Born
5 August 1955
Lives
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Background
John was 18 when he first partnered Ryans Son, a horse with just 50p on his card when he went to John, and was described as the ‘odd looking one’. The pair formed a partnership which was to last 14 years, the highlight of which was winning a Team Silver Medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Milton became John’s partner in 1985, his first major win the Du Maurier Grand Prix in Spruce Meadows, Calgary in 1986. John retired Everest Milton at the 1994 Olympia Horse Show, Milton died July 4th 1999. In 1998 John was Leading Rider at the Volvo World Cup Final in Helsinki, he won the first two legs of the World Cup on the gallant 19 year old Virtual Village Grannusch. In 1998 John won the Peugeot Derby at Hickstead on Gammon who at 21 is the oldest horse to have won the Derby. In 1999 John won the British Grand Prix at Hickstead and in 2000 the Peugeot Hickstead Derby riding Virtual Village Welham who was retired at the 2001 Derby meeting. A chance ride on Douglas Bunn’s – Buddy Bunn, due to William Funnells injury, gave John his fourth Derby victory in 2004.
Major Acheivements (since 2006)
2011
Longines Royal International Horse Show (CSIO 5*); 3rd The Bunn Leisure Trophy 1.50m (Argento) 3rd Bunn Leisure International Stakes (Dazzle II) 1st Bunn Leisure Salver (Argento)
Burgham Horse Trials; 2nd Accumulator (Argento) 2nd Grand Prix (Uno II)
Great Yorkshire Show; 1st William Hamson (Argento) 1st Cock of the North 1.60m (Peppermill)
Newark & Nottinghamshire County show: 1st The Mattie Brown Stakes (Argento)
CSI 3* Maubeuge (Fra): 2nd 1.50m Grand Prix (Casino 43)
CSI 3* Sunshine Tour (Esp); 2nd 1.35m (Cornetto King)
CSI 3* Sunshine Tour (Esp); 2nd 1.35m 2-phase (Voss) 1st 1.35m 2-phase (Uniek) 1st 1.45m, 1st 1.45m (Tadmus) 1st 1.35m (Titi d’Oase)
CSI 3* Sunshine Tour (Esp); 1st 1.40m small Grand Prix (Titi d’Oase) 2nd 1.45m Table A (Uniek)
2010
CSI 5* W London Olympia (GBR):4th FEI World Cup (Casino 43) 2nd 1.40m Welcome Stakes (Dazzle II) 3rd 1.40m Christmas Tree Stakes (Argento)
CSI3* Stockholm (Swe); 3rd 1.50m Table A 3rd 1.40m Table A 2nd 1.40m 2 Phase 3rd 1.50m Grand Prix (Argento & Dazzle II)
CSI3* Toronto (Can); 1st 1.45m Table A 2nd 1.45m Top Score (Dazzle II & Casino 43)
Maastricht (Ned); 3rd 1.45m Table A (Argento)
Arena UK; 2nd Major Open grand Prix (Argento)
CWSI3* Vejer de la Frontera(ESP): 1st 1.45m Against the Clock(Tadmus) 3rd Grand Prix (Peppermill)
CSI4* Dehesa Montenmedio: 2nd Grand Prix Big Tour (Peppermill)
Newark & Notts County: 1st & 3rd Mattie Brown Stakes (Uniek II & Tadmus)
Member Meydan Nations Cup team: Rome 2nd :St Gallen 3rd ; Rotterdam 2nd ; Aachen(Peppermill)
CSIO5* Rome: 2nd Grand Prix (Peppermill)1st 1.40m Table C (Tadmus)
RIHS: 1st Royal International Accumulator(Voss)
2009
British Open: 3rd First Phase British Open Champ(Casino)
Global Champions Tour, Valencia: 1st Grand Prix (Peppermill)
Member Meydan Nation Cup Team: La Baule; =3rd Rome (Peppermill)
British Masters: 2nd 1.30m Grand Prix (Argento)
British Young Horse Show: 1st 7 Yr Old Open final (Argento)
Bicester & Finmere: 1st Fresh Direct Area Trial) (Sultano)
CSI4* Chantilly: 2nd Grand Prix (Casino)
Arena UK Champ Show: 1st Arena UK 5 Yr Old ((Zilando)
Horse of the Year Show: 2nd Sky Sports Trophy(Utah van Erpekom)
2008
Beijing Olympic Games Team Member (Peppermill)
South View E.C: 1st Winter A&B (Casino)
CSI5* Zurich: 3rd Accumulator (Casino)
Member Super League Nations Cup Team: Rome 1st ; St Gallen 5th; ;Rotterdam 4th ; Aachen =3rd (Peppermill)
Bolesworth Castle: 1st Grand Prix (Utah van Erpekom), 1st 1.30m Open (Kairouan Rouge)
Horse of the Year Show:2nd Andrews Bowen Classic (Lactic 2), 2nd hoys.co.uk Diamond Jubilee Cup (Leandros de Semilly)
CSI-W Olympia: 4th Welcome Stakes (Utah van Erpekom);2nd Rolex World Cup qualifier(Casino)
2007
CSI-W Goteborg: 2nd A7 (Lacroix 9)
Arena UK Premier Show: 1st Winter A&B Grand Prix (St Honores Liquido), 1st 1.40m Open (Casino)
British Open: 2nd Zinc Management Stakes (St Honores Liquido), 3rd Accumulator (Lactic Two), 1st
British Open Championship round 3 (Casino), 7th British Open Championship Final (Casino)
Blue Chip Winter Championships: 3rd & 5th Grand Prix (Casino & St. Honres Liquido)
Member of Super League Nations Cup Team: Rome 1st (Peppermill); St. Gallen 8th (Peppermill);
Rotterdam 1st (Peppermill)Barcelona Final (Peppermill)
Bramham Horse Trials: 1st Grand Prix (Cortaflex Utah Van Erperkom)
Athina Onassis International Horse Show, Sao Paulo: 1st 1.55m Masters (Cortaflex Utah Van Het Erperkom)
Member of the European Bronze Medal Winning Team, Mannheim (Peppermill)
CSI5* Brussels: 5th Grand Prix (Peppermill)
Northern Ireland International: 4th Grand Prix (Cortaflex Utah Van Het Erperkom)
CSIW Olympia:1st Best of Best (Asucar)
2006
CSI-W Dubai: 3rd Palm Speed Stakes (Lactic Two)
Sunshine Tour (ESP): 1st Grand Prix (Peppermill)
CSI**** Sheffield: =1st Puissance (Lactic 2, Exploit de Roulard), 2nd The easibed Accumulator (St. Honore’s Liquido), 5th Grandstand Classic (Lactic 2), 1st Sheffield Masters (Exploit De Roulard), 5th City Shield
(Lactic 2)
CSI-W Goteborg: 1st Knock-Out (Lactic 2)
Member of Nations Cup Team: La Baule 6th (Exploit De Roulard); Aachen 3rd (Peppermill); Lucerne 8th (Peppermill); Rotterdam =5th (Peppermill); Hickstead 1st (Peppermill); Dublin 6th (Peppermill);
Barcelona 7th (Peppermill)
CSI3* Eindhoven: 2nd VDL Groep Derby (Lactic Two)
Bramham: 1st Accumulator (Hugo Du Heup)
Wales & West: 1st 1.40m Grand Prix (Hugo du Heup)
Royal Norfolk: 2nd Area Trial (Nepos van Limbo), 2nd Ride & Drive (St Honore’s Liquido)
Hickstead Derby: 2nd Derby Vase (Hugo du Heup), 4th Derby Trial (Lactic Two)
Royal Show: 1st International Trial (Hugo du Heup)
Castle Ashby: 3rd Grand Prix (Peppermill)
CSIO Barcelona: 1st 1.55m Table A (Nepos van Limbo)
Represented Great Britain at the World Equestrian Games Aachen (Peppermill)
HOYS: 1st Special Event Services Cup, 3rd Grandstand Media Cup (Hugo du Heup)
Belfast International Show: 3rd A7 (Nureev), =3rd Puissance (St Honore’s Liquido)
CSI-W Olympia: =1st Puissance (Lactic Two), 5th Grand Prix (Casino)
For a full biography of John, please visit the British Showjumping website