Biography

British rider Tom Crisp (44) runs Team Crisp Eventing with his wife Sophie in Mayfield, East Sussex. With Badminton entry Liberty and Glory Tom competed here last year but did not complete albeit the combination completed in 2019. Later in the year the pair gained 14^th place at Burghley having previously been placed 9^th there in 2022 and in 2018 with Liberty and Glory Tom gained a career best when 6^th at Pau. The pair has achieved six 5* completions.

Tom first came to prominence in 1999 when he finished second in the Young Rider National Championship at Bramham with Barnabys Ballard. The pair represented Great Britain at that year’s Young Rider European Championship at Necarne Castle winning team silver.

Tom has since produced a succession of young horses from scratch to advanced level.

Tom was born in Norfolk and after school went to Ireland to pursue a career in eventing which was followed by various placements before he set up his own yard in his home county. Tom, and his wife Sophie (nee Balfour), who also events and rode at Badminton in 2000, then relocated to Mayfield in East Sussex where they now have a 60-acre yard including a small stud, breeding future event horses.

As well as being a professional rider Tom is also a retained firefighter – when the call comes he has to drop whatever he is doing to become part of a vital team. He also enjoys building and fixing things and track days on his motorbike.

Tom and Sophie have two sons and a young daughter; Harry (16) who is now competing in juniors and novice classes, Hugo (14) and Hermione (5). Tom trains with Nick Turner.

Liberty and Glory is an 18-year-old British-bred SHB(GB) registered mare. Bred by Sophie Crisp’s parents Patricia and Robin Balfour she is by the Brendon stud’s former stallion Caretino Glory out of Sophie’s former advanced mare Little Runnymede by the Thoroughbred Ginger Boy (a son of Colonist – the sire of Mark Phillips 1974 Badminton winner Columbus). Liberty who acquired her name as she was born on the 4^th of July, was ridden in her first competitions by Sophie. In 2022 she had an embryo transfer foal by the Jaguar Mail son Jacondrik.