Champions (1984 film) Champions (1984 film) Champions is a 1984 film based on the true story of jockey Bob Champion. It is directed by John Irvin, produced by Peter Shaw, written by Evan Jones, and stars John Hurt, Edward Woodward and Jan Francis. The film is based on the true story of Bob Champion (portrayed by John Hurt), who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1979. After treatment with an operation to remove the diseased testicle and chemotherapy, Champion recovered and went on to win the 1981 Grand National on Aldaniti. In 1984, John Irvin was nominated for a Golden Bear Award at
Katie Walsh (jockey) her riding career in 2003. Her first winner was Hannon at Gowran Park in 2003. During the 2010 Cheltenham Festival she rode her first two Cheltenham Festival winners. She won on Poker De Sivola on the first day of the Festival in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup. She won on Thousand Stars on the last day of the Festival in the County Handicap Hurdle. Walsh made her Grand National debut in 2012. She rode Seabass, who was trained by her father Ted Walsh. She finished third, which currently is the best finish achieved by a female jockey in the