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
Charlie Cunningham (jockey) Charlie Cunningham (jockey) Charles "Charlie" Cunningham (1849-1906) was a 19th-century Scottish National Hunt jockey, who has been described as "Scotland's greatest jockey". Although he was an amateur throughout his career, he won the Scottish Grand National a record four times (1881, 1885, 1887 and 1889) and also the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup in 1886. He is also one of only two jump jockeys to ride six winners in one day, a feat he achieved at Rugby Hunt on 29 March 1881. In one three-year period, he won 144 out of 276 races. He was unnaturally big for a jockey,