Pippa Funnell and MGH Grafton Street at land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2019
In the past few years Pippa Funnell has made no secret of the fact that she was contemplating giving up eventing, with the lure of show jumping on the sidelines.
But 2019 saw Pippa return to top form, winning the CCI5* at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 14 years after her last win at this level.
The 50-year-old, who is one of only two winners of the Rolex Grand Slam in Eventing, was also part of the silver winning British team at the European Championships and has now won the BT Sport Action Woman Awards
Pippa was one of eight women shortlisted to win the public vote and received her award from Maro Itoje at the ceremony, hosted by Clare Balding and broadcast live on BT Sport
“I’ve had the most amazing career and a long career, but any person’s career over the space of 35 years isn’t just going to be about good days,” she said.
“There have been a lot of tough days, hard days when things don’t go your way or you have injuries.
“I have had very much questioned quite a few times if I carry on in the sport. What’s special is that I know that commitment.
“Back in 2003 I won quite a lot of awards. Of course, I appreciated them all because I was on the crest of a wave back then, but I think because I’ve gone for so long and not had this sort of recognition I think it’s like I’ve been given a second chance to enjoy it all over again.”
Watch our 20 minute video tribute to two great women in the sport in 2019 – Pippa Funnell and Piggy French (‘I’m Piggy, she’s Pippa”) here
