Marion Coakes
Encyclopedia
Marion Janice Mould (née Coakes, born 6 June 1947) is an English show-jumper
. She competed for Great Britain at the 1968 Summer Olympics
, winning a silver medal in the individual jumping
event.
. Her elder brothers, John and Douglas, were also on the British junior show jumping team. At the age of three she learned to ride on a donkey. In 1960, her father imported Stroller
, an eight-year-old pony, from Ireland. Aged 16, and at the end of Marion's junior career her father wanted to replace Stroller with a horse, but Marion was not willing to let him go and continued showing on the pony.
In 1964 Marion won the Hickstead
Derby Trial and placed second to Seamus Hayes in the Hickstead Derby, and the following year Marion rode Stroller to a gold medal in the ladies World Championship
at Hickstead
. She won the 1967 Hickstead
Derby, placed second in 1968 and third in 1970. Marion competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics
in both the team and the individual jumping events. In the individual jumping
she won a silver medal. In 1970, Coakes won the Hamburg Derby with a clear round–the fiftieth recorded on the course and the first time by a female rider. That year Stroller was the leading show jumper Horse of the Year Show
. Following Stroller's retirement, Marion continued to jump and won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup again in 1976 while riding on a new mount, Elizabeth Ann.
Equestrian Hall of Fame. She married the jockey, David Mould, in 1969 and now lives with him and son Jack in the New Forest
.
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
. She competed for Great Britain at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
, winning a silver medal in the individual jumping
Equestrian at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Equestrian competitions at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico featured team and individual competitions in show jumping, eventing, and dressage.-Medal summary:-Participating nations:...
event.
Early life
Coakes was born in June 1947. Her father, Ralph, was a farmer in HampshireHampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. Her elder brothers, John and Douglas, were also on the British junior show jumping team. At the age of three she learned to ride on a donkey. In 1960, her father imported Stroller
Stroller (horse)
Stroller was the only pony to compete at the Olympics in Show Jumping.* Color: Bay* Markings: Star, near hind sock* Height: 14.1 hh approx.* Sex: Gelding* Breed: Irish Sport Horse...
, an eight-year-old pony, from Ireland. Aged 16, and at the end of Marion's junior career her father wanted to replace Stroller with a horse, but Marion was not willing to let him go and continued showing on the pony.
Career
In her second season as a senior Marion won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup—a former international ladies class event—that took place at the Royal International Horse Show. That year she won three Nations Cup events, helping to win the Presidents Cup.In 1964 Marion won the Hickstead
Hickstead
The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, known widely as Hickstead is an equestrian sport centre in West Sussex, England, principally known for its showjumping activities, where it hosts two international level competitions, the British Jumping Derby and the Royal International Horse Show...
Derby Trial and placed second to Seamus Hayes in the Hickstead Derby, and the following year Marion rode Stroller to a gold medal in the ladies World Championship
Show Jumping World Championships
The Show Jumping World Championships, or the show jumping competition at the FEI World Equestrian Games, was started in 1953, with individual competition. In 1978 Team competitions began, and men and women began competing against one another. From 1990, show jumping was brought together along with...
at Hickstead
Hickstead
The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, known widely as Hickstead is an equestrian sport centre in West Sussex, England, principally known for its showjumping activities, where it hosts two international level competitions, the British Jumping Derby and the Royal International Horse Show...
. She won the 1967 Hickstead
Hickstead
The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, known widely as Hickstead is an equestrian sport centre in West Sussex, England, principally known for its showjumping activities, where it hosts two international level competitions, the British Jumping Derby and the Royal International Horse Show...
Derby, placed second in 1968 and third in 1970. Marion competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in both the team and the individual jumping events. In the individual jumping
Equestrian at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Equestrian competitions at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico featured team and individual competitions in show jumping, eventing, and dressage.-Medal summary:-Participating nations:...
she won a silver medal. In 1970, Coakes won the Hamburg Derby with a clear round–the fiftieth recorded on the course and the first time by a female rider. That year Stroller was the leading show jumper Horse of the Year Show
Horse of the Year Show
The Horse of the Year Show - also known as HOYS - was founded to be a culmination of the British equestrian events year. Because of this, the show needed to be held indoors, making it a unique event....
. Following Stroller's retirement, Marion continued to jump and won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup again in 1976 while riding on a new mount, Elizabeth Ann.
Personal life
In 2006, Marion Coakes was inducted into The British Horse SocietyBritish Horse Society
The British Horse Society is a membership-based equine charity, with a stated vision of "a society which provides a strong voice for horses and people and which spreads awareness through support, training and education"...
Equestrian Hall of Fame. She married the jockey, David Mould, in 1969 and now lives with him and son Jack in the New Forest
New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
.