Eight more greats inducted into The British
Horse Society Hall of Fame. Five great riders and three horses were
inducted into The British Horse Society Equestrian Hall of Fame on Tuesday
22nd of November.
Dressage stars Lee Pearson MBE and Carl Hester, top show
jumper John Whitaker MBE, and Event riders Pippa Funnell MBE
and Lucinda Green MBE joined the 15 existing laureates in the Hall
of Fame, while famous horses Primmore's Pride (Pippa Funnell's
former mount), Arko III (ridden by Nick Skelton) and Shear H2O
(ridden by Olympic Gold medallist Leslie Law) joined the 13 existing
equine laureates.
British Horse Society President Noel Edmonds said: "I am honoured to be
able to reveal the new laureates for the BHS's Equestrian Hall of Fame.
Each has made a remarkable contribution to the horse world and won the
affection and loyalty of people who love horses."
The laureates were selected by a panel chaired by Chairman Patrick Print
FBHS and also comprising Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer, Michael Clayton, Lucy
Higginson, Jennie Loriston-Clarke and Michael Mac. The panel considered a
large number of nominations made by members of the public.
Two of the new laureates, Lee Pearson and John Whitaker, and five of the
laureates who were admitted to the Hall of Fame in July, are today to
collect certificates to mark their induction at a luncheon, sponsored by
South Essex Insurance Brokers, at the Cavalry and Guards Club, Piccadilly,
London.
Mr Print said: "Once again the tough thing was deciding who to leave out.
The world of equestrianism would simply not be the same without the great
achievements of Pippa Funnell, Lucinda Green, Carl Hester, Lee Pearson and
John Whitaker, or the tremendous performances of Arko III, Primmore's
Pride, and Shear H2O. We're proud of them all."
Lee Pearson said: "It's a great honour. The moment I think my life is
getting back to normality something wonderful and surreal like this
happens. It feels unbelievable to get an award for taking part in the
sport you love. It is also great for a Paralympic rider to be recognised
in this way."
Members of the public can still cast their votes to nominate equestrians
and horses as laureates in the BHS Equestrian Hall of Fame. Suggestions
should be emailed to
HallofFame@bhs.org.uk.
Here are biographical details on the laureates to be admitted to The
British Horse Society Equestrian Hall of Fame.
PEOPLE:
Pippa Funnell MBE
Pippa won her first European title in 1999, and soon became a regular
member of the British Three-Day Eventing team, winning three European Team
Gold medals, Olympic Team Silver in Sydney and Team Silver and Individual
Bronze at the Athens Olympics.
Lucinda Green MBE
In a sparkling career, Lucinda helped Britain to win the Olympic Team
Silver Medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. She has been Eventing World
Champion and twice European Champion and six times Badminton winner.
Carl Hester
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.
Lee Pearson MBE
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.
John Whitaker MBE
In a long and distinguished career, John has represented Britain at five
Olympics, winning an Individual Silver and two Team Silver medals. At the
European Championships he won Team Gold three times and Individual Gold
and Team Silver four times and two Individual Silver Medals.
HORSES
Arko III
Arko III has enjoyed great success with Nick Skelton, representing Britain
at the European Championships and the Athens Olympics. Arko III won a
clutch of Grand Prix and, in 2004, was named the BSJA's International
Horse of the Year.
Primmore's Pride
Primmore's Pride became the first horse to take all three four-star titles
consecutively. With his rider Pippa Funnell, he has romped to victory at
Badminton, Burghley and Lexington Horse Trials, and helped Pippa to pick
up an Individual Bronze and Team Silver medal at the Athens Olympics.
Shear H2O
One of the rides of Olympic Gold medallist Leslie Law, Shear H2O has
achieved huge success. He helped Leslie to Team Silver at the 2000 Sydney
Olympics, and Team Gold at the 2001 European Championships. When he
retired in September this year, he had amassed a total of 1,871 British
Eventing points making him the second most successful Event horse ever
(after King William).
