Our Ambassadors
We would like to thank the following celebrities for helping to spread the word about The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund in our 21st Anniversary year:
Alex Quinn
Television presenter on Sky Sports and At The Races covering all sport including horseracing and other equestrian events, including The Horse of the Year Show and Hickstead. Alex owned jumping ponies as a child and went on to ride in over 50 races as an amateur jockey, the highlights being placed in Ascot’s Diamond race. When she’s not working she enjoys show jumping in BSJA competitions and made it to the Amateur Championship Finals last year. She has two horses, a 10 year old Irish bred showjumper called Fern and an 18 year old retired racehorse called Lewis. She lives in Berkshire with her two dogs.
“I am delighted to be an ambassador for the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund. Having ridden since childhood I am aware that accidents are an inevitable part of equestrianism. The work this charity does in supporting riders unfortunate enough to be badly injured is invaluable and it’s great to know they are there to support all riders in all spheres and at any level.” Comments Alex.
Matt Baker
One of the best loved and most versatile presenters of Blue Peter, a role which won him 2 BAFTA awards for Best Children’s presenter and a Royal Television Society award. A former gymnastics champion, Matt also presented the BBC’s Olympics gymnastics coverage from Beijing. He can now be seen fronting Country File on Sunday evenings on BBC1 and can be heard presenting Open Country for BBC Radio 4.
Matt was born in Durham where he grew up in the Dales on his family’s sheep farm. His love of the countryside and animals made him the natural choice for fronting such shows as Crufts, One Man and His Dog, Summer Country File Diaries, Animal Rescue Live and Animal Rescue Squad for Channel Five and the North East’s Nature of Britain series.
Having always had a love for horses, Matt has been fortunate enough to have riding experiences that would challenge anyone. These include – amongst many others – ranching in Australia, America and Mongolia, taking part in a roping rodeo in Wyoming, spending lots of time with the HorseGuards, (both in Knightsbridge and on camp, swimming the horses in the sea, and taking them cross country). Matt has also ridden the ‘Gun Run’ with the Kings Troop and was trained to show jump by Tim Stockdale for the BBC’s ‘Only Fools On Horses’ for Sport Relief.
“Having had my fair share of riding experience, I know all to well that feeling of a bolting horse or that split second when you are not quite as in harmony with your stead as you first thought.
“Thinking back to the moment I dislocated my shoulder and cracked two ribs in the run up to Only Fools on Horses, or the taste of the Australian outback’s dirt as my horse literally left me for dust; I do sometimes wonder what it is that keeps me riding. But I’m still here and I’m still throwing myself headlong into any equestrian experience on offer.
“It’s great to know that whoever you are and whatever your involvement with horses that the Fund is there for all kinds of support. For all the money that is spent on our sport, a pound is not much for the peace of mind that the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund will be there for you, should you need them. “
Christopher Biggins
Brought up in Wiltshire, Christopher started his training at the Salisbury Repertory Theatre and later at Bristol Old Vic. Probably best known more recently for winning ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get me out of Here’, Christopher is currently presenting his own Radio show for BBC Radio London with Lesley Joseph and is all set to play Buttons in Cinderella at the Mayflower, Southampton this Christmas.
“I was raised in Wiltshire which has to be one of the most ‘horsey’ counties in the country and one of my greatest friends was the late Ginny Smart.
“It is in her honour really that I pledge my support for The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund because I saw not only her love of horses but also how dangerous they could be at the same time.”
