Marion Coakes

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameMarion Janice•Coakes (-Mould)
Used nameMarion•Coakes
Born6 June 1947 in New Milton, England (GBR)
Measurements165 cm / 60 kg
NOC Great Britain
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Though Marion Coakes achieved success with other horses the story of her career is inextricably linked with the remarkable pony Stroller. At their peak in the late sixties and early seventies they were amongst the most popular figures in British sport and twice finished in the top three in the polling for Britain’s sports person of the year.

Coakes was following in the footsteps of her two brothers who had competed at international level when, in 1960, the thirteen year old was partnered with a ten year old Irish pony called Stroller. Despite being freakishly small by the standards of world level show jumping the pony propelled Coakes up the ranks of the sport. Five years after the pair started competing at junior level Coakes onboard Stroller won the 1965 Women’s World Championship at Hickstead in England. 1967 proved a memorable year highlighted by a win in the British Show Jumping Derby and their consistency in top level events assured they would arrive at the 1968 Olympic Games as one of the medal favourites. The Games began well for Coakes and Stroller were only denied the Olympic individual title by American Bill Steinkraus. Stroller, suffering badly from an infected tooth, put in two disastrous rounds of jumping in the team competition which cost the British team any chance of a medal.

In 1970 she was runner-up at the Women’s World Championship and became the first women to win the Großer Preis von Hamburg but by then Stroller was reaching the end of his career. After Stroller retired at the end of 1971 Marion continued to achieve some successes and won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 1975 but never again reached the heights that the pair achieved together.

In 1969 she married the steeplechase jockey Dave Mould, who was most famous for riding horses owned by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1968 Summer Olympics Equestrian Jumping (Equestrian) GBR Marion Coakes
Individual, Open (Olympic) Stroller 2 Silver
Team, Open (Olympic) Stroller / Great Britain 8