![CSI Eindhoven 2008 - William Funnell Billy Birr](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/CSI_Eindhoven_2008_-_William_Funnell_Billy_Birr.jpg)
William Ross Norman Funnell (born 10 February 1966,
Ashford) is a top-class
showjumper
Show jumping is a part of a group of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes sho ...
.
Career
Funnell has represented Britain internationally in many
Nations Cup teams. In 2006 he won the
Hickstead Derby for the first time and won it again two years later in 2008 and again in 2009. In 2018 William became one of 5 riders to win The
Hickstead Derby 4 times, joining
Harvey Smith,
John
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Secon ...
and
Michael Whitaker, and
Eddie Macken
Eddie Macken (born 20 October 1949 in Granard, Longford, Ireland) . He also won the famous derby of
La Baule
La Baule-Escoublac (; br, Ar Baol-Skoubleg, ), commonly referred to as La Baule, is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department, Pays de la Loire, western France.
A century-old seaside resort in southern Brittany with villas, casino, luxury h ...
in France in May 2011.
Personal life
Funnell is married to eventer
Pippa Funnell
Philippa Rachel "Pippa" Funnell MBE (née Nolan, 7 October 1968) is an equestrian sportswoman who competes in eventing. In 2003, she became the first person to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing (consecutive wins at Rolex Kentucky, Badmint ...
. He married her in October 1993 in
Uckfield
Uckfield () is a town in the Wealden District of East Sussex in South East England. The town is on the River Uck, one of the tributaries of the River Ouse, on the southern edge of the Weald.
Etymology
'Uckfield', first recorded in writing as ...
. They live in
Ockley in south
Surrey where they have a stud farm to breed horses. They became the first husband and wife to be inducted into
The British Horse Society Equestrian Hall of Fame when William joined Pippa (2005) in being inducted in 2014.
External links and references
His website
English male equestrians
British show jumping riders
People from Ashford, Kent
1966 births
Living people
{{UK-equestrian-bio-stub