As a result of her achievements, she was voted Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year 2003 and was in the top five of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. As of 2017, she remains one of only two riders to have won the Grand Slam. The Kentucky and Burghley victories were on Primmore's Pride, while the Badminton victory was on Supreme Rock. In 2003, Funnell became the first rider ever to complete the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, by adding the Burghley title to her victories earlier in the year at Kentucky and Badminton, to earn a $250,000 bonus from Rolex. (She competed at the Athens Olympics as 'Philippa' rather than 'Pippa' as 'Pipa' in Greek is slang for a sexual act. In addition, Funnell won the individual bronze medal at Athens.

She was a member of the British teams that won silver at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, bronze at the World Equestrian Games in 2002 both with Supreme Rock, and silver again at the Athens Olympics of 2004, this time with Primmore`s Pride. In 1999, Funnell became European Champion at Luhmühlen riding Supreme Rock and again on the same horse in 2001 at Pau ('Les Etoiles de Pau' – France). She began receiving help from sports psychologist Nicky Heath. Despite a successful career as a junior and young rider, she at first struggled to establish herself as a senior international and by her own admission suffered from nerves that were threatening to ruin her career. Her horses have included Supreme Rock, Primmore's Pride, Sir Barnaby, Bits and Pieces, Walk on Star, and Ensign.įunnell was European Young Rider Champion in 1987 after successfully competing on Sir Barnaby at Bialy Bor, Poland. They became the first husband and wife to be inducted into the The British Horse Society Equestrian Hall of Fame when William was inducted in 2014. They live in Ockley in Surrey where they have a stud farm to breed horses. Aged 16, she persuaded her parents to allow her to leave school, after which she based herself with Ruth McMullin.įunnell married her husband, show jumper William Funnell in December 1993. She attended the independent boarding school Wadhurst College on Mayfield Lane in Wadhurst. She grew up in Mark Cross and went to the Mark Cross CE primary school. Pippa Funnell was born in Crowborough, East Sussex on 7 October 1968 to Jenny and George Nolan. She also competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She is a three-time Olympic medallist, winning team silver in 20, and an individual bronze in 2004. At the European Championships, she has won two Individual golds (1999–2001) and three team golds (1999–2003). In 2003, she became the first person to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing (consecutive wins at Rolex Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley). Philippa Rachel ' Pippa' Funnell MBE (née Nolan, 7 October 1968) is an equestrian sportswoman who competes in eventing.

Pippa Funnell Ranch Rescue