Speakers evening, Thoresby Eventing Spring Carnival with Tina Cook, Alice Casburn, compared John Kyle.

Tina Cook

British rider Kristina (Tina) Cook (53) last competed at Badminton in 2019 finishing in 7th place with Billy the Re. It was her 14th completion of the event – her first was in 1993. Last year with Billy the Red she completed Pau 5* (16th).

Tina, who is based in West Sussex, is a long-standing member of British teams. In 2019, with Billy the Red she was a member of the British silver medal team at the European champions (her ninth European championship). The pair represented GB as an individual at the WEG in Tryon (9th) and in 2017 was a member of the British team to win gold at the European Championships in Strzegom where she was fourth individually. The pair was the travelling reserve for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Tina first represented GB in 1987 winning team gold at the Junior European Championships (Song & Dance Man). She was a regular and successful member of British Young Rider teams and in 1991 was National Champion. The following year she competed at her first Badminton (10th, Song & Dance Man) and made her first senior team appearance in the 1993 European Championships when she won individual silver (Song & Dance Man). She was a member of British gold medal teams at the World Equestrian Games (1994) and European Championships (’95 & ’99) and in 1997 won individual European bronze with General Jock. With her Olympic ride Miners Frolic she won the European Championships in 2009 and Olympic team and individual bronze in 2008. In 2010 they won team gold at the WEG in Lexington where they were 29th individually. With De Novo News she was a member of the British silver medal team at the 2014 WEG and with Miners Frolic a member of the British Olympic team that won silver in London 2012 where she was sixth in the individual competition – the pair was 13th at the European Championships in 2013. (In October 2015 she sadly lost De Novo News after he contracted shipping fever on the way back from Strzegom.)

Tina’s father the late Josh Gifford was four-times Champion Jockey and a successful trainer – he trained Aldaniti to win the Grand National in 1998. Her mother Althea Roger-Smith was a successful international show jumper who represented GB and was a winner of the Queen Elizabeth Cup. Tina is assistant to her racehorse trainer brother Nick at the yard in Findon, Sussex. She has two children from her former marriage; Isabelle (17) a keen Pony Club member who has started eventing & Harry (15) a keen rugby football and cricket player.

Tina trains with Ian Woodhead.

Alice Casburn:

British rider Alice Casburn (22) and her ride Topspin made a successful debut at Badminton in 2022. The pair was 19th winning Alice, who was the youngest rider competing, the highest placed ‘under 25’, the highest placed ‘owner/rider’ and the Glentrool trophy for the ‘highest rise up the leader board after dressage. Alice then won team gold and individual bronze medals at the Young Rider European Championships at Hartpury and finished an outstanding season with fifth place at Burghley 5*.

In 2019 with Topspin she was a member of the British squad at the Junior European Championships (16th) and the pair completed their first 5* at Pau in 2021.

Alice, who is based in Corpusty, 16 miles north of Norwich in Norfolk. Alice who completed an AASE (Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence) with Haddon Training now assists her mother in her livery yard.

Alice’s mother Caroline Casburn (nee Sizer) rode at Badminton 1994 and later that year was a member of the British squad at the WEG in the Hague (Grey Ghost). Topspin who is a second generation homebred was originally competed by Caroline in showjumping to Grade A as he was considered too sharp for Alice who eventually took the reins in 2018 when he was 10, after ‘years of being desperate for the ride’.

Alice enjoys regular beach swims (whatever the season) and scuba diving.

She trains with her mother and Caroline Moore.