Richard ‘Dick’ Colven was born in Bethnall Green, London on September 8, 1901. His family emigrated to Australia where he served his apprenticeship and rode as a jockey. He was married there in 1923.
He rode for some time in Singapore and Egypt before returning to Britain in 1930. He and his wife later adopted a son, Albert Gordon Colven (always known by his second Christian name), who was born in September 1931.
Dick gained his biggest win in Britain on Lady Electra in the 1943 war substitute Lincolnshire Handicap, held that year at Pontefract. His final season was in 1946. Two years later he began training at Middleham. His first winner as a trainer was also his son Gordon’s first winner as a jockey, that being Pilpay at Doncaster on May 7, 1948.
Dick relinquished his British trainer’s licence in 1955 and left to train in New Zealand, but he returned to Australia not long after, where he died on December 14, 1963 in Victoria.
Gordon Colven followed his father to New Zealand and rode with success there. Unlike his father, he made New Zealand his home and lived there until his death.
