Pippa Funnell has firmly established herself as one of the world’s leading three day event riders and in May 2005 won her third Badminton title.

In 2003 she 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 Lexington and Badminton, to earn a $250,000 bonus from Rolex and a place in the history books. As a result of her phenomenal 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.

That same year she also became the first rider to win Blenheim International Horse Trials three times, taking the £10,000 first prize with Jurassic Rising and finishing third with Viceroy. She then went to Punchestown in Ireland to defend the individual European title that she had won in 1999 and 2001. Without the great Supreme Rock, on whom she had won her two previous titles, she narrowly failed to make it three in a row, clinching a bronze medal with the inexperienced Walk On Star and helping the British team to win their fifth successive team title. Pippa also finished the year as the number one ranked rider in the world.

As part of the British Olympic team in Athens in 2004 she was one of the favourites for the individual gold but the new ‘short format’ of the Olympic three day event did not suit the headstrong Primmore’s Pride and time faults on the cross country dropped them down the order after a brilliant dressage. Nevertheless, a typically polished performance in the final show jumping phase earned them an individual bronze medal and helped to clinch silver for the team.

After returning from Athens, Pippa once again dominated the Blenheim International Horse Trials, winning the trophy for the fourth time with Viceroy.

Despite a successful career as a junior and young rider, Pippa at first struggled to establish herself as a senior international. Too often she would put up a brilliant performance in the dressage phase and then throw it away with mistakes on the cross country course. By her own admission she suffered from nerves that were threatening to ruin her career. Help from a sports psychologist has produced a dramatic change and since winning her first European title in 1999, she has become the backbone of the British team, winning three European team gold medals, Olympic team silver in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 and team bronze at the World Equestrian Games in 2002.

In May 2005 she clinched her third Badminton title, this time with Primmore’s Pride, leading from the start and narrowly defeating her great rival William Fox-Pitt on Tamarillo. However, after a disappointing performance in the British Open Championship at Gatcombe Park in August, Primmore’s Pride was found to be ‘off colour’ and was withdrawn from the British team for the European Championships. This brought promising ex-racehorse Ensign into the frame meaning that Pippa had lost her team spot and would compete as an individual. Although still relatively inexperienced, Ensign rose to the challenge to finish ninth.

A fantastic 2010 season included top ten placings at Saumur, a fantastic CCI3* win at Bramham with the young Redesigned followed by a top ten placing in front of British Team Selectors at Barbury Castle again with Redesigned. Pippa and Redesigned formed part of the gold medal winning team at World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in September 2010. Individually the combination finished fifth.

Pippa is married to international show jumper William Funnell and lives in Forest Green, near Dorking.