Mannheim (Peppermill)
• 2006 –British Open Show Jumping Championships Joint 1st Puissance: (Lactic Two & Exploit de Roulard)
• Dubai: 3rd Palm Speed Stakes (Lactic Two)
• HOYS: 1st Special Event Services Cup
• 2005 – British Open Show Jumping Championships: 2nd
• Puissance (Exploit de Roulard)
• Lisbon: 1st Grand Prix (Exploit de Roulard)
• HOYS: 1st Puissance (Lactic Two & Exploit de Roulard)
• Olympia: =1st Puissance (Exploit de Roulard)
• 2004 – British Open Show Jumping Championships: 1st
• Puissance (Lactic Two); 2nd Speed Stakes (Lactic Two): 2nd
• Accumulator (Lactic Two); 2nd Grandstand Classic (Gem of India); 2nd Sheffield Masters (Gem of India); 3rd Meadowhall Classic (Gem of India)
• Maubeuge: 2nd Grand Prix; 1st Six Bar (Gem of India)
• Geesteren: 2nd Grand Prix (Gem of India)
• Chantilly: 1st Speed Class
• Belfast: 1st Puissance; 3rd Premier Stakes (Exploit de Roulard)

Michael Whitaker

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Michael was raised on his parents’ farm in Yorkshire with his brothers, John, Ian and Steven. They were taught to ride from an early age by their mother who was a keen horsewoman. Michael began riding on his own ponies and soon moved on to horses where his natural ability began to show and he became a strong and determined rider. At just 20 years of age, Michael became the youngest ever winner of the Hickstead Derby – an accomplishment that remains unbeaten to this day. In 1999, Michael was the highest placed British rider in the World Cup Final in 5th position. He then bettered his own record by coming 3rd in 2001. His achievements include 4 Olympic appearance (hopefully a 5th on the way!), 4 Hickstead Derby wins, 4 King George V cup wins and over 100 Nations Cup appearances. Michael won the Zinc Management International Classic and came first in the opening Championships competition at the British Open in 2006. At last year’s event he came 5th in the British Open Show Jumping Championships Round 2, 7th in the BSJA Winter Premier Grand Prix Championship and 8th in the British Open Show Jumping Championship Final.

Recent Major Achievements:

• 2007 – Member Nations Cup Super League Team; La Baule (Insul Tech Mozart des Hayettes); Rotterdam 1st; Rome 1st; Hickstead 2nd.
• CSI5* Athens 4th Grand Prix (Insul Tech Mozart des Hayettes)
• European Bronze Medal GBTeam, Mannheim (Suncal Portofino 63).
• Vigo: 1st Masters (Carnaval Path)
• 2006 – HOYS: 2nd Easibed Stakes (Insul Tech Portofino 63), 2nd Accumulator (Merva des Hayettes)
• Syracuse: 1st World Cup qualifier (Portofino 63)
• Represented Great Britain in the World Equestrian Games, Aachen (Portofino 63)
• Barcelona: 1st Grand Prix (Portofino 63)
• 2005 – Bordeaux: 1st Speed Class (Renzerin Vd Rampaarden)
• Tampa: 1st World Championship Qualifier (Hendel II)
• Las Vegas: 2nd FEI World Cup Final (Portofino 63)
• Hickstead Derby: 1st Speed Stakes (Renzerin Vd Rampaarden)
• Toronto: 1st & 2nd A7 (Merva Des Hayettes)

Robert Whitaker

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Son of international show jumper, John Whitaker, and nephew to Michael Whitaker, Robert is one of the UK’s most talented young riders. Between 1999 and 2002 Robert won two team gold medals at the Junior European Championships and two individual golds at the Young Rider European Championships. Robert joined his first Nations Cup team at La Baule in 2001 at just 18 years of age. In 2003 he won the inaugural British Open title and went on to be selected for Great Britain in the Nations Cup Team in Lisbon where he jumped the winning round to secure victory. In 2005, Robert was selected for a World Class Start and Potential Programme aimed to develop riders to Olympics levels for 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.Robert had fantastic results at last year’s British Open winning the Zinc Management Stakes, the Grandstand Classic and the Puissance. He also came 2nd in the British Open Show Jumping Championship third round and 5th in the British Open Show Jumping Championships Final.

