Richard Dunwoody
Three times Champion jockey Richard Dunwoody is one of Britain’s most successful jockeys ever. He was at the forefront of English National Hunt racing in the 80’s and the 90s, winning the Big Three races – the Grand National (twice on Miinnehoma and West Tip), the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. When he hung up his boots at the age of 35 due to injury in 1999, he had won a record 1,699 races and endured 672 falls (a record which he still holds!). He is best known for his partnership with the legendary Desert Orchid on whom he won seven races. Richard was awarded an MBE in 1993 for services to his sport
A racing pundit for the BBC, sports columnist, and inspirational speaker, in January 2008 Richard also completed a gruelling 680-mile, 48-day trek to the South Pole unresupplied and on a new route, one that Shackleton intended to take back in 1915 but failed to complete.
From May to July 2009 Richard undertook the ‘1000 Mile in 1000 hours’ Barclay Challenge which involved walking one mile in every hour for 42 days with minimal sleep throughout this period. This raised over 200K for the four charities that Richard patronises.
2009 also saw Richard’s (albeit brief!) appearance on the BBC hit show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, an experience which he describes in his second recently published autobiography, ‘Method in My Madness’ as far more daunting than riding around the Aintree Grand National fences!
Business lessons include:
- Controlling the controllable
- Choosing your attitude
- Goal setting
- Overcoming the fear of failure
- Learning from mistakes and dealing with setbacks
- Building a high performance team
- Doing the basics
- Focus and commitment needed to get to the top
- An Insight into the World’s Greatest Race, the Aintree Grand National
- Conquering the South Pole
- Overcoming extreme nerves in the Strictly Come Dancing experience
Background at a glance
Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE
- Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on January 18th 1964
- Parents: Former national hunt trainer George Dunwoody and his wife Gillian
- Educated at Rendcomb College near Cheltenham
- First English winner ‘Game Trust’ at Cheltenham in May 1983
- High points include winning the Grand National on West Tip in 1986 and Miinnehoma in 1994
- Cheltenham Gold Cup on Charter Party in 1988
- Best known for his partnership with Desert Orchid on whom he won seven races
- Major wins – Grand National (2), Cheltenham Gold Cup, King George VI Steeplechase (4), Champion Hurdle, Breeders Cup Chase USA (2)
- Until 2002 Richard held the record for the most winners ridden (1699 in Britain) and became Champion Jockey three times 92-93, 93-94, 94-95
- Awarded the MBE for services to racing in June 1993
- Voted National Hunt Jockey of the Year from 1990-95
- Ride of the Year Award (SIS/Sporting Life) 1995 and 96
- Champion of Champions 2001
- Books – Hell for Leather, Duel, Hands and Heels, Horses of My Life, Obsessed (his autobiography) and Our Gumball Rally
- In 2003 completed the Polar Race, a 350 mile ski race to the Magnetic North Pole
- In 2008 reached the South Pole, the first person on foot to do so on foot and unresupplied from the Recovery Glacier, a total distance of 680 miles
- In 2009 achieved the Barclay Challenge in Newmarket walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours – one mile in every hour for 42 days with minimal sleep
- In 2009 was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing Series 7
Testimonials
Richard was a huge success and warmly received by everybody. There was a sense that we were welcoming home a national hero.
ESB Ireland
..what a roaring success this event was. It was hugely enjoyable and very interesting. Inspiring.
APM
The feedback has been excellent with everyone thoroughly enjoying Richard's talk and experiences. It was our most successful event ever…He is some guy!
British Red Cross
I would like to thank you for the excellent presentation….There was great interest in your presentation and we have received excellent feedback from delegates.
The Sales Institute of Ireland
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