Biography

British rider Kristina (Tina) Cook (51) last competed at Badminton in 2019 finishing in 7^th place with Billy the Red her entry this year also. It was her 14^th completion of the event – her first was in 1993. Last year with Billy the Red she completed Pau 5* (16^th).

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 (9^th) 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 (10^th, 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 29^th 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 13^th 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.

Billy the Red owned by Elisabeth Murdoch and Keith Tyson, is a 15-year-old German-bred gelding. He is by Balou du Rouet (a son of the leading sire Baloubet du Rouet and sire of 5*horses Reve du Rouet and Barrichello). He is out of Simply Red by the thoroughbred Stan the Man (sire of Michael Jungs 2016 Badminton winner La Biosethique Sam and British Olympic medallists Shear L’Eau and Shear H2O). He was acquired as a six-year-old novice from Canadian rider Kathryn Robinson. In 2016 he was the travelling reserve for the British Olympic team, won team European gold in 2017, competed at the WEG in Tryon (individual) where he finished 9^th and team silver in the 2019 European Championships.

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