Recent Major Achievements:

• 2007 - Spanish Sunshine Tour; 1st Grand Prix (FinbarrV)
• British Open – 1st Zinc Management Stakes, 1st Grandstand Classic (Nureev), 2nd British Open third round (Lacroix 9), 5th British Open Final (Prima Vera), =1st Puissance (Finbarr V)
• Blue Chip Winter Championships; 1st Grand Prix (Lacroix 9)
• Royal Windsor; 1st Grade A Comp (Lacroix 9), 1st Martin Collins Grade A Comp (Azucar), 2nd 6 Bar (Finbarr V), 1st Nat 1.40m (Finbarr V) 1st Grade A (Prima Vera), 3rd Royal Windsor Grand Prix (Lacroix 9).
• Horse of the Year Show; 1st HOYS Cup, 1st Accumulator (Lacroix 9).
• CSI3* Stockholm; 1st Grand Prix (Lacroix 9)
• Member of Nations Cup; Dublin 7th (Lacroix 9).
• Zurich: 2nd 1.50m A7 (Lacroix 9)
• 2006 – British Open Show Jumping Championships: 2nd The Sheffield Masters (Nureev du Houssoit)
• Blue Chip Winter Championships: 1st Blue Chip Grand Prix (Lacroix)
• Member Nations Cup Team: Gijon 3rd (Nepos Van Limbo)
• HOYS: 1st Puissance (Finbar V)
• Belfast International: 1st Puissance (Finbar V), 1st Speed Grand Prix (Karina)
• 2005 – British Open Show Jumping Championships: 2nd Grandstand Classic (Qualite); 3rd International Classic (Karina)
• Lumen: 1st Derby (Karina); 1st A4 (Nathalita)
• Great Yorkshire Show: 1st Cock o’ the North (Ublesco)
• Hickstead Derby: 2nd Derby Tankard (Nicolette II)
• Horse of the Year Show: 1st Easibed Stakes (Nureev), 2nd
• Golden Bear Classic (Ublesco); 2nd Speed Horse of the Year (Nureev); Leading British Rider and winner of the HOYS Spurs
• Olympia: 2nd Christmas Masters (Finbarr V)

Nick Skelton

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At fifteen years of age Nick Skelton landed the job of a lifetime working for Ted Edgar. He had visited the Edgar yard for some advice about a difficult pony and ended up learning from Ted for the next 12 years. Following a fantastic career, Nick sadly had to retire in 2001 following an injury to his neck in September 2000. Two year later, however, Nick was given the all clear to start riding again and carry his great show jumping career further. Nick’s career highlights include winning 59 International Grand Prix’s, winning at Hickstead three times, and competing for team GB 160 times winning 13 Championship medals. He was also the World Cup Final winner in 1995 on his wonderful horse, Dollar Girl.

Recent Major Achievements:

• 2007 - CSIO La Baule: 5th Grand Prix (Russel)
• CSIO St. Gallen: 2nd A7 (Arko III)
• CSI5* Cannes: 3rd A7 (Arko III)
•  Estoril: 1st Global Champions Tour Grand Prix (Arko III) Member of Nations Cup Team: St Gallen 8th (Arko III),
• Aachen 8th (Russel), Hickstead 2nd (Russel); Dublin (Russel)       
• CSIO5* Dublin: 2nd Puissance (Russel)
• CSI5* Valkenswaard: 2nd Grand Prix (Arko III), 2nd A7 (Russel)
• CSIO5* Spruce Meadows: 6th Grand Prix, 2nd A4 (Arko III), 1st 6 Bar (Russel)
• CSI5* Athens: 2nd Grand Prix (Arko III)
• CSI-W Toronto: 3rd 4 Bar (Likido)
• CSIW Olympia: 2nd World Cup Qualifier (Arko III)
• 2006 - CSI-W Dubai: 1st Dubai Classic (Arko III), 2nd Six Bar (Russel), 3rd Grand Prix (Arko III)
• Awarded Leading Rider and Riders Rider of the Year 2005 at the British Show Jumping Ball.   Arko was awarded Leading Nations Cup Horse & Leading Horse
• CSI-W Wellington: 2nd World Cup qualifier (Arko III)
• CSI*****Wellington: 1st WEF Open Challenge (Russel)
• Florida: 4th Invitational Grand Prix (Arko III)
• Member of Nations Cup Team: Wellington USA 6th (Russel); La Baule 6th (Russel); Rome =2nd (Arko III); Lucerne 8th (Russel); Rotterdam =5th (Arko III); Spruce Meadows 2nd (Russel)
• CSIO5* Lucerne: 1st Longines Grand Prix (Arko III)                              
• CSIO4* Cannes: 2nd Grand Prix (Arko III)  
• Castle Ashby: 1st Grand Prix (Arko III)
• Addington Manor: 3rd 6 Year Old Class (Concas)
• Represented Great Britain at the World Equestrian Games Aachen (Russel)
• HOYS: 3rd Accumulator, 4th Leading Show Jumper of the Year (Russel)
• CSI-W Washington: 6th A7 (Russel), 6th A7 (Namur 47)

