Champion awarded honorary degree

Grand National winner Bob Champion gets a degree

A horse racing champion is to be made an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Teesside.

Bob Champion, 57, who went to Laurence Jackson School in Guisborough, won the Grand National on Aldaniti in 1981.

Two years previously he was diagnosed with cancer and given eight months to live. But he beat the disease and set up the Bob Champion Cancer Trust.

In 1983 he received an MBE and has raised millions for cancer research. He now lives in Newmarket, Suffolk.

Mr Champion's father was a huntsman and he started riding at an early age with his sister.

At the age of 15 he rode his first point to point winner then went into National Hunt racing, eventually riding for many top trainers including Josh Gifford.

His life story was fictionalised in the 1983 film Champions and he was played by John Hurt.

He retired from training horses in 1999, having won more than 500 races.

Mr Champion will be awarded his degree by University Chancellor Lord Sawyer at a ceremony at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Friday.