Since his retirement from the saddle in 1983, Robert ‘Bob’ Champion has probably been best known to the general public as the founder of the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, which was established that same year and has since raised over £15 million for cancer research. Indeed, Champion was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for charitable services in that sphere.
Of course, as a National Hunt jockey, Champion was no slouch; in fact, far from it. He rode his first winner, Altercation, in a novices’ chase at Plumpton on January 17, 1968, as a 19-year-old amateur, and turned professional the following season. In his career as a whole, Champion went on to ride 500 or so winners, with notable successes including Highland Wedding in the Eider Chase at Newcastle, Approaching in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury and Henry Bishop in the SGB Chase at Ascot. In 1977/78, he reached his highest finishing position, in the National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship, third behind Jonjo O’Neill, with 56 winners.
However, Champion will always be best remembered for just one ride, that on Aldaniti, trained by Josh Gifford, in the 1981 Grand National. Indeed, their fairytale-like story was immortalised in the 1984 film, ‘Champions’, starring John Hurt as Champion. In July 1979, aged 31 and at the peak of his powers, Champion was diagnosed with testicular cancer, requiring surgery, followed by a gruelling course of chemotherapy, if he was to have any hope of survival. Thankfully, the treatment proved successful, eventually, and Champion returned to racing. So, too, did Aldaniti, having recovered fron life-threatening leg injuries to take his place in the Aintree lineup. ‘Porcelain’ legs or not, Aldaniti led over the final fence and held on to win by four lengths, on what was just his second start in the best part of 18 months.
