Biography

British rider Alicia Hawker (24) one of the younger riders this year, completed her first Badminton last year. Alicia is based in Hullavington just eight miles from the event where she runs her 10-horse yard. In 2017 Alicia completed her first four-star at Pau with her Badminton entry Charles RR and the pair was third in the U25 championship at Bramham.

Alicia grew up on the family farm – her father Ashton has won awards for his wildlife conservation on the farm – and was a member of the Beaufort Pony Club. Her grandfather Robert (Bob) who owns ‘Charlie’ successfully bred and trained racehorses, ridden at home by her parents, including producing 33 winners at Cheltenham.  Alicia first competed in affiliated eventing at the age of 13 and in 2011 was the runner up in the U18 national championship. Aged 16 with Nankin Des Ruettes she placed 7^th in the National Novice championship at Gatcombe and was long-listed for the British Junior team and the following year (2012) was the team first reserve. In 2015 with both Nankin and Charles RR she was long-listed for the European Championships.

In 2017 she gained a first class degree in sports performance from the University of Bath and at the end of the year was named the winner of the Mark Todd Bridging the Gap Scholarship. She trains with Mark Todd and Rhian Jones. Outside of eventing Alicia likes snow-boarding, mountain biking, music festivals and socialising.

Charles RR (aka Charlie) is a 12-year-old British-bred AES registered gelding. Bred by Peter Teasdale near Helmsley in Yorkshire, he is by the KWPN sire Verdi TN (a son of Quidam de Revel) out of a mare by the former showjumper Didi. He was bought by Alicia’s Grandfather Bob Hawker as a 5-year-old for Alicia and as a young horse he proved ‘challenging’ but is now a ‘much-loved member of the family’. In 2017 the pair was 3^rd in the U25 championship at Bramham and completed their first four-star at Pau. Charlie loves ‘jumping out of his field and grazing with the 200+ milking herd which he seems to prefer to horses, and lots of attention’.