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Geoffrey Phipps-Hornby (left) winning the Jorrocks Cup at the Rifle Brigade point-to-point meeting, held at Chawton, near Alron, Hampshire, in 1909.
Geoffrey Phipps-Hornby (left) winning the Jorrocks Cup at the Rifle Brigade point-to-point meeting, held at Chawton, near Alron, Hampshire, in 1909.
1889-1967
1889-1967
Major (later Colonel) Geoffrey Hardinge Phipps-Hornby, CBE, was born on April 4, 1889, the son of Captain Geoffrey Stanley Phipps-Hornby, an officer in the Rifle Brigade, and his wife Jessie (née Gunston). In addition to being a British Army officer, he was also an accomplished amateur rider with 44 wins over jumps and an international polo player.
Major (later Colonel) Geoffrey Hardinge Phipps-Hornby, CBE, was born on April 4, 1889, the son of Captain Geoffrey Stanley Phipps-Hornby, an officer in the Rifle Brigade, and his wife Jessie (née Gunston). In addition to being a British Army officer, he was also an accomplished amateur rider with 44 wins over jumps and an international polo player.
He grew up at Sandley Hall, near Gillingham, in Dorset, where his father, after retiring from the Army, was joint owner and manager of the Compton Stud, breeding thoroughbreds and hunters. He was educated at Eton and Sandhurst and, in 1909, was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade as a Second Lieutenant.
He grew up at Sandley Hall, near Gillingham, in Dorset, where his father, after retiring from the Army, was joint owner and manager of the Compton Stud, breeding thoroughbreds and hunters. He was educated at Eton and Sandhurst and, in 1909, was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade as a Second Lieutenant.
He had his first ride under National Hunt rules when finishing second on a horse named Unknown III in the Hatherleigh Chase at Wincanton on Easter Monday, April 12, 1909. Wincanton on Easter Monday would subsequently become a happy hunting ground for him.
He had his first ride under National Hunt rules when finishing second on a horse named Unknown III in the Hatherleigh Chase at Wincanton on Easter Monday, April 12, 1909. Wincanton on Easter Monday would subsequently become a happy hunting ground for him.
He rode his first winner under NH rules on 10-1 outsider Valentine Vox in an eventful Bagshot Selling Chase at Aldershot on November 17, 1910. Five started for the two-mile contest but three of them fell, leaving Valentine Vox to win by a length and a half from the only other finisher.
He rode his first winner under NH rules on 10-1 outsider Valentine Vox in an eventful Bagshot Selling Chase at Aldershot on November 17, 1910. Five started for the two-mile contest but three of them fell, leaving Valentine Vox to win by a length and a half from the only other finisher.
Promoted to Lieutenant in 1911 and, in 1912, he was transferred to the 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers, with whom he spent the rest of his military career.
Promoted to Lieutenant in 1911 and, in 1912, he was transferred to the 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers, with whom he spent the rest of his military career.
He rode six winners in 1914 including an Easter Monday double at Wincanton on Hesperus Magnus in the Hatherleigh Chase and Bene in the Hunt Chase.
He rode six winners in 1914 including an Easter Monday double at Wincanton on Hesperus Magnus in the Hatherleigh Chase and Bene in the Hunt Chase.
On the outbreak of the Great War, he was seconded for service on the Staff and served as ADC to Brigadier-General de Lisle, Commander of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade during the Great Retreat. He was promoted to Captain in May 1915. Later that year, he was wounded by a shell splinter while on the staff of Brig.-Gen. Mullens, who had succeeded de Lisle as commander of 2nd Cavalry Brigade on the latter's promotion to the command of 1st Cavalry Division. He was mentioned in despatches three times during the war and was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre in 1918. He was promoted to the rank of Major in 1919.
On the outbreak of the Great War, he was seconded for service on the Staff and served as ADC to Brigadier-General de Lisle, Commander of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade during the Great Retreat. He was promoted to Captain in May 1915. Later that year, he was wounded by a shell splinter while on the staff of Brig.-Gen. Mullens, who had succeeded de Lisle as commander of 2nd Cavalry Brigade on the latter's promotion to the command of 1st Cavalry Division. He was mentioned in despatches three times during the war and was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre in 1918. He was promoted to the rank of Major in 1919.
Leaving active service for the Reserve Officers after the war, he returned to his family, who were by that time living in Somerton Erleigh in Somerset, and resumed race-riding in point-to-points and under rules, enjoying his most successful NH season in 1920 with nine wins, putting him in joint-7th place in that year’s amateur rider’s table.
Leaving active service for the Reserve Officers after the war, he returned to his family, who were by that time living in Somerton Erleigh in Somerset, and resumed race-riding in point-to-points and under rules, enjoying his most successful NH season in 1920 with nine wins, putting him in joint-7th place in that year’s amateur rider’s table.
He rode another Easter Monday double at Wincanton in 1922, then, later that year, notched a short-priced treble at Wincanton’s inaugural autumn meeting on October 7, two of those wins coming on the same horse. Having guided Swallow VIII, the evens favourite, to an easy 20-length victory in the Stalbridge Selling Chase, he next won the Hatherleigh Autumn Chase by a distance aboard 6-4 on favourite Swivel, then was reunited with Swallow VIII who, despite his earlier exertions, justified odds of 6-4 on when winning the Farmers’ Chase by a distance. Swallow VIII also won on his next outing in a chase at Pershore in November, again scoring by a distance.
