John Whitaker (equestrian)

John Edwin Whitaker, MBE (* August 5, 1955 in Huddersfield ) is a British show jumper. Due to the multitude of his successes over the decades, he is sometimes referred to as a living legend.

Career

The career of John Whitaker started in 1976 by ​​winning the British Championship on Ryan's Son In 1979, he was with Ryan 's Son fifth in the first World Cup final. His most successful period he had in the late 1980s to the early 1990s with the Mould Milton, with whom he won the World Cup in 1990 and 1991 and 1987 European champion. 1988 were Whitaker and Milton as at the Olympic Games in Seoul, Milton's owner, however, not permitted to start, because they feared for the health of the horse.

Together with his brother Michael Whitaker ( born March 17, 1960), Timothy Grubb and Steven Smith, he won the 1984 team silver at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney he rode with Calvaro Z a horse of his brother Michael. Shortly thereafter he suffered in a riding tournament in Sweden a stroke, after his recovery he went though the same back in the saddle. In 2006, he crashed heavily at the Spring Derby in Hamburg.

At the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 he had to do without a start since his horse had Peppermill injured in Beijing.

Whitaker is known for its ability to adapt to new horses and to place them after only a few days in the most challenging obstacle course ahead. He also rides his horse so economically that they are in the older age fighting fit in professional sports go. He is considered modest and open-minded and is often mistakenly referred to due to the fact that he gives in interviews very concise and accurate answers as taciturn.

Honors

1991 John Whitaker was honored with the title MBE.

Private

He is married to Clare Barr, whose father the horse Ryan 's Son was one. The couple has three children: Robert, Louise and Joanne. His son Robert, his nephew William and his niece Ellen are also successful in international showjumping.

Horses ( excerpt)

  • Milton ( * 1977, † July 4, 1999 ), Dutch Warmblood, gray gelding, Sire: Marius, mother father: Any Question, adopted in 1994 since 1985 at the Olympia London International Horse Show from the sport.
  • Ryan 's Son ( * 1968, † 1987), Brown, Irish half-breeds, Whitaker was 18 years old when he got it under the saddle.
  • Hopscotch (* 1975), Rhenish gelding
  • Gammon Oldenburg gelding
  • Welham (* 1980)
  • Grannusch (* 1979), Hanoverian, retired from the sport in 1999.
  • Calvaro Z later renamed Calvaro FC, ​​(* 1987, † 2009), brown Holsteiner stallion Sire: Caletto I, Mother Father: Capitol I, previously ridden by Michael Rüping, Jos Lansink and Michael Whitaker.
  • Peppermill (* 1997), brown KWPN stallion Sire: Burggraaf, Breeder: W. Verstappen.
  • Utah van Erpekom (* 1997), Belgian stallion check, Father: Landetto, Mother Father: Calimero.
  • Argento

Achievements

  • Olympic games 1984 Los Angeles: Silver medal team at Ryan 's Son
  • World Championships 1982 in Dublin: bronze medal team at Ryan 's Son
  • 1986 in Aachen: Silver medal team at Hopscotch
  • In 1990 in Stockholm: bronze medal team, silver medal single to Milton
  • In Rome in 1998: Bronze medal team at Heyman
  • World Cup Winner in 1990 and 1991 to Milton
  • European Championships 1983 in Hickstead: Silver medal team, silver medal single Ryan 's Son
  • 1985 in Dinard: Gold medal team, bronze medal individual on Hopscotch
  • 1987 in St. Gallen: gold medal team, gold medal single to Milton
  • 1989 Rotterdam: gold medal team
  • 1991 in La Baule: Silver medal team
  • 1993 in Gijón: Silver medal team
  • 1995 St. Gallen silver medal team
  • 1997 in Mannheim: bronze medal team
  • CHIO Aachen Winner 1997 Welham
448993
de