Champions

Champions (1984)

Tagline: "Champions - a true story"
 
Starring: John Hurt, Edward Woodward, Jan Francis, Ben Johnson

Featured Racecourses: Aintree, Cheltenham, Chepstow, Fontwell, Sandown

Director: John Irvin
Producer: Peter Shaw
Writer: Evan Jones

Release Date: April 1984
Runtime: 106 mins

IMDB Synopsis: The true story of Bob Champion, a British steeple chase jockey who, in the late 1970s, was diagnosed with cancer. Rather than succumb to the disease, however, Bob stages a miraculous recovery and goes on to win the 1981 Grand National steeple chase on the horse Aldaniti.

Where to Buy: Amazon
Film Links: IMDB, Wikipedia

Personal Review


An emotional true story charting the 1981 Grand National victory of Bob Champion and his mount Aldaniti who both fought back from the brink of death to line up in the world's greatest steeple chase. Bob Champion, a successful jump jockey with 350 winners already to his name, was only 30 years old when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1979 and given only 8 months to live. He had an operation to remove a testicle and part of a rib, followed by intensive bouts of chemotherapy which left him bald and very weak but the thought of riding Aldaniti again kept him going. Bob had a special affinity with Aldaniti, an injury prone chestnut racehorse who had a history of leg troubles, and after placing aboard him in the Gold Cup and Scottish National Bob thought he had the potential to win the Grand National. During Bob's cancer treatment he went to watch Aldaniti run in the Ewell Chase at Sandown but sadly the horse sustained a serious leg injury and was almost put down. Bob and Aldaniti gradually regained their health though and after teaming up again in the spring of 1981 to comfortably win a race at Ascot a shot at the Grand National was back on. The rest as they say is history!

The champions movie was based on the best-selling novel "Champions Story" written by Bob Champion and Jonathan Powell. Bob himself was an advisor on the film set and his role was played by one of Britain's finest actors John Hurt who was simply superb as the jockey come cancer patient (sadly John Hurt lost his own battle with cancer and died in Jan 2017). Aldaniti played himself in the majority of scenes and his trainer Josh Gifford was played by another brilliant actor in Edward Woodward who is probably best remembered for his role in the 1973 film "Wicker Man". Bob's girlfriend and soon-to-be wife Jo Beswick was played by Jan Francis who by then was already starring in "Just Good Friends" with Paul Nicholas. Incidentally the lucky horseshoe necklace given by Jo to Bob in hospital was the same one that Bob Champion had actually worn in the 1981 Grand National, having originally received it from a generous couple in Cheltenham. Bob's other love interest in the film, Barbara, whom he met on his recuperation trips to America, was played by Kirstie Alley who went on to be a big star in "Cheers". Bob's sister Mary Hussey was played by Alison Steadman who is better known more recently for being Gavin's mum in "Gavin and Stacey" and her husband Richard was played by Michael Byrne who has appeared in numerous productions.  Apart from Bob Champion, two other Grand National winning jockeys are also featured in the film, John Buckingham who won in 1967 on Foinavon, and John Burke, who won in 1976 on Rag Trade.

The opening three minutes of the film are simply stunning - shots of Aldaniti being ridden on the gallops interleaved with shots of Aintree racecourse and all accompanied by the stirring "Champions" theme tune, magically composed by Carl Davis. The Champions theme tune is still used every year during the Grand National broadcasts and also during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Most of the racecourse scenes in the movie before the Grand National finale were filmed at Chepstow racecourse which is ironic because Aldaniti never raced at that track and the first sequence showing him winning there is a mystery. We also get second unit glimpses of Fontwell, Sandown (where the horse breaks down) and Cheltenham where Aldaniti wins his comeback race (although he actually won his comeback race  at Ascot and not Cheltenham) but most of the close ups of the paddock, betting ring, crowd and racing scenes appear to be filmed at Chepstow. The Grand National race in the film cleverly mixes footage from the 1983 National with close ups of Champion and Aldaniti and indeed the 1981 race itself.

Aldaniti was born in 1970 and had a history of leg troubles which forced him to miss most of the 1976 and 1978 seasons. Having finished third in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in 1977, he came back in 1979 to finish third in Cheltenham Gold Cup and second in the Scottish Grand National but then he sustained a serious leg injury at Sandown in November and it was touch and go if he would survive. However after six months box rest and a very gradual training regime, Aldaniti was getting back to full fitness and by the spring of 1981 he was ready to race again. He routed the field in his comeback race at Ascot, the Whitbread Chase (now known as the Swinley Chase) which then gave him a live shot at the Grand National.

By then an eleven year old Aldaniti started as the 10/1 second favourite with 10st 13lbs on his back. The favourite for the race was John Thorn's Spartan Missile at 8/1, another potential National headline maker as the 54 year old John Thorn was the breeder, owner, trainer and jockey (he sadly died in a fall in 1982). Bob Champion himself had a poor record in the National having fallen at the first fence on two occasions and had only managed a best place finish of sixth. Aldaniti took the lead at the eleventh fence and maintained his advantage for the rest of the race, fighting off a challenge from Spartan Missile on the run-in to win by four lengths. On the following day more than 3,000 people turned out to welcome the horse back to his stable at Josh Gifford's stables in Findon. A year later Champion and Aldaniti, now a twelve year old, returned to the Grand National in 1982 but there sadly to be no fairy tale as he fell at the first fence (his first fall in 28 races) and was subsequently retired from racing. He spent the remainder of his life at his owner's farm in Sussex and died of old age in March 1997.

After his horse died, Gifford said: “It wasn’t just what he did in his racing career, but what he has done since as well. He helped raise more than £3m for charity, and he and Bob gave hope to a lot of people. He wasn’t the easiest horse to train and missed two seasons because of injury. But when he was sick he was a wonderful patient and when he had to spend six months in his box he just took it in his stride. He certainly gave me the fondest day of my racing career and was in fact a better horse when he returned to Aintree for the 1982 Grand National, but fell at the first fence.” Today Champion still lives in Newmarket and remains intimately involved in the racing world. And the cancer charity set up in his name in 1983 has raised north of £15million.

"Champions" is a deeply moving true story depicting human and equine triumph against all the odds. With an all star cast, wonderful acting throughout and brilliant close up racing scenes this is one movie that you have to watch. (Rating 10/10)

Favourite Quotes
Bob Champion: "Aldaniti's my kind of horse, he's got a back like an armchair and a bum like a battle ship, he's a real old-fashioned steeple chaser and clever, he'll jump anything you point him at and gallop for ever."


MOVIE STILLS
Share by: