William Fox-Pitt

Last updated

William Fox-Pitt
MBE
William Fox-Pitt on Chilli Morning at Badminton 2015.JPG
William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning, Badminton Horse Trials, 2015
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Speed Lane Fox-Pitt
NationalityFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Discipline Eventing
Born (1969-01-02) 2 January 1969 (age 55)
Hampstead, London, England
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Equestrian
Olympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2004 Athens Team eventing
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2012 London Team eventing
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2008 Beijing Team eventing
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 Kentucky Team eventing
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2006 Aachen Team eventing
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2010 Kentucky Individual eventing
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2014 Normandy Team eventing
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2002 Jerez Team eventing
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2014 Normandy Individual eventing
European Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1995 Pratoni del Vivaro Team eventing
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1997 Burghley Team eventing
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2001 Pau Team eventing
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2003 Punchestown Team eventing
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2005 Blenheim Team eventing
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2009 Fontainbleau Team eventing
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1997 Burghley Individual eventing
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2005 Blenheim Individual eventing
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2015 Blair Castle Team eventing
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2011 Luhmuhlen Team eventing
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2013 Malmö Individual Eventing

William Speed Lane Fox-Pitt MBE [1] (born 2 January 1969) is an English equestrian who competes in eventing. His career highlights include winning three Olympic medals in the team event, with silver in 2004 and 2012, and bronze in 2008. [2] At the World Equestrian Games, he won team gold and individual silver in 2010, and team silver and individual bronze in 2014. He also won World team medals in 2002 and 2006. At the European Championships, he has won six team gold medals, as well as Individual silver in 1997 and 2005, and Individual bronze in 2013. He is the recordman CCI*****'s winner with 14 grand slam titles. In 2011, he became the first rider to win five different five-star events, [3] having won the Burghley Horse Trials a record six times (1994, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011), Rolex Kentucky three times (2010, 2012, 2014), Stars of Pau twice (2011, 2013), the Badminton Horse Trials twice (2004, 2015), and the Luhmühlen Horse Trials once (2008). A serious fall in 2015 left him in a coma for two weeks, but he came back to make the British eventing team and attend the 2016 Summer Olympics. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2018 Birthday Honours. [4]

Contents

Family background and education

Fox-Pitt was born in Hampstead, the eldest son of William Oliver Lane Fox-Pitt (1932-2012, known as Oliver) and Marietta Speed. His father competed in many sports, and in addition had a career in the city, founding an investment bank now known as Fox-Pitt Kelton Cochran Caronia Waller. [5] Oliver and Marietta were both equestrian competitors, riding at Badminton and Burghley, and his siblings have been very successful as well. [6] His paternal grandfather was Major-General "Billy" Fox-Pitt DSO MC a Dorset landowner who served in both World Wars and was a founding officer of the Welsh Guards. [7] [8]

Fox-Pitt was educated at Wellesley House School in Kent, Eton College and the Goldsmiths, University of London. [9]

Fox-Pitt began riding at age four. At 13, he stopped riding because he feared he would be bullied by his peers.

He is married to former eventer and current ITV Racing presenter Alice Plunkett. They have four children. [10]

Sporting career

He is the recordman of CCI*****'s winner with 14 titles. He is also the only rider to have won 5 out of the six CCI*****'s having won Burghley (1994, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011), Badminton (2004 & 2015), Pau (2011, 2013), Kentucky (2010, 2012, 2014) and Luhmuhlen (2008). He holds the record for the most wins (six) at the Burghley Horse Trials; [11] William's victories coming in 1994, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011. Additional major wins have been at the Badminton Horse Trials in 2004 and again in 2015, at Gatcombe Park in 1995, 2000, 2003 and 2005. Team golds in European Championships in 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009. He took individual silver at the 1997 Europeans, team bronze at the 2002 and 2011 Europeans, individual silver at the 2005 Europeans, team silver at the 2006 Aachen World Equestrian Games, team silver at the 2021 Nations Cup in Boekelo, team gold at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, individual bronze at the 2013 Europeans, team silver and individual bronze at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, and team silver at the 2015 Europeans. He also represented Great Britain at the (1996 Summer Olympics/Atlanta), (2004 Summer Olympics/Athens), (2008 Summer Olympics/Beijing), (2012 Summer Olympics/London) and (2016 Summer Olympics/Rio), winning team silver in Athens, team bronze in Beijing and team silver in London. In 2006 he was ranked the leading rider in Britain for the sixth year running and 2nd in the world, and as of 2014 he was ranked 1st in the world.

William is married to Channel 4 Racing presenter Alice Plunkett. They have two sons; Oliver (born in August 2005) and Thomas (born 15 November 2006), and two daughters; Chloe (born October 2012) and Emily (born September 2014). William is a regular columnist in the weekly equestrian magazine, Horse & Hound .

In the eventing world, one of his best known partnerships is with the horse Tamarillo.

In October 2015, a fall at a competition in France left him in a coma for two weeks. After regaining consciousness, he had initial trouble with blindness and then double vision, but was ultimately able to earn a spot on the British team for the 2016 Olympics and returned to international competition with the stallion Chilli Morning. [12] He was the only remaining member of the 2012 team who won silver in London 2012. [13]

Career highlights

William Fox-Pitt and Idalgo at the Hillside during the cross-country phase of Badminton Horse Trials 2009. William fox pitt idalgo hillside badminton 2009.jpg
William Fox-Pitt and Idalgo at the Hillside during the cross-country phase of Badminton Horse Trials 2009.
William Fox Pitt and Before Time at the Ice Pond during the cross-country phase of the CIC*** (Section K) competition at Chatsworth International Horse Trials 2013. William Fox Pitt and Before Time at the Ice Pond at Chatsworth 2013.jpg
William Fox Pitt and Before Time at the Ice Pond during the cross-country phase of the CIC*** (Section K) competition at Chatsworth International Horse Trials 2013.

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1990

1989

1988

1987

1985

Partial CCI5* Results

Results
Event Kentucky (USA)

late April

Badminton (UK)

early May

Luhmühlen (Germany)

June

Burghley (UK)

early September

Maryland (USA)

mid-October

Pau (France)

late October

Adelaide (Australia)

early November

19937th (Chaka)Event first

held in 2021

1994Gold medal icon.svg (Chaka)
1997Bronze medal icon.svg (Cosmopolitan II)
20019th (Springleaze Macaroo)
20024th (Stunning)Silver medal icon.svg (Tamarillo)Gold medal icon.svg (Highland Lad)7th (Moon Man)
2003Bronze medal icon.svg (Moon Man)22nd (Highland Lad)28th (Ballin Coola)
20044th (Ballin Coola)11th (Coastal Ties)Gold medal icon.svg (Tamarillo)11th (Ballin Coola)
2005Silver medal icon.svg (Tamarillo)RET (Ballin Coola)Gold medal icon.svg (Ballin Coola)
2006RET (Mr Dumbledore)

EL (Coup De Coeur)

9th (Ballin Coola)

WD (Tamarillo)

11th (Birthday Night)6th (Ballin Coola)

19th (Idalgo Du Donjon)

2007Gold medal icon.svg (Parkmore Ed)5th (Ballin Coola)
2008Bronze medal icon.svg (Ballin Coola)18th (Tamarillo)Gold medal icon.svg (Macchiato)Gold medal icon.svg (Tamarillo)Silver medal icon.svg (Ballin Coola)11th (Idalgo Du Donjon)
20096th (Seacookie TSF)23rd (Navigator)Silver medal icon.svg (Idalgo Du Donjon)5th (Macchiato)8th (Seacookie TSF)RET (Macchiato)17th (Macchiato)
2010Gold medal icon.svg (Cool Mountain)34th (Macchiato)

WD (Seacookie TSF)

Silver medal icon.svg (Seacookie TSF)6th (Macchiato)Silver medal icon.svg (Navigator)
20114th (Neuf Des Coeurs)13th (Cool Mountain)

15th (Navigator)

9th (Macchiato)Gold medal icon.svg (Parklane Hawk)

18th (Neuf Des Coeurs)

Gold medal icon.svg (Oslo)

Bronze medal icon.svg (Lionheart)

25th (Macchiato)

2012Gold medal icon.svg (Parklane Hawk)Bronze medal icon.svg (Parklane Hawk)

RET (Seacookie TSF)

4th (Bay My Hero)5th (Chilli Morning)
2013Silver medal icon.svg (Seacookie TSF)

RET (Chilli Morning)

5th (Parklane Hawk)52rd (Oslo)Bronze medal icon.svg (Neuf Des Coeurs)

4th (Lionheart)

Bronze medal icon.svg (Parklane Hawk)

RET (Neuf Des Coeurs)

Gold medal icon.svg (Seacookie TSF)

