Three times Champion jockey Richard Dunwoody is one of Britain's most successful jockeys ever, best known for his partnership with the legendary Desert Orchid.
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Richard Dunwoody became the only jockey of his generation to win the ‘Big Three’ National Hunt races following wins on West Tip (Aintree Grand National 1986), Charter Party (Cheltenham Gold Cup 1988) and Kribensis (Champion Hurdle 1990). He won the Grand National again on Miinnehoma in 1994 and was Champion Jockey three times (1993-95). He was awarded the MBE for services to his sport in 1993.
Since retiring as a jockey in 1999 he has travelled extensively to over 80 countries including Mongolia, Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala and Afghanistan and undertaken expeditions to both the Arctic and Antarctic. In 2003 he competed in the inaugural Polar Race to the Magnetic North Pole and in 2008 completed an unsupported expedition to the South Pole, travelling around 700 miles on skis.
In 2009 he completed the Barclay Challenge in Newmarket walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours and in the same year, climbed Aconcagua.
In 2017, to raise funds for Sarcoma UK he walked the length of Japan's three largest islands covering over 2000 miles in 101 days.
His challenges have raised over £350,000 for charity.
Besides sport, adventure and travel, Richard has always been passionate about photography. Since studying photojournalism at the Speos Institute in Paris in 2011 his images have featured in publications around the world and in 2014 The Brooke Hospital (an equine charity) held a successful exhibition of his images of working equines at St Martin in the Fields in London.
He is the author of several books including Hell for Leather, Duel, Hands and Heels, Horses of My Life, Our Gumball Rally, Obsessed, Method in my Madness.
"The feedback has been overwhelming positive from the guests and ourselves. The talk was informative, inspiring and enjoyable and your honesty and willingness to answer questions was very well received. You were extremely professional to work with every step of the way and would certainly be happy to recommend you to speak at any event looking for a professional, inspiring speaker." Marketing Planning and Activation Manager, SIS Ltd - Sept 2017
"Richard is as inspiring a speaker as he was a jockey, taking the audience on the epic and dangerous journey to the South Pole with the same ‘sang froid’ as he would have ridden the National. Needless to say he was a huge success." Founder/MD, Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel Ltd
"Richard was a huge success and warmly received by everybody. There was a sense that we were welcoming home a national hero." Marketing Director, ESB Ireland
"Richard was a fantastic speaker. He was very personable and he pitched his speech perfectly for the audience. We have had excellent feedback about Richard from all of the guests who attended and we would definitely recommend him as a guest speaker." Phil Mayall, Muse Developments