Ellen Whitaker
| Ellen Whitaker | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Ellen Whitaker | ||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality |
 United Kingdom
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| Discipline | Show jumping | ||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 5 March 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Ellen Whitaker (born 5 March 1986) is an English female show jumping rider, ranked 22nd by the British Showjumping Association for March 2014.
Competing since the age of 5, Whitaker has had much experience in the equestrian world and qualified for HOYS at just 8 years old.
In 2006, Whitaker and her father Steven Whitaker were hit with a legal dispute over ownership of thirteen horses, including her top horse Locarno. However, a few months later a peace deal was made.
In 2007, Whitaker represented Great Britain in the European Championships and helped allow Britain to qualify for the Olympics after jumping triple clear. She missed out on being selected for the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to lameness in horse Locarno 62.
In 2010, Whitaker spoke to the press after refusing to jump for the British team due to a conflict with the British team manager, Rob Hoekstra. She told Horse & Hound: “I only have Ocolado at the moment and Rob wanted to interfere with the way I do everything.” Her father and manager Steven Whitaker added: "It’s not a matter of Ellen not wanting to jump for her country, but we won’t jump again until Rob Hoekstra is finished." But British Equestrian Federation World Class performance director Will Connell said: "The riders wanted stronger management and leadership and that’s what Rob is delivering." Hoekstra did not wish to comment, saying: “I do not think team issues are best resolved through the press.”
She is the daughter of former show jumper Stephen Whitaker and his wife Carol,and niece of rider John & Michael Whitaker. Her brothers Joe, Thomas and Donald, as well as her cousins Robert, William, Louise, Joanne, George, James and Jack are also show jumpers.
She lives on the family farm near Barnsley, South Yorkshire and attended Penistone Grammar School.
On 26 February 2011, Whitaker announced her engagement to actor Henry Cavill. The pair called off their engagement on 18 August 2012.
On 19 September 2011, Whitaker pleaded guilty to drink driving. Whitaker was stopped by local Police in Knutsford Town Centre, Cheshire at 2 am after she attended a charity ball. A roadside breath test proved positive and she was taken to a police station where her lowest reading was 77 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - more than double the legal limit of 35.
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Wikipedia