Tina Cook, sister to Nick Gifford and daughter of Josh and Althea, won two bronze medals last night – in the individual and the team eventing competitions. It’s an extraordinary achievement.
I barely know Tina – our paths have crossed a few times in the kitchen at Downs stables and at the odd event – but I feel particularly awed today. The Giffords are a thoroughly likeable and extremely hard working family who exemplify traditional British values and put it all in. This will mean the world to them, and also to the eventing community.
Tina hasn’t had it all her own way in recent years. She got in to the GB team at the 11th hour as a sub for Zara Phillips having missed out at Sydney. At 37 she is no spring chicken. It’s a wonderful story on so many levels.