Bronze medal icon.svg (Cool Mountain)

15th (Neuf Des Coeurs)

2014Gold medal icon.svg (Bay My Hero)

9th (Seacookie TSF)

EL (Parklane Hawk)

WD (Cool Mountain)

WD (Cool Mountain)4th (Bay My Hero)WD (Parklane Hawk)

RET (Seacookie TSF)

20154th (Bay My Hero)Gold medal icon.svg (Chilli Morning)10th (Fernhill Pimms)
2016-17Did Not Participate
2018RET (Fernhill Pimms)Event first

held in 2021

EL (Little Fire)
20198th (Little Fire)

12th (Oratorio)

2020Cancelled due to COVID-19Cancelled due to COVID-19Cancelled due to COVID-19Cancelled due to COVID-19Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021EL (Oratorio)Cancelled due to COVID-19Cancelled due to COVID-19

("replaced" by Bicton 5*:

RET (Oratorio II))

22th (Little Fire)

27th (Oratorio)

Cancelled due to COVID-19
202213th (Little Fire)

14th (Oratorio)

RET (Oratorio)
202314th (Grafennacht) Silver medal icon.svg (Grafennacht)
EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew

International Championship results

Results
YearEventHorsePlacingNotes
1987European Junior ChampionshipsSteadfastSilver medal icon.svgIndividual
1989European Young Rider ChampionshipsSteadfastSilver medal icon.svgTeam
4thIndividual
1990European Young Rider ChampionshipsSteadfastGold medal icon.svgTeam
4thIndividual
1995European ChampionshipsCosmopolitan IIGold medal icon.svgTeam
5thIndividual
1996Olympic GamesCosmopolitan II5thTeam
1997European ChampionshipsCosmopolitan IIGold medal icon.svgTeam
Silver medal icon.svgIndividual
2001European ChampionshipsStunningGold medal icon.svgTeam
6thIndividual
2002World Equestrian GamesTamarilloBronze medal icon.svgTeam
14thIndividual
2003European ChampionshipsMoon ManGold medal icon.svgTeam
8thIndividual
2004Olympic GamesTamarilloSilver medal icon.svgTeam
RETIndividual
2004World Young Horse ChampionshipsGidran Sohaj18thCCI**
Jass de la Fosse22ndCCI**
2005World Cup FinalBallin Coola4th
2005European ChampionshipsTamarilloGold medal icon.svgTeam
Silver medal icon.svgIndividual
2006World Equestrian GamesTamarilloSilver medal icon.svgTeam
15thIndividual
2006World Young Horse ChampionshipsChuckelberryWDCCI**
2008World Cup FinalKaleidoscopeRET
2008Olympic GamesParkmore EDBronze medal icon.svgTeam
12thIndividual
2008World Young Horse ChampionshipsOsloGold medal icon.svgCCI*
Neuf des Coeurs12thCCI**
2009European ChampionshipsIdalgo du DonjonGold medal icon.svgTeam
4thIndividual
2009World Young Horse ChampionshipsOsloSilver medal icon.svgCCI**
2010World Equestrian GamesCool MountainGold medal icon.svgTeam
Silver medal icon.svgIndividual
2010World Young Horse ChampionshipsFernhill Highlight4thCCI**
Bay My Hero6thCCI**
2011European ChampionshipsCool MountainBronze medal icon.svgTeam
7thIndividual
2012Olympic GamesLionheartSilver medal icon.svgTeam
27thIndividual
2013European ChampionshipsChilli Morning6thTeam
Bronze medal icon.svgIndividual
2013World Young Horse ChampionshipsTop BaitsWDCCI*
Luxury F HWDCCI**
Henton For FunWDCCI**
2014World Equestrian GamesChilli MorningSilver medal icon.svgTeam
Bronze medal icon.svgIndividual
2015European ChampionshipsBay My HeroSilver medal icon.svgTeam
RETIndividual
2015World Young Horse ChampionshipsReinstatedELCCI**
The SoapdodgerWDCCI**
2016Olympic GamesChilli Morning5thTeam
12thIndividual
2019World Young Horse ChampionshipsGrafennacht4thCCI***
2021FEI Nations CupGrafennacht2ndCCI****
EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew
Foxpitt1.jpg
Foxpitt2.jpg
Foxpitt3.jpg
William Fox-Pitt on Idalgo clears the Cottesmore Leap at Burghley Horse Trials, 2006

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References

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  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "William Fox-Pitt Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
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