The BHS Hall of Fame Laureates announced in July 2005:
PEOPLE:
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal
HRH The Princess Royal, The British Horse Society's President from
1999-2003, was European Eventing Champion and a member of the British
Eventing team at the Montreal Olympics, 1976.
Colonel Sir Michael Ansell
Colonel Ansell was the architect of Britain's post-war equestrian revival,
chairman of The British Show Jumping Association for 20 years, and the
first president of the British Equestrian Federation.
George Bowman
George Bowman was Carriage Driving British National Champion 19 times - a
remarkable record.
David Broome
David won the King George V Cup a record five times, represented Britain
at four Olympic Games, winning two Individual Bronze medals in 1960 and
1968, and won an Individual Gold Medal at the Men's World Championships in
1970 on Beethoven.
Cynthia Haydon
Cynthia was Britain's leading Whip in the post-war years of the 20th
century.
Lorna Johnstone
Lorna was the oldest female Olympic competitor ever, competing at Dressage
at the age of 70 at the Munich Olympics in 1972.
Virginia Elliot
Ginny Elliot won double Individual Olympic Bronze and Team Silver for
Eventing - at the Los Angeles and Seoul Olympics (1984 and 1988). Ginny
also won Burghley five times (in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1989) - two of
them European Championships - and won at Badminton three times, in 1985,
1989 and 1993.
Colonel Harry Llewellyn
Colonel Llewellyn was an Olympic Gold medallist on Foxhunter at the
Helsinki Olympics.
Richard Meade OBE
Richard won Olympic Team Gold in Eventing in 1968 and 1972 and also gained
individual victory in 1972.
Anna Sewell
As well as writing the classic novel Black Beauty, Anna campaigned for
equine welfare in the 19th century and was responsible for getting the
bearing rein banned.
Harvey Smith
A show jumping legend. Harvey represented Britain at the 1968 Olympics in
Mexico and the Munich Olympics in 1972, and won the British Jumping Derby
at Hickstead four times.
Pat Smythe
Pat was the first lady show jumper to achieve popularity among British
public and won a Team Bronze medal at the Stockholm Olympics.
Sheila Wilcox
Sheila was the first UK lady eventer to achieve major success at
international level and won the Badminton Horse Trials for three
consecutive years.
Dorian Williams
Dorian was the first major equestrian commentator on BBC Television to
capture mass audiences, and greatly popularised the sports in post-war
Britain.
Brenda Williams
Brenda Williams, also known as Mrs VDS Williams, was a pioneer of British
Dressage and chairman of the Pony Club in the 1930s.
HORSES:
Be Fair
Won Badminton with Lucinda Green in 1973.
Cornishman V
Won Double Olympic Team Gold in Eventing - in 1968 with Richard Meade and
in 1972 with Mary Gordon-Watson.
Doublet
Won Burghley three-day event in 1971, when it was the European
Championships, with HRH Princess Anne (now HRH The Princess Royal).
Dutch Courage
Bronze medallist at the World Equestrian Games.
Foxhunter
Took Olympic Gold in show jumping at the Helsinki Olympics when ridden by
Colonel Harry Llewellyn.
High & Mighty
Won Badminton in 1957 and 1958 with Sheila Wilcox.
King's Warrior
Triple winner of the Horse of the Year Show Champion Show Hunter class.
Merely a Monarch
Winner of Burghley and the Badminton Horse Trials.
Milton
The only horse outside of racing to win more than £1 million.
Penwood Forge Mill
Won European Championships, King George V Gold Cup and the Horse and
Hounds Cup within six days.
Priceless
Won Team Silver and Individual Bronze in Eventing at the 1984 Los Angeles
Olympics.
Sefton
A Household Cavalry horse who survived the IRA bombing in London in 1982.
Stroller
The only pony to compete at international level among horses and win
consistently, including an Olympic silver medal with his owner-rider
Marion Mould.
________________________________________________________________________ The British Horse Society
http://www.bhs.org.uk/
