Brian Fanshawe
1936 - 2019
Jockey Brian Fanshawe
Jockey Brian Fanshawe
Captain Brian Fanshawe
Captain Brian Fanshawe was one of the most renowned Masters of Foxhounds and amateur huntsmen of the 20th century. He also rode a Cheltenham Festival winner and was instrumental in the education of a future Gold Cup winner.
Captain Brian Fanshawe was one of the most renowned Masters of Foxhounds and amateur huntsmen of the 20th century. He also rode a Cheltenham Festival winner and was instrumental in the education of a future Gold Cup winner.
Father of successful Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe, Brian was born on September 13, 1936, the second son of Major Richard Fanshawe, who the previous month had taken part in the three-day event at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Father of successful Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe, Brian was born on September 13, 1936, the second son of Major Richard Fanshawe, who the previous month had taken part in the three-day event at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The Fanshawe family was well known in Ireland and Brian hunted with the Kildare as a teenager from their Naas home. Later when serving as a soldier in Omagh, Co. Tyrone he hunted mostly with the Co. Down Staghounds. A cavalryman of repute from a family of soldiers, Brian was a 12th Lancer until that regiment’s amalgamation in 1960.
The Fanshawe family was well known in Ireland and Brian hunted with the Kildare as a teenager from their Naas home. Later when serving as a soldier in Omagh, Co. Tyrone he hunted mostly with the Co. Down Staghounds. A cavalryman of repute from a family of soldiers, Brian was a 12th Lancer until that regiment’s amalgamation in 1960.
He married Elizabeth (Libby) Pugh on September 14, 1960. She would give birth to three children: James, Antony and Sarah.
He married Elizabeth (Libby) Pugh on September 14, 1960. She would give birth to three children: James, Antony and Sarah.
On leaving the Army in 1965, Brian became Joint Master and Huntsman of the Warwickshire hounds. He also rode in point-to-points and in hunter and amateur riders’ chases, scoring his greatest success when guiding Master Tammy to success in the 1967 National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham National Hunt Meeting. After making most of the running, Master Tammy was headed, but regained the lead in the last few strides to win by a neck. Among Brian’s beaten rivals were future trainers Ben Hanbury, Nick Gaselee and Roger Charlton.
On leaving the Army in 1965, Brian became Joint Master and Huntsman of the Warwickshire hounds. He also rode in point-to-points and in hunter and amateur riders’ chases, scoring his greatest success when guiding Master Tammy to success in the 1967 National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham National Hunt Meeting. After making most of the running, Master Tammy was headed, but regained the lead in the last few strides to win by a neck. Among Brian’s beaten rivals were future trainers Ben Hanbury, Nick Gaselee and Roger Charlton.
However, by far the best horse he rode was the hard-pulling 1973 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero The Dikler. Brian rode him during the horse’s first season point-to-pointing in 1969. He partnered him to his first two wins – open races at the Oxford University and Old Berkeley hunt meetings, making all and never off the bridle. But the next time he rode him, The Dikler ran out, breaking his rider’s ankle.
However, by far the best horse he rode was the hard-pulling 1973 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero The Dikler. Brian rode him during the horse’s first season point-to-pointing in 1969. He partnered him to his first two wins – open races at the Oxford University and Old Berkeley hunt meetings, making all and never off the bridle. But the next time he rode him, The Dikler ran out, breaking his rider’s ankle.
Brian rode just one other winner under NH rules, that being on the David Nicholson-trained Buck Sidwell in the Waterloo Novices’ Hunters’ Chase at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, April 23, 1973.
Brian rode just one other winner under NH rules, that being on the David Nicholson-trained Buck Sidwell in the Waterloo Novices’ Hunters’ Chase at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, April 23, 1973.
Having relinquished the post of Joint Master of the Warwickshire Hunt, Brian took on a similar role with the famous Galway Blazers, holding office from 1969 to 1972. He then returned to England and joined firstly the North Cotswold and then the Cottesmore, for whom he was Master of Foxhounds and amateur huntsman from 1981 to 1992. Brian Fanshawe died in May 2019 aged 82.
Having relinquished the post of Joint Master of the Warwickshire Hunt, Brian took on a similar role with the famous Galway Blazers, holding office from 1969 to 1972. He then returned to England and joined firstly the North Cotswold and then the Cottesmore, for whom he was Master of Foxhounds and amateur huntsman from 1981 to 1992. Brian Fanshawe died in May 2019 aged 82.