Event Rider

Pippa Funnell

British event rider Pippa Funnell has been an important member of many GB championship teams. Pippa Funnell is married to international show jumper William Funnell together the pair own and operate the well respected Billy stud. Below you can watch Pippa Funnell in action winning at Badminton horse trials with her talented horse Supreme Rock.



Pippa Funnell and Billy Beware Show Jumping at Belton in the Lycetts Grantham Cup CIC 3 Star Pippa Funnell with Billy Walk On

Pippa Funnell

Pippa Funnell MBE (born Philippa Rachel Nolan, 7 October 1968) is an equestrian sportswoman, regarded as one of the Eventing`s sporting elite. She competes in three-day eventing and one of the leading riders in the world. In 2003 Pippa became the first person and currently only person to win Eventing`s greatest prize, the Rolex Grand Slam of eventing (consecutive wins at Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley.) Pippa Funnell has had many great horses including Sir Barnaby, Supreme Rock, Bits and Pieces, Primmore`s Pride and Ensign.

Pippa Funnell was born in Crowborough, East Sussex in 1968 to Jenny and George Nolan. She grew up in Mark Cross and went to the Mark Cross CE primary school. She attended the independent boarding school Wadhurst College (became Micklefield Wadhurst in the 1990s then Bellerbys in 1997) on Mayfield Lane in Wadhurst. Aged 16, she persuaded her parents to allow her to leave school, after which she based herself with Ruth McMullin, establishing one of the sports most renowned training partnerships. In 2005, Pippa Funnell was made an MBE in the Queen`s Birthday Honours List for her achievements in eventing.

She lives in Ockley, Surrey with showjumping husband William Funnell who she married him in October 1993 in Uckfield.

Pippa Funnell became European Young Rider Champion in 1987 after successfully competing on Sir Barnaby at Bialy Bor, Poland.Despite a successful career as a junior and young rider, Pippa at first struggled to establish herself as a senior international event rider. 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 sports psychologist Nicky Heath has produced a dramatic change and meant she has become the backbone of the British team. In 1999 she became European Champion at LuhmĂĽhlen riding Supreme Rock and again on the same horse in 2001 at Pau ("Les Etoiles de Pau" - France). She was a member of the British silver medal team at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the Athens Olympics of 2004. In addition, Pippa Funnell won the individual bronze medal at Athens and team bronze at the World Equestrian Games in 2002.

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. 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 Funnel also finished the year as the number one ranked rider in the world.

In total Funnell has won the Badminton Horse Trials three times: 2002, 2003 and 2005. She has won both the Blenheim venue and Windsor Horse Trials four times as well, the only rider yet to do so.

Many of Pippa Funnel`s top horses, such as Supreme Rock, Primmores Pride, Viceroy, Walk on Star, Cornerman and Jurassic Rising have reached the end of their careers and are now retired. Pippa Funnell nevertheless remains in the spotlight with a new string of new horses Ensign, who narrowly lost an individual medal at the 2005 Europeans and ensured the combination were placed on the shortlist for the 2008 Olympics following a 2nd place at Pau CCI**** in late 2007. Pippa Funnell has also kept herself preoccupied with talented youngsters. Already a renowned producer of young horses, having won a record number of Burghley Young Event Horses classes, she now has an enviable string of young horses poised to place her back in the spotlight, such as the Redesigned, who she has been touchingly expansive over.

Pippa Funnel has spent a lot of time promoting eventing to the wider audience she has appeared on DVDs produced by Equestrian Vision, including "Pippa Funnell, Road to the Top" and "The Funnell Factor" and in 2005 she released her autobiography.

There have also been a number of horse videogames released starring Pippa Funnell. These include Pippa Funnell for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance, Pippa Funnell: Stable Adventure for the Game Boy Advance, and the PC games Pippa Funnell: The Stud Farm Inheritance, Pippa Funnell Takes the Reins (also for Playstation 2) Pippa Funnell 3: The Golden Stirrups Challenge (more commonly known as Horsez)and Pippa Funnell 4: Secrets of the Ranch. Pippa Funnell:Ranch Rescue was released in 2007 on the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii.

Pippa Funnell Horses

      BEST OF ALL II
          - x - ()
      BILLY BEWARE
          Kannan x - ()
      Billy Black Jack
          Vechta x - (2001 )
      BILLY LANDRETTI
          Vechta x - ()
      BILLY SHANNON
          Kannan x - ()
      BLUE HORIZON
          - x - ()
      CAVALCADE
          - x - ()
      Chamrock
          Rock King x - (1993 )
      CORNERMAN
          - x - ()
      ENSIGN
          - x - ()
      JACKSON D`ALLEZ
          - x - ()
      Jurassic Rising
          Primitive Rising x - (1991 )
      KIF D’ESTRUVAL
          - x - ()
      LASPEN ROCK STAR
          Rock King x - ()
      MATTER OF FACT
          - x - ()
      MATTER OF OPINION
          - x - ()
      MIRAGE D`ELLE
          Scherif d’Elle x - ()
      OPPOSITION HERACLES
          Fleetwater Opposition x - ()
      Primmores Pride
          Mayhill x - ()
      PURE ADDICTION
          - x - ()
      REDESIGNED
          - x - ()
      Special Constable
          Derrylin x - (1998 )
      SPORTING HERO
          - x - ()
      Supreme Rock
          Edmund Burke x - ()
      TEDDY TWILIGHT
          Edmund Burke x - ()
      THE TOURMALINE ROSE
          Crown Cornelion x - ()
      VICEROY III
          - x - ()
      WALK ON STAR
          - x - ()







Chamrock was an advanced horse who was competed by Pippa Funnell for six years, home-bred by his owners Sarah and Sue Johnstone by Rock King, Chamrock was evented by Pippa Funnell from 2003 to 2008. BR>BR>The pair won the CCI** at Necarne in 2004,










PRIMMORE’S PRIDE’s career has been amazing, he won the Burghley Young Event Horse Final at 5, was 1st at Lion D’Angers CCI 2000, 4th Punchestown 2000, 4th Blenheim 2001, 2nd Punchestown and 6th Burghley 2002 – he also won the British National Champio




Supreme Rock is a 1988 Irish Sport Horse, ridden by Pippa Funnell in 4* Event competitions for Great Britain. He is a bay, 16.3 hand high gelding. He was retired in 2005 at the Badminton Horse Trials. He is remembered primarily for his role in Funnel

The Tourmaline Rose, whose greatest claim to fame under saddle was three wins in Hickstead`s Eventing Grand Prix with Pippa Funnell. Anne bought the daughter of Crown Cornelion out of a brilliant Irish hunter mare as a yearling in 1990 from her bree


Pippa Funnell Competition Results

13 - Hartpury, CIC3* - 08/12/2010 - REDESIGNED
16 - Hartpury, CIC3* - 08/12/2010 - BILLY LANDRETTI
5 - Hartpury, CIC3* - 08/12/2010 - BLUE HORIZON
5 - Le Lion d`Angers, CH-M-YH-CCI2* - 21/10/2010 - BILLY SHANNON
5 - Lexington KY, WEG-C - 25/09/2010 - REDESIGNED
7 - Gatcombe Park, CIC1* - 17/09/2010 - BILLY BEWARE
38 - Blenheim, CCI3* - 09/09/2010 - PURE ADDICTION
48 - Barbury Castle, CIC3* - 07/09/2010 - PURE ADDICTION
9 - Barbury Castle, CIC3* - 07/09/2010 - REDESIGNED
25 - Barbury Castle, CIC2* - 07/09/2010 - SPORTING HERO
64 - Barbury Castle, CIC2* - 07/09/2010 - BILLY SHANNON
28 - Aachen, CICO3* - 13/07/2010 - MIRAGE D`ELLE
5 - Houghton Hall, CCI1* - 27/05/2010 - BILLY SHANNON
8 - Saumur, CIC2* - 20/05/2010 - PURE ADDICTION
7 - Saumur, CCI3* - 20/05/2010 - MIRAGE D`ELLE
14 - Chatsworth, CIC3*-W - 15/05/2010 - REDESIGNED
01 - Bramham, CCI3* - 06/03/2010 - REDESIGNED
15 - Burghley, CCI4*-HSBC - 09/02/2010 - MIRAGE D`ELLE
36 - Burnham Market, CIC3* - 04/01/2010 - PURE ADDICTION
4 - Burnham Market, CIC3* - 04/01/2010 - MIRAGE D`ELLE
4 - Bramham, CCI3* - 06/11/2009 - ENSIGN
4 - Le Lion d`Angers, CH-M-YH-CCI2* - 15/10/2009 - BILLY LANDRETTI
4 - Blenheim, CIC3* - 09/10/2009 - MIRAGE D`ELLE
19 - Barbury Castle, CIC3* - 07/10/2009 - MIRAGE D`ELLE
15 - Barbury Castle, CIC2* - 07/10/2009 - REDESIGNED
17 - Barbury Castle, CIC2* - 07/10/2009 - BILLY LANDRETTI
20 - Ardingly, CIC2* - 26/09/2009 - BLUE HORIZON
01 - Ardingly, CIC2* - 26/09/2009 - BILLY LANDRETTI
14 - Burnham Market, CIC2* - 04/09/2009 - PURE ADDICTION
9 - Burnham Market, CIC2* - 04/09/2009 - Billy Black Jack
19 - Hartpury, CIC3* - 13/08/2009 - JACKSON D`ALLEZ
15 - Hartpury, CIC3* - 13/08/2009 - REDESIGNED
10 - Hartpury, CCI1* - 13/08/2009 - SPORTING HERO
24 - Boekelo, CCI3* - 10/08/2009 - JACKSON D`ALLEZ
4 - Brightling Park, CIC2* - 18/07/2009 - Chamrock
23 - Ratoath, Tattersalls, CIC3*-W - 28/05/2009 - MIRAGE D`ELLE
28 - Ratoath, Tattersalls, CIC3*-W - 28/05/2009 - ENSIGN
7 - Ratoath, Tattersalls, CIC3*-W - 28/05/2009 - BLUE HORIZON
42 - Houghton Hall, CCI2* - 21/05/2009 - PURE ADDICTION
5 - Houghton Hall, CCI2* - 21/05/2009 - Chamrock
5 - Houghton Hall, CCI2* - 21/05/2009 - Chamrock
10 - Somerley Park, CIC2* - 04/01/2009 - PURE ADDICTION
3 - Pau - HSBC FEI Class..., CIC2* - 22/10/2008 - Chamrock
2 - Le Lion d`Angers, CH-M-YH-CCI1* - 16/10/2008 - BILLY LANDRETTI
3 - Le Lion d`Angers, CH-M-YH-CCI2* - 16/10/2008 - REDESIGNED
2 - Chatsworth, CIC3*-W - 05/10/2008 - ENSIGN
01 - Ardingly, CIC2* - 27/09/2008 - REDESIGNED
3 - Ardingly, CIC2* - 27/09/2008 - Chamrock
2 - Deauville, CIC-W Final - 18/09/2008 - ENSIGN
3 - CompiÄŤgne, CCI2* - 04/09/2008 - BLUE HORIZON
28 - Martinvast, CIC1* - 20/08/2008 - BILLY LANDRETTI
2 - Martinvast, CIC3*-W - 20/08/2008 - ENSIGN
3 - Martinvast, CIC3*-W - 20/08/2008 - BLUE HORIZON
5 - Martinvast, CIC2* - 20/08/2008 - REDESIGNED
7 - Martinvast, CIC2* - 20/08/2008 - MIRAGE D`ELLE
8 - Hartpury, CIC3* - 08/07/2008 - BLUE HORIZON
25 - Hartpury, CIC3* - 08/07/2008 - ENSIGN
4 - Tattersalls, CIC3*-W - 29/05/2008 - ENSIGN
01 - Tattersalls, CCI1* - 29/05/2008 - REDESIGNED
2 - Tattersalls, CCI2* - 29/05/2008 - MIRAGE D`ELLE
23 - Saumur, CCI3* - 15/05/2008 - BLUE HORIZON
6 - Burnham Market, CIC2* - 28/03/2008 - MIRAGE D`ELLE
22 - Burnham Market, CIC2* - 28/03/2008 - Special Constable
5 - Burnham Market, CIC3*-W - 28/03/2008 - ENSIGN
7 - Burnham Market, CIC3* - 28/03/2008 - BLUE HORIZON
17 - LigniÄŤre, CIC1* - 10/03/2008 - SPORTING HERO
01 - LigniÄŤre, CIC1* - 10/03/2008 - PURE ADDICTION
4 - LigniÄŤre, CCI2* - 10/03/2008 - MIRAGE D`ELLE
2 - LigniÄŤre, CCI2* - 10/03/2008 - Chamrock
3 - Pau, CCI4* - 24/10/2007 - ENSIGN
17 - Pau, CIC2* - 24/10/2007 - BLUE HORIZON
11 - Ardingly, CIC2* - 23/09/2007 - Special Constable
01 - Ardingly, CIC2* - 23/09/2007 - ENSIGN
5 - Ardingly, CIC2* - 23/09/2007 - BLUE HORIZON
5 - Bramham, CCI3* - 06/07/2007 - ENSIGN
2 - Weston Park, CCI2* - 10/04/2007 - BLUE HORIZON
3 - Weston Park, CCI1* - 10/04/2007 - Special Constable
28 - Le Lion d`Angers, CCI2* - 19/10/2006 - MATTER OF OPINION
50 - Hartpury, CIC3* - 08/10/2006 - BLUE HORIZON
11 - Hartpury, CIC3* - 08/10/2006 - ENSIGN
11 - Ardingly, CIC2* - 23/09/2006 - OPPOSITION HERACLES
2 - Blenheim, CCI3* - 31/08/2006 - ENSIGN
2 - Brightling Park, CIC2* - 15/07/2006 - KIF D’ESTRUVAL
5 - Punchestown, CCI3* - 18/05/2006 - Chamrock
4 - Punchestown, CCI2* - 18/05/2006 - MATTER OF OPINION
6 - Burnham Market, CIC3*-W - 13/04/2006 - ENSIGN
22 - Burnham Market, CIC2* - 13/04/2006 - MATTER OF OPINION
17 - Burnham Market, CIC2* - 13/04/2006 - KIF D’ESTRUVAL
17 - Burnham Market, CIC3* - 13/04/2006 - Chamrock
6 - Burnham Market, CIC3* - 13/04/2006 - BLUE HORIZON
4 - Tattersalls, CCI2* - 06/01/2006 - KIF D’ESTRUVAL
9 - Blenheim, CH-EU-C3* - 09/08/2005 - ENSIGN
35 - Burnham Market, CIC2* - 04/08/2005 - LASPEN ROCK STAR
8 - Boekelo, CCI3* - 10/06/2005 - WALK ON STAR
16 - Boekelo, CCI3* - 10/06/2005 - Chamrock
01 - Windsor, CCI2*-SC - 26/05/2005 - BLUE HORIZON
6 - Saumur, CCI3* - 19/05/2005 - CORNERMAN
18 - Saumur, CCI3* - 19/05/2005 - ENSIGN
9 - Chatsworth, CIC3*-W - 14/05/2005 - CORNERMAN
01 - Badminton International, CCI4*-SC - 05/05/2005 - Primmores Pride
01 - Necarne Castle, CIC2* - 16/09/2004 - ENSIGN
01 - Necarne Castle, CCI2* - 16/09/2004 - Chamrock
01 - Blenheim, CCI3* - 09/09/2004 - VICEROY III
3 - Athens, Markopoulo O..., OG-C - 15/08/2004 - Primmores Pride
3 - Lulworth, CIC2* - 30/07/2004 - BLUE HORIZON
2 - Boekelo, CCI3* - 10/07/2004 - ENSIGN
54 - Windsor, CCI2* - 27/05/2004 - ENSIGN
01 - Chatsworth, CIC3*-W - 15/05/2004 - Primmores Pride
13 - Fontainebleau, CIC3* - 26/03/2004 - CORNERMAN
7 - Somerley Park, CIC2* - 04/02/2004 - Chamrock
2 - Somerley Park, CIC2* - 04/02/2004 - ENSIGN
3 - Blenheim, CCI3* - 09/11/2003 - VICEROY III
01 - Blenheim, CCI3* - 09/11/2003 - Jurassic Rising
4 - Le Lion d`Angers, CCI2* - 16/10/2003 - MATTER OF FACT
2 - Chatsworth, CIC3*-W - 05/10/2003 - WALK ON STAR
3 - Punchestown, CH-EU-C3* - 18/09/2003 - WALK ON STAR
5 - Thirlestane Castle, CIC2* - 16/08/2003 - MATTER OF FACT
31 - Thirlestane Castle, CIC3*-W - 16/08/2003 - CORNERMAN
01 - Kilmington, CIC2* - 07/06/2003 - BEST OF ALL II
01 - Saumur, CCI3* - 22/05/2003 - WALK ON STAR
17 - CompiÄŤgne, CCI2* - 15/05/2003 - MATTER OF FACT
3 - Bramham, CCI3* - 06/05/2003 - Jurassic Rising
01 - Lexington KY, CCI4* - 24/04/2003 - Primmores Pride
11 - Burnham Market, CIC2* - 18/04/2003 - MATTER OF FACT
01 - Burghley, CCI4* - 09/04/2003 - Primmores Pride
26 - Fontainebleau, CIC3* - 28/03/2003 - Supreme Rock
9 - Fontainebleau, CIC3* - 28/03/2003 - CORNERMAN
01 - Badminton International, CCI4* - 05/01/2003 - Supreme Rock
6 - Badminton International, CCI4* - 05/01/2003 - CORNERMAN
4 - Pau, CCI3* - 10/01/2002 - TEDDY TWILIGHT
01 - Pau, CCI3* - 10/01/2002 - CORNERMAN
13 - Jerez de la Frontera, WEG-C - 09/01/2002 - Supreme Rock
2 - Gatcombe Park, CIC3* - 08/01/2002 - Primmores Pride
6 - Burghley, CCI4* - 08/01/2002 - Primmores Pride
3 - Thirlestane, CIC3* - 08/01/2002 - Supreme Rock
8 - Thirlestane, CIC3* - 08/01/2002 - CORNERMAN
2 - Thirlestane, CIC2* - 08/01/2002 - THE TOURMALINE ROSE
01 - Bramham, CCI3* - 06/01/2002 - WALK ON STAR
2 - Punchestown, CCIO3* - 05/01/2002 - Primmores Pride
21 - Punchestown, CCI2* - 05/01/2002 - CAVALCADE
10 - Chatsworth, CIC3* - 05/01/2002 - WALK ON STAR
2 - Chatsworth, CIC3* - 05/01/2002 - Jurassic Rising
01 - Saumur, CCI3* - 05/01/2002 - Jurassic Rising
01 - Badminton International, CCI4* - 05/01/2002 - Supreme Rock
 Pippa Funnell & Supreme Rock  Supreme Rock & Pippa Funnell  Pippa Funnell & Primmores Pride  Supreme Rock Eventer  Pippa Funnell 



Pippa Funnell