Tim Stockdale

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Tim started riding at the age of seven on his first pony, Danny Boy, a 12.2hh skewbald pony. As a youngster he was a keen member of the Grove Pony Club. After a year working for Mike Saywell, Tim went on to ride as second jockey to Graham Fletcher, both of which gave him invaluable experience in the world of professional show jumping. During his riding career he has been a British Team member 39 times with 5 wins. He was also chosen to compete in the World Championships in 2002. Tim is a fantastic equestrian personality taking great interest in promoting the sport to the public. He featured in a programme by Cutting Edge on show jumping in 1995, took part in a programme called Faking It in 2001 and acted as trainer and judge on the 2006 television series Only Fools on Horses. Tim came first in the Winter Premier Grand Prix at the 2007 British Open Show Jumping Championships riding Fresh Direct Corlato. He also came 2nd at the Horse of the Year Show in the Dick Turpin Stakes and 2nd in the Leading Show Jumper of the Year class.

Recent Major Achievements:

• 2007 – CSI3* Nantes: 1st Grand Prix (Fresh Direct Corlato)
• British Open: 1st winter Premier Grand Prix
• Selected for European Championship Performance Squad (Fresh Direct Corlato)
• Member Nations Cup Team: Rome 1st, St Gallen (Fresh Direct Corlato)
• HOYS: 2nd Dick Turpin Stakes, 2nd Leading Show Jumper of the Year (Fresh Direct Corlato).
• Royal Windsor: 1st Grand Prix (Fresh Direct Corlato), 2nd Grade A Comp (Fresh Direct Corlato), 3rd Speed Stakes (Fresh Direct Una), 4th Land Rover grade A (Animation II
• Addington Manor: 1st Classic (Fresh Direct Animation)
• Bordeaux: 1st Grand Prix (Fresh Direct Corlato)
• 2006 -- Member Nations Cup: Lisbon, 2nd (Fresh Direct Corlato)
• HOYS: Welcome Stakes: 1st (Fresh Direct Glenwood Springs)
• 2005 -- Royal Windsor: 1st Speed Stakes (Fresh Direct Glenwood Springs)
• Member Nations Cup Team: Gijon
• HOYS: 2nd Royston 7 Year Old Horse Championships (Roland II); 2nd easibed Stakes (Fresh Direct Glenwood Springs); 2nd Vinopolis Stakes (Fresh Direct Glenwood Springs)

Ellen Whitaker

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Leading UK female rider, Ellen Whitaker, is daughter of Steven Whitaker and niece of international riders John and Michael. Ellen has had a magnificent year, joining team GB to compete at the European Championships in Mannheim Germany. Ellen rode a fantastic clear round with just one time fault helping to secure Great Britain’s place in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Ellen is a great competitor at the British Open, coming 2nd in the Midland Masters and 4th in the Grandstand Classic at last year’s event. Surprisingly, she hasn’t yet picked up the British Open championship title – let’s cheer her on and see if she can clinch it this year.

