Ian Balding (SU 1952-56) was born in New Jersey, U.S.A. and spent the war years with his older brother Toby starting school in America. