THIS year marks the 20th anniversary since Pippa Funnell MBE became the first person to win the Rolex Grand Slam, snapping up Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley consecutively, not to mention the $250,000 bonus. She remains one of only two riders to have done this and two decades later she is still going strong, clinching her fourth victory at Bramham CCI4*-L this year, on MCS Maverick.
While winning still feels fantastic, Pippa explains that results are not her principal motivation.
“I do it because I love it,” she says. “I learnt long ago it's not about the competing and winning - it's about the day-to-day. Training, teaching, being with the horses you live, breathe and sleep horses.”
With this in mind, it is no surprise to hear retirement is not around the corner for 55-year-old Pippa, although she does admit that, “of course, when you get to my age, it crosses your mind”.
These feelings were exacerbated by her friend Nicola Wilson's fall at Badminton last year, which made