Recent Major Achievements:

• 2007 – British Open: 2nd Midland Masters, 4th Grandstand Classic (Kanselier)
• Member Nations Cup Team: Rotterdam 1st (Locarno 62), Aachen 8th (Locarno 62)
• Hickstead Derby meeting: 1st Speed Derby (Henry de Herne), 2nd A7 and 2nd A4 (Kanselier)
• Member of the European Bronze Medal GB Team, Mannheim (Locarno 62)
• HOYS 6th Leading Show Jumper of the Year (Locarno 62
• Brunstadt: 1st Grand Prix, 1st A4 (Kanselier)
• 2006 – British Open Show Jumping Championships: 1st Steel City Shield (Kanselier)
• Awarded Leading Under 21 Rider, Members Personality of the Year 2005
• Member: Nations Cup Team
• HOYS: 3rd hoys.co.uk Cup (Kanselier) 4th Puissance (Locarno 62), 1st Speed Horse of the Year (Henri de Here)
• 2005 – Tampa: 2nd World Cup Qualifier
• HOYS: 1st Young Riders Championship (Henri de Herne); 2nd Leading Show Jumper of the Year (AK Locarno); 3rd Puissance (AK Locarno)
• AGA Rookie of the Year in recognition of her achievements in the United States

Robert Smith

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The eldest son of Harvey Smith, Robert Smith is a fantastic competitor at the British Open, having won the title twice in two consecutive years on Kalusha! Encouraged to follow his father’s example from the age of six, Robert won the Yorkshire Show Grand Prix by the age of 15. He has since represented Great Britain a magnificent 78 times in Nations Cups – winning 14 times; won the King George V Cup three times (in 1979 he become its youngest ever winner!) and he has a Bronze European Championships medal alongside his Team Gold and Individual Bronze medals from his Junior European days. At HOYS 2000, Robert won an incredible seven classes and in 2002 achieved the memorable double title of being top rider and owner at the end of the year BSJA rankings lists. Robert and Marius Claudius were Britain’s only representatives at the 2003 World Cup, and Robert and Mister Springfield represented Great Britain in the individual competition at the Athens Olympics where he finished 5th. 2004 saw Robert a frequent of Britain’s Nations Cup Team which included 1st at Hickstead and 2nd in Rome. In the same year he also was placed as runner up at the British Open. He then bettered his previous record by being crowned British Open Show Jumping Champion – twice!

Major Recent Achievements:

• 2007 – British Open: 5th Birmingham City Shield, 4th Accumulator (Ronaldo), 3rd Midland Masters (Vangelis S)
• Royal Windsor – 1st Grade A Comp (Vangelis S)
• Member Nations Cup Team: Rome 1st (Ronaldo); Dublin 7th (Ronaldo)
• CSIO5* Rome: =1st 6 Bar (Vangelis S)
• CSI5* Valkenswaard: 2nd A7 (Ronaldo VI)
• 2006 – Vilamoura Tour: 1st Grand Prix (Blue Chip Quinton)
• Member Nations Cup Team: Kiskunhalas (Hungary) 5th, Bratislava 1st (Blue Chip Quinton)
• HOYS: 4th Newcomers Championship (Caloux Z) 3rd 7 Year Old Horse Championship (Temple Sandor Z)
• 2005 – Selected for World Class Start & Potential
• British Open Show Jumping Championships: 3rd Grandstand Classic (Temple Guess What)
• Champions of Scotland: 2nd 1.40m Grand Prix (Blue Chip Quinton)
• HOYS: 2nd BEIB 6 Year Old Horse Championship (Sonybanta) 3rd the Dick Turpin Stakes (Blue Chip Quinton)

William Whitaker

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Eighteen year old William is the nephew of John and Michael and cousin of Robert and Ellen. This is only William’s second season on horses but already he has achieved great success. In 2007, he was a member of the Young Riders’ Nations Cup Team where he came first and a member of the Accenture Young Rider European gold medal winning team. At last year’s British Open he won the Under 23 Classic the Young Riders’ Championship and came 3rd in the Puissance at Horse of the Year Show. William is tipped to be one of Great Britain’s best riders.