He rode another Easter Monday double at Wincanton in 1922, then, later that year, notched a short-priced treble at Wincanton’s inaugural autumn meeting on October 7, two of those wins coming on the same horse. Having guided Swallow VIII, the evens favourite, to an easy 20-length victory in the Stalbridge Selling Chase, he next won the Hatherleigh Autumn Chase by a distance aboard 6-4 on favourite Swivel, then was reunited with Swallow VIII who, despite his earlier exertions, justified odds of 6-4 on when winning the Farmers’ Chase by a distance. Swallow VIII also won on his next outing in a chase at Pershore in November, again scoring by a distance.
Major Phipps-Hornby finished third on Swivel in the 1923 Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase, beaten a total of 10 lengths. Swivel also provided him with the third leg of a treble at Wincanton’s 1923 Easter Monday fixture on April 2 aboard three even-money favourites. He began by winning the Somerset and Dorset Hunt Chase on Cindrally, then added the Blackmore Vale Handicap Chase on Tulligorey, and completed his hat-trick in on Swivel in the Hatherleigh Foxhunters’ Chase.
Major Phipps-Hornby finished third on Swivel in the 1923 Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase, beaten a total of 10 lengths. Swivel also provided him with the third leg of a treble at Wincanton’s 1923 Easter Monday fixture on April 2 aboard three even-money favourites. He began by winning the Somerset and Dorset Hunt Chase on Cindrally, then added the Blackmore Vale Handicap Chase on Tulligorey, and completed his hat-trick in on Swivel in the Hatherleigh Foxhunters’ Chase.
On July 22, 1924, he married Rosie Eileen May Daly, with whom he had two daughters.
On July 22, 1924, he married Rosie Eileen May Daly, with whom he had two daughters.
In addition to his many successes in the point-to-point field and under rules, he was a 7-goal handicap polo player. He won numerous polo trophies including the Ranelagh Open Challenge Cup (twice) and the Roehampton Trophy on five occasions with different teams. He was a member of the British team that was beaten by the USA for the Westchester Cup in 1924.
In addition to his many successes in the point-to-point field and under rules, he was a 7-goal handicap polo player. He won numerous polo trophies including the Ranelagh Open Challenge Cup (twice) and the Roehampton Trophy on five occasions with different teams. He was a member of the British team that was beaten by the USA for the Westchester Cup in 1924.
He rode what proved to be his last winner under NH rules on Swivel, who was by then 15 years old, in the 3m 5f Hatherleigh Foxhunters’ Chase at Wincanton on Easter Monday, April 9, 1928, scoring by five lengths and receiving a warm reception on returning to the winners’ enclosure.
He rode what proved to be his last winner under NH rules on Swivel, who was by then 15 years old, in the 3m 5f Hatherleigh Foxhunters’ Chase at Wincanton on Easter Monday, April 9, 1928, scoring by five lengths and receiving a warm reception on returning to the winners’ enclosure.
He had a total of eight rides in Cheltenham’s National Hunt Chase during his career, coming closest when finishing second, beaten a length, on the 10-year-old Samode in 1929. Later that month, on March 23, 1929, Samode became Major Phipps-Hornby’s final ride under NH rules when completing the course in the Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase, which in those days was run over the full Grand National distance of 4 miles 856 yards.
He had a total of eight rides in Cheltenham’s National Hunt Chase during his career, coming closest when finishing second, beaten a length, on the 10-year-old Samode in 1929. Later that month, on March 23, 1929, Samode became Major Phipps-Hornby’s final ride under NH rules when completing the course in the Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase, which in those days was run over the full Grand National distance of 4 miles 856 yards.
The best horse he owned, albeit in the early part of his career, was Pucka Belle. In 1932, he rode her to win the Maiden at the Sparkford Vale Harriers and the Nomination at the Mendip. He then sold her to Eric Bailey, who rode her in all bar one of her future races, including when winning the 1936 National Hunt Chase and finishing third behind Royal Mail and Cooleen in the 1937 Grand National.
The best horse he owned, albeit in the early part of his career, was Pucka Belle. In 1932, he rode her to win the Maiden at the Sparkford Vale Harriers and the Nomination at the Mendip. He then sold her to Eric Bailey, who rode her in all bar one of her future races, including when winning the 1936 National Hunt Chase and finishing third behind Royal Mail and Cooleen in the 1937 Grand National.
In addition to his Regular Army service, Major Phipps-Hornby was an officer in the North Somerset Yeomanry. In April 1939, on reaching the normal age limit for liability for recall, he was removed from the Reserve of Officers but he returned to active service on the outbreak of the Second World War, during which he was promoted to Colonel and was again mentioned in despatches. He was appointed a CBE in 1946.
In addition to his Regular Army service, Major Phipps-Hornby was an officer in the North Somerset Yeomanry. In April 1939, on reaching the normal age limit for liability for recall, he was removed from the Reserve of Officers but he returned to active service on the outbreak of the Second World War, during which he was promoted to Colonel and was again mentioned in despatches. He was appointed a CBE in 1946.
He spent his final years with his wife on the Phipps-Hornby’s family estate in Lordington, near Chichester, West Sussex, where he died on February 23, 1967, aged 77.
He spent his final years with his wife on the Phipps-Hornby’s family estate in Lordington, near Chichester, West Sussex, where he died on February 23, 1967, aged 77.
Lt. Geoffrey Phipps-Hornby (centre), 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers, early in the Great War with (left) a lieutenant of the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards and (right) an officer of the Army Veterinary Corps.
Lt. Geoffrey Phipps-Hornby (centre), 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers, early in the Great War with (left) a lieutenant of the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards and (right) an officer of the Army Veterinary Corps.
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