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Ten British equestrian greats inducted into Hall of Fame
Jennie Loriston-Clarke MBE FBHS, Robert Oliver, Captain Mark Phillips FBHS, Bertie Hill, Caroline Bradley, Marion Mould, Nick Skelton, Douglas Bunn, Tosca and Beethoven will all entered the BHS Equestrian Hall of Fame.
British Horse Society President Noel Edmonds said: "I know the panel had a tough time choosing just 10 new laureates. All these equestrians and horses deserve to take their place in the Hall of Fame."
The laureates were selected by a panel chaired by BHS Chairman Patrick Print FBHS and also comprising: Michael Clayton, Ginny Elliot, Lucy Higginson and Michael Mac. The panel considered a number of nominations made by members of the public.
Of the new laureates Captain Mark Phillips, Douglas Bunn, Jennie Loriston-Clarke, Mary Hill (the widow of Bertie Hill), and the owner of Beethoven will today collect certificates to mark their induction at a luncheon at the Goring Hotel, London.
The owners or riders of Dutch Courage, Sefton, Cornishman V and Merely a Monarch who were admitted in July 2005 will also be present to collect their certificates.
Mr Print said: "It is a pleasure to put more top stars in the BHS Equestrian Hall of Fame and recognise their talents."
Plaques to commemorate all the laureates in the BHS Equestrian Hall of Fame is to be displayed on the wall of the Household Cavalry's Barracks in South Carriage Drive, Knightsbridge, west London – by kind permission of the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Griffin.
Lt Col Griffin said: "The Household Cavalry are delighted to be associated with the BHS Equestrian Hall of Fame, especially as the military have produced so many good riders, and the Colonel of the Blues and Royals, HRH The Princess Royal, is a former Olympian and Hall of Fame Laureate."
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 [email protected]
Jennie Loriston-Clarke MBE FBHS
In a distinguished dressage career, Jennie Loriston-Clarke has represented 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 (BHS).
She is renowned as a trainer and judge as well as being a passionate supporter of British-bred horses, having trained home-bred horses to international level. Last month Her Majesty presented Jennie with the first Queen's Award for Equestrianism.
Robert Oliver
Robert has produced some of the best hacks and cobs in the country. He started out with show ponies before extending his interests into showing horses. He is renowned as one of England's top showmen.
His best show horses were JCB, King's Warrior and Super Ted. Over the years, Robert has won many classes at Wembley, the BHS-owned Royal International Horse Show and the Horse of the Year Show.
Captain Mark Phillips FBHS
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 serves as Chef d'Equipe of the United States Eventing Team. He is a pre-eminent course designer and trainer.
Bertie Hill
Bertie 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 in 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.
Caroline Bradley
Show jumper Caroline won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup twice, the Toronto Open Show Jumping Championship and was the second woman to win the Hamburg Jumping Derby.
Her best horses were Tigre and Marius. In 1979 she was voted Daily Express Sportswoman of the Year.
She also bought Milton as a newly weaned foal, and rode and trained him until her tragic death in 1983 at the age of 37.
Marion Mould
Marion joined forces with Stroller, a 14.2hh pony, at the age of 13. They started their jumping careers together as Junior competitors. However, when Marion rose to open classes, she decided to give Stroller a chance to move onwards with her.
The pair went on to win an Olympic Silver Medal at the Mexico Olympics in 1968, the Embassy Grand Prix at Hickstead, and many more top competitions.
Marion and her other international horse Daddy's Girl represented Great Britain on several occasions and her horse Bandolero was consistently placed at home and abroad.
Nick Skelton
Nick is a world-renowned show jumper and his career has lasted more than 30 years. He has won nearly 1500 classes and well over £4 million in prize money.
A near-fatal injury forced Nick to retire in 2001 but he has made a remarkable recovery and is once again at the top of his sport.
Among his major wins are four King George V Gold Cups at The British Horse Society's Royal International Horse Show, the Volvo World Cup, Team Silver in the 1980 Olympic Games and two European Championship Golds. He has won the Hickstead Derby three times.
Douglas Bunn
Douglas has had a lifelong interest in show jumping having been Chairman and President of the British Show Jumping Association of which he is currently Honorary Vice-President.
Having competed successfully on ponies before turning to horses. Douglas has owned many show jumpers, notably The Maverick, latterly ridden by Alison Dawes, and Beethoven on whom he competed successfully himself before giving the ride to David Broome, who won the World Championships in La Baule in 1970. Douglas was also chef d'equipe of many British show jumping teams.
In 1960 he opened the All England Show Jumping Course at Hickstead, incorporating in its International Arena many permanent obstacles. Over the years this has become the leading centre for British show jumping. It is now home to many prestigious events in the national and international calendars including the BHS's Royal International Horse Show, the Hickstead Derby, the British Nations Cup, and the Schools Show Jumping championships.
Beethoven
Beethoven was an Irish 16hh brown gelding owned by Douglas Bunn and ridden by Douglas and by David Broome.
He was sired by the thoroughbred stallion Roi d'Egypte out of an Irish draught mare called Fanny and bought as an unbroken three year old in 1961 by Jack Bamber.
Sold on to Douglas Bunn, he quickly proved his potential by winning the Foxhunter Championship at the Horse of the Year Show as a four year old in 1962.
David Broome took over the ride in 1968 and he and Beethoven quickly established a successful partnership by winning the Derby Trial and the Embassy Grand Prix at Hickstead and a speed class in Dublin.
They won the Toronto Grand Prix in 1965, the World Championship Gold Medal in La Baule in 1970 and made twelve Nations Cup appearances.
Tosca
All but unbeatable in her day, Tosca was described as an infallible "jumping machine", achieving clear rounds with uncanny consistency. Ridden by Pat Smythe, Tosca was the biggest winner in England in 1952 and 1953.
Previous laureates whose owners are receiving certificates today:
Merely a Monarch
Merely a Monarch was winner of Burghley in 1961 and the Badminton Horse Trials in 1962 with Anneli Drummond-Hay.
He won Badminton and an International Show Jumping Grand Prix within months of each other and was beyond doubt a most talented horse.
Merely a Monarch helped launch Anneli Drummond-Hay on to the international scene and was short-listed in all three Olympic disciplines.
He was voted in a L'annee Hippique Worldwide Poll as one of the best 50 horses of the 20th Century.
Cornishman V
Cornishman won Double Olympic Team Gold in Eventing - in 1968 with Richard Meade and in 1972 with Mary Gordon-Watson.
He helped two riders to victory in equestrian events and was the only non-human Olympic medallist to pursue a successful film career with appearances in Dead Cert (1974), based on a Dick Francis novel, and International Velvet (1978).
Sefton
Sefton was the Household Cavalry horse who survived the IRA bombings in London in 1982.
He underwent eight hours of surgery and became a household name. He was 19 years old at the time of the bombings and received a blaze of media attention and enormous concern from members of the public.
Sefton was retired to The Home of Rest for Horses shortly afterwards and stayed there until 1993. He became incurably lame from the injuries he suffered and was put to sleep at the age of 30.
Sefton's legacy lives on through The British Horse Society Sefton Awards, set up in 1984, and also the Sefton Equine Referral Unit which is based at the Royal Veterinary College.
Household Cavalry tradition dictates that horses' names are re-used, which ensures that Sefton's memory will live on.
Dutch Courage
Jennie Loriston-Clarke won a Bronze medal at the World Equestrian Games on her brilliant mount Dutch Courage.
Dutch Courage moved on to the Catherston Stud, in Hampshire, where he was the foundation stallion. His stock is said to have excelled widely, in the UK and overseas.