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A Champion’s story

Our Sudbury Club were thrilled to welcome 1981 Grand National winning jockey Bob Champion to a recent session at Kingfisher Leisure Centre, as he regaled the Club members with his journey through horse racing and life. 

Where his love for Horse racing started

Despite the glorious weather outside, it was a packed-out venue for Bob’s visit with over 50 of our Sudbury members and volunteers in attendance to hear Champion speak.

Bob began by detailing his early life up in Yorkshire and finding a passion for horses in his youth, when he was thrusted on top of a horse and taught to ride from the age of six, with the support of his father.

Despite a bumpy start, including a few falls, Bob fell in love with horses and in particular racing them. Bob reflected on an important decision he made at the age of 14 when he was leaving school as to where his future lied.

Bob’s other career options was either a career down the pit or working in the steel factory. It was these two unfavoured choices that compelled Bob to pursue a career in racing – eventually earning his first ride at the age of 15!

From cancer to grans national winner

Bob spoke about progressing through the ranks of the British horse racing scene and also being afforded the opportunity to race out in America, when the season ended on this side of the Atlantic.

It was during one of his trips to America where he was recommended to see a doctor about a health issue. Upon arriving back in London and after a few days following tests, it was revealed that Bob had testicular cancer.

Bob described to the members the treatment as ‘horrendous’ during the eight months he undertook chemotherapy, often feeling extremely sick for long periods of time. Despite the significant pain caused, the treatment was a success with Bob given the all clear and able to ride again.

The remarkable comeback from Bob culminated in 1981 when he rode Aldaniti to Grand National glory.

Bob spoke in detail about the build-up to the National with Aldaniti in 1981, with the owners electing not to run him at the Gold Cup to keep him fresh for the National. After running a couple of other horses to wins during the festival, Bob described Aldaniti as ‘the most relaxed he’d ever been’ as he made his way into the paddock.

During the race, Bob rode Aldaniti to the lead at Valentine’s jump, three-and-a-half miles from the finish. However, instead of glory in his mind, Bob was trying to come up with excuses for the owner on how he might lose the race from there! Instead, Bob controlled the pace and managed to keep Aldaniti at the front all the way to finishing post to seal his name in the history books.

Questions for Bob

After Bob had rounded off his journey in life and horse racing, it was then the turn of the Sudbury Club members to put their questions to Bob where they enquired about the salary for jockeys during Bob’s riding era and today, how he managed to find the right rhythm during a race and there were also questions about which modern horse Bob would have liked to have ridden, with him answering that he would have enjoyed saddling up on the likes of Denman and Kauto Star.

Reflection on Bob’s visit

Andy Read, Sudbury Club Facilitator, reflected on an enjoyable afternoon in Bob’s company.

“Our members really enjoyed their time with Bob at the recent session. He spoke brilliantly about his life in horse racing and some of the challenges he’s faced along the way on a personal and professional level.

“There were some great questions and anecdotes put forward by our members to Bob, which showed the interest in what he shared during his time with us. It’s a big thanks to Bob for coming along and making it such an entertaining afternoon.”

Bob visited the Club on behalf of his charity – the Bob Champion Cancer Trust – which supports and raises funds for research looking into male forms of cancer. Bob has helped to raise vast sums of money for research in the past and referenced the research team hosted at the Bob Champion Research and Education Building at the University of East Anglia in Norwich during his time with our Sudbury members and volunteers.

To find out more about the charity and support their work, please visit their website here - https://www.bobchampion.org.uk/