Ellen Whitaker

Ellen Whitaker
Personal information
Full name Ellen Whitaker
Nationality  United Kingdom
Discipline Show jumping
Born (1986-03-05) 5 March 1986
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)

Ellen Whitaker (born 5 March 1986) is an English female show jumping rider, ranked 16th by the British Showjumping Association for September 2011.

Career

Competing since the age of 5, Whitaker has had much experience in the equestrian world and qualified for HOYS at just 8 years old.[1]

In 2006, Whitaker and her father Steven Whitaker were hit with a legal dispute over ownership of thirteen horses, including her top horse Locarno. However, a few months later a peace deal was made.[2][3]

In 2007, Whitaker represented Great Britain in the European Championships and helped allow Britain to qualify for the Olympics after jumping triple clear. She missed out on being selected for the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to lameness in horse Locarno 62.

In 2010, Whitaker spoke to the press after refusing to jump for the British team due to a conflict with the British team manager, Rob Hoekstra. She told Horse & Hound: “I only have Ocolado at the moment and Rob wanted to interfere with the way I do everything.” Her father and manager Steven Whitaker added: "It’s not a matter of Ellen not wanting to jump for her country, but we won’t jump again until Rob Hoekstra is finished." But British Equestrian Federation World Class performance director Will Connell said: "The riders wanted stronger management and leadership and that’s what Rob is delivering." Hoekstra did not wish to comment, saying: “I do not think team issues are best resolved through the press.”[4]

Personal life

She is the daughter of rider Steven Whitaker and niece of riders John Whitaker and Michael Whitaker. Her brother Joe and her cousins Robert and William are also show jumpers.

She lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire[5] and attended Penistone Grammar School.

On 26 February 2011, Whitaker announced her engagement to actor Henry Cavill.[6] The pair called off their engagement on 18 August 2012.[7]

On 19 September 2011, Whitaker pleaded guilty to drunk driving. Whitaker was stopped by local Police in Knutsford Town Centre, Cheshire at 2 am after she attended a charity ball. A roadside breath test proved positive and she was taken to a police station where her lowest reading was 77 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - more than double the legal limit of 35.[8]

Whitaker's son, Harry Marinas Whitaker, by her partner, Spanish showjumper Antonio Marinas Soto, was born 17 May 2014.[9]

Horses

Current

Former show horses

Successes

Among many others, some of her achievements include:

References

  1. ↑ "Ellen Whitaker". Horse & Hound. 27 May 2011.
  2. ↑ "Legal claim hits Ellen Whitaker and Locarno". Horse & Hound. 13 April 2006.
  3. ↑ "Ellen Whitaker keeps Locarno". Horse & Hound. 6 July 2006.
  4. ↑ "Ellen Whitaker refuses to ride for Britain under Rob Hoekstra". Horse & Hound. 20 May 2010.
  5. ↑ "Ellen Whitaker". British Show Jumping Association.
  6. ↑ Mott, Sue (26 February 2011). "Supercouple! Hunky new Superman actor and his showjumping girlfriend Ellen Whitaker". Daily Mail (London).
  7. ↑ Nicholl, Katie (18 August 2012). "Showjumper Ellen Whitaker splits from Superman Henry Cavill as he heads to Hollywood". Daily Mail (London).
  8. ↑ "Show jumper banned for drink driving". The Telegraph (London). 17 October 2011.
  9. ↑ http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/ellen-whitaker-celebrates-birth-first-child-431220
  10. ↑ "Ellen Whitaker wins the Hickstead Speed Derby". 26 June 2010.

External links

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