During the London International Horse Show, John Whitaker received the British Equestrian Writer's Association Lifetime Achievement Award. The title is quite a mouthful, but it is the least the 67-year-old showjumping rider deserves for his glorious career in the sport and for what he has already done. But the British rider is not thinking about quitting at all "I have nothing left to prove, but still want to win."
The Award came as a complete surprise to Whitaker. Family and friends gathered in the large arena of the ExCel to honor him. John, who has won more than 20 Olympic, World and European medals during his long career, received the award from new BEWA President Rupert Bell.
He said he was "a little surprised" with the Award. "I was lied to, no one told me anything!" said John, who was joined in the ring by family and friends, including Stanny Van Paesschen, Marcus Ehning, Nick Skelton, Di Lampard, his son Robert Whitaker and two of his granddaughters.
“It was great fun, it's nice to be appreciated – as long as you don't think I'm ready for retirement yet! I'm not retiring.
He said of his sporting goals: “I can still beat them in my (old) age, and I make sure that all young people work for it. It's a nice feeling. I don't really have anything to prove, but I still want to get in the track and be competitive."
Source: Horse & Hound