Ellen Whitaker
Encyclopedia
Ellen Whitaker is a British
female show jumping
rider, ranked 16th by the British Showjumping Association
for September 2011. She is the daughter of rider Steven Whitaker and niece of riders John Whitaker and Michael Whitaker
. She lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and attended Penistone Grammar School
.
Competing since the age of 5, Ellen has much experience in the equestrian world and qualified for HOYS at just 8 years old.
Among many others, some of her achievements include:
In 2006, Ellen and Her father/trainer Steven Whitaker were hit with a legal dispute over ownership of 13 horses, including her top horse Locarno. However, a few months later a peace deal was made.
In 2007, Ellen represented Great Britain in the European Championships and helped allow Britain to qualify for the Olympics after jumping triple clear. Unfortunately, she just missed out on being selected for the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to lameness in horse Locarno 62.
In 2010, Ellen 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 H&H: “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." Mr Hoekstra did not wish to comment, saying: “I do not think team issues are best resolved through the press.”
On 26 February 2011, Ellen Whitaker told a reporter she was dating actor Henry Cavill
.
On May 4 2011, Ellen Whitaker announced on her official website that she is engaged to actor Henry Cavill.
On September 19 2011, Ellen Whitaker pleaded guilty to drink driving. Whitaker was stopped by local Police in Knutsford Town Centre, Cheshire at 2am 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.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
female show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
rider, ranked 16th by the British Showjumping Association
British Showjumping Association
The British Showjumping Association or BSJA is the Great Britain governing body for the equestrian sport of showjumping. It provides the competitors for Team GBR in international competition and sets the rules under which affiliated competitions are held. It is one of the 16 organisations which...
for September 2011. She is the daughter of rider Steven Whitaker and niece of riders John Whitaker and Michael Whitaker
Michael Whitaker
Michael Whitaker is a British Olympic equestrian rider, who competes in the sport of show jumping.- Biography :Younger brother of John Whitaker, Michael Whitaker began competing on ponies at the age of 7 years...
. She lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and attended Penistone Grammar School
Penistone Grammar School
Penistone Grammar School is a comprehensive school and former grammar school in Penistone, in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1392 and its most notable alumnus is Nicholas Saunderson, the probable inventor of Bayes theorem, in the eighteenth...
.
Competing since the age of 5, Ellen has much experience in the equestrian world and qualified for HOYS at just 8 years old.
Among many others, some of her achievements include:
- Winning the 2010 Hickstead Speed Derby
- Winning the 2009 HOYS show jumper of the year Grand Prix and show jumper of the show
- Winning the HOYS speed stakes in 2006, 2008 and 2009
- Winning the HOYS 2009 Puissance
- Winning the 2007 Hickstead Speed Derby
- Being part of the European bronze medal winning team in 2007, and the silver medal winning team in 2003
In 2006, Ellen and Her father/trainer Steven Whitaker were hit with a legal dispute over ownership of 13 horses, including her top horse Locarno. However, a few months later a peace deal was made.
In 2007, Ellen represented Great Britain in the European Championships and helped allow Britain to qualify for the Olympics after jumping triple clear. Unfortunately, she just missed out on being selected for the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to lameness in horse Locarno 62.
In 2010, Ellen 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 H&H: “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." Mr Hoekstra did not wish to comment, saying: “I do not think team issues are best resolved through the press.”
On 26 February 2011, Ellen Whitaker told a reporter she was dating actor Henry Cavill
Henry Cavill
Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill is a British actor. He has appeared in the films The Count of Monte Cristo and Stardust, and played the role of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, on the Showtime series The Tudors, from 2007 until 2010...
.
On May 4 2011, Ellen Whitaker announced on her official website that she is engaged to actor Henry Cavill.
On September 19 2011, Ellen Whitaker pleaded guilty to drink driving. Whitaker was stopped by local Police in Knutsford Town Centre, Cheshire at 2am 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.