Recent Major Achievements:

• 2007 – British Open: 1st Under 23 Classic, 1st Under 23 Championship.
• Royal Windsor: 1st Accenture Young Rider Grand Prix (Arielle)
• Member of Young Riders Nations Cup Team: Compeigne 1st (Carnaval Path)
• Member of the Accenture Young Rider European Gold Medal Winning Team, Auvers (Carnaval Path)
• Member Nations Cup Team: Prague 1st (Arielle)
• HOYS: 3rd Puissance, 2nd Young Riders Championship (Insul Tech Leonardo), 3rd A7 (Insul Tech Iqbal des Hayettes)
• 2006 -- Member of Winning Junior Nations Cup Team, Utrecht (Carnival Path)
• Member of European Junior Bronze Medal Winning Team and Individual Gold Medal Winner, Athens (Carnival Path)
• HOYS: 4th Accumulator (Arielle)
• 2005 -- Selected for World Class Pre Start Programme
• HOYS : 1st and 2nd Kitt-Kraiburg Junior Show Jumper of the Year (Indien de Here & Colton Maelstrom)

William Funnell

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One of William’s greatest achievements was winning the Hickstead Derby in 2006. In previous years he came a very close 2nd in 1997 and 3rd in 2003, but narrowly missed the title in 2004 due to an injury which led him unable to ride the winner, Buddy Bunn. William was also a member of the Nations Cup Team coming 5th at Rotterdam and 7th at the Barcelona Super League Final. At Horse of the Year Show, in the same year, he won the Grandstand Media Cup on Cortaflex Amber du Montois and came second in both the Xerox Special Event Service Cup and the Dick Turpin Stakes, as well as 3rd in the easibed Stakes. William continued his HOYS success winning the Dick Turpin Stakes in 2007. He represented Great Britain in the European Championship in 2005 coming 6th in San Patrignano, Italy. When he was a member of the Nations Cup Team in 2003, they were placed 1st in Lisbon and 2nd at Dublin. William Funnell is married to top eventer, Pippa Funnell.

Major Recent Achievements:

• 2007 – British Open: 5th Accumulator (Cortaflex Amber du Montois), 2nd Knock-out
• Spanish Sunshine Tour: 1st A4 (Billy Birr), 4th A4, 6th Grand Prix (Machiavelli)
• Member Nations Cup Team: La Baule (Cortaflex Mondriaan), Dublin (Cortaflex Mondriaan)
• Hickstead Derby Meeting: 4th Hickstead Derby (Cortaflex Mondriaan)
• Royal Show: 1st and 3rd International Trial (Amber du Montois, Kepi D’Elle)
• HOYS: 1st Dick Turpin Stakes (Cortaflex Amber Du Montois)
• 2006 – HOYS: 1st Grandstand Media Cup (Cortaflex Amber du Montois) 2nd Dick Turpin Stakes (Cortaflex Machiavelli)
• Member of Nations Cup Team: Hickstead 1st, Rotterdam 5th, Barcelona Super League Final 7th (Cortaflex Mondriaan)
• Hickstead Derby: 1st Derby Trial, 1st DFS Hickstead Derby (Cortaflex Montriaan)
• 2005 – Member Nations Cup Team: La Baule 2nd, Rome 1st, Dublin 1st, Aachen 4th (Cortaflex Mondriaan)
• Represented Great Britain at European Championships: 6th (Cortaflex Mondriaan)
• HOYS: 3rd Speed Horse of the Year (Cortaflex Machiavelli), 4th The easibed Stakes (Cortaflex Amber du Montois)

David McPherson

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David began riding as a child in the school holidays and started show jumping for the army when he did his national service. Having ridden for South Africa for many years, David changed his nationality to British in 2002. He now runs his own yard in Kent with his wife, Karin. David has achieved success at Horse of the Year Show, coming fourth in the Accumulator last year and also fourth in the Leading Show Jumper of the Year in 2005. He also came third in the Zinc Management Stakes at the British Open in 2006.

Recent Major Achievements:

• 2007 – Member Super League Nations Cup Team: La Baule 8th (Pilgrim II), Rotterdam 1st (Pilgrim II), Aachen 8th (Pilgrim II), Barcelona Final (Pilgrim II)
• Hickstead Derby Meeting: 3rd Hickstead Derby (Skip Two Ramiro)
• Member of European Bronze Medal GBTeam, Mannheim (Pilgrim II)
• Royal Show: 1st and 3rd International Trial (Amber du Montois, Kepi D’Elle)
• HOYS: 1st Dick Turpin Stakes (Cortaflex Amber Du Montois)