GB Rider Profile; Ellen Whitaker

The Whitaker family are from Yorkshire and are very well known in show jumping. At Horse Of The Year Show there seems to be at least one Whitaker in every jumping class! Ellen Whitaker is only 25 years old and is one of our countries leading show jumpers. She always gets a massive cheer when she comes into the arena and is definitely a favourite amongst all the little girls that love horses.She has recently gotten engaged to Henry Cavill who is an American actor due to play Superman in a film.

Some of her past achievements include winning the 2010 Hickstead Speed Derby, winning the 2009 HOYS show jumper of the year Grand Prix and show jumper of the show, winning the HOYS speed stakes in 2006, 2008 and 2009 and winning the 2009 HOYS Puissance. Ellen currently has a number of good horses including Locarno, Kanselier and Ladina B.

Coming from the Whitaker family she has ridden horses from a young age. At the age of 15 she was placed third in the Hickstead Derby and later was disqualified for not yet having reached the minimum age of 16 to enter the competition! 

She unfortunately missed out on a place in team GB in the Beijing Olympics due to her horse Locarno having an infection in his leg. She also seems  unlikely to have a place in London 2012.

Love Laura
xxxx