Podcast #77: Ellen Barber's unique combination of heptathlon, horse riding and architecture
Recently-crowned England heptathlon champion Ellen Barber joins the latest England Athletics Podcast to talk about her many talents that extend beyond track and field.
A rich family history within horse racing meant that was the first sport that came naturally to her, while she is also a part-time architect and property coordinator.
That's not all either, as the Barber family make their own cheese on their farm in Somerset, and Ellen is part of England Athletics' Athlete Panel, acting as a voice on behalf of combined events and field events.
In an episode presented by host Alex Seftel from the Alexander Stadium where Ellen won her gold medal with a personal best of 6037 points last month, there is also a round-up of the recent England Athletics Age Group Championships. It features stadium announcer Harrison Mayne, who is also a member of the Athlete Panel.
Barber explains how horse riding differs from athletics: "With yourself, you know how you feel on the day, you know how you're going to rock up and you can determine the nerves. With riding, you've got to be able to adjust a lot quicker, think on your feet and adapt to what the horse is doing or feeling.
"That's where jockeys are amazing. They can just hop on lots of different horses and just understand the feeling of that horse. Being able to channel the best in that horse to get a win, it is a real skill. It looks easy, but it's actually quite difficult."
Her grandfather Paul Barber, a farmer by trade, was obsessed with horse racing and offered champion trainer Paul Nicholls the chance to rent his stables after posting an advert in a newspaper. Success since then has included twice winning the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup as part-owner of horses See More Business in 1999 and Denman in 2008.
Ellen's own appearance on a horse at last year's Magnolia Cup - a ladies-only charity race - was a comeback with a special, emotional edge to it.
"My grandpa died a couple of years ago. I thought it would be an amazing tribute to him. He would have absolutely loved seeing me ride down the home straight at Goodwood," she says.
In track and field, Ellen competed internationally at the 2019 European Athletics Combined Events Team Championships - alongside current coach John Lane - and she now has ambitions of making next year's Commonwealth Games with Team England.
"The Commonwealth Games would be a massive honour to go to. My coach went to the (2014) Glasgow Commonwealth Games. He said it was amazing. I just need to be in form, be in shape and be in the right place and hopefully I will get there."Where to listen