Legends from 76 Years of CHIO: John Withaker
Say Anky, and we say Bonfire. Say the Eiffel Tower, and we shout Paris. Say Feyenoord, and we say Rotterdam. Say Milton, and instantly John Whitaker comes to mind. Milton and John—what show jumping fan of an older generation didn’t have a photo of them above their bed as a kid? Sadly, Milton passed away in July 1999, but his rider turned 70 this week, is still in the saddle every single day, and has no plans to stop. This time, we spoke to none other than John Whitaker.
John was born on August 5, 1955, in Huddersfield, UK. He’s married, has three children—Robert, Joanne, and Louise—and a younger brother, Michael. All of them are active in show jumping.
Through and Through
John sounds upbeat and cheerful when we call him, greeting us by asking how we are doing. That was actually the question we wanted to ask him, so we do just that. His answer is exactly what we hoped for: this living legend is doing well.
John: “I’m doing great, really great. I still ride five horses every morning and I’m still active in competition. After lunch, I get to work on the yard. I give some lessons, but not too many, and I like to spend time on another passion of mine within the sport: breeding. Outside of horses, I don’t really have other activities—they’re part of every fiber of my being. We have 60 horses on our yard, including young ones, because I love breeding. Every year, we breed about ten foals, including from our own stallions.”
Big Successes in Rotterdam
“I can’t exactly remember my first time in Rotterdam, but I do remember some really great successes. 1980 stands out—the Alternative Olympic Games were held in Rotterdam, and I went home with two silver medals, both team and individual. That was my first major success. 1989 was also special: at the European Championships, also in Rotterdam, we won team gold and I got to take an individual medal home as well. I didn’t compete in Rotterdam every year, but fairly regularly. I think I started there at least seven times.”
History
“I love your event—it’s my favorite in the Netherlands. CHIO breathes history, and I really appreciate that. I also love the location in the woods and the atmosphere is always great. No doubt it helps that I achieved some of my biggest successes there. Yes, I can safely say Rotterdam is extra special to me, both because of the show’s history and my own. I generally prefer outdoor shows anyway. Other favorites of mine are Aachen, Hickstead, Windsor, and Spruce Meadows.”
Nations Cup Magic
“I also love the Nations Cup in Rotterdam. There’s more pressure when you ride for a team, because you want to do well not just for yourself but also for your teammates, but I’ve always enjoyed it. It’s special—an honor, really—to represent your country. Outside the show, I never really saw anything of the city of Rotterdam. I didn’t get much further than the showgrounds and the hotel. When I rode on the team, I always spent a lot of time with my teammates; it’s good for team spirit and really helps with preparation.”
Hoping to Return
“It’s been a few years since I last competed in Rotterdam—probably five or six. Unfortunately, I don’t have that many top horses at the moment, and you do need a few really good ones for Rotterdam. But I’d love to come back and compete there at least once more before I retire.”
Milton, King Edward, and Beauville Z
You’re more than welcome, John! After so many years at the top, we asked our quintessentially British guest which horse of today he’d most like to ride. Despite the many stars to choose from, his answer comes immediately—and makes us a little proud. John: “Of course, Milton is my all-time favorite, but right now I really like King Edward and your Beauville Z from Maikel van der Vleuten. Beauville is such a strong horse, really consistent, and performs incredibly well. He’s also a real fighter, and I love that.”
As mentioned, John’s life is still completely centered around horses, and he still competes regularly, though no longer at the big five-star events. John: “My next show will be Windsor. Around this time last year, I was still in the Netherlands, competing at De Peelbergen. Again, I really hope Rotterdam will be on the list one more time. You’re a fantastic event with amazing memories for me, and I hope you continue to exist for a very long time.”
John Whitaker—a living legend. It was special that he took the time to speak with us, and we’re honored by his kind words. John, we hope you’ll continue to enjoy our sport for many more years, and we look forward to seeing you again in the Kralingse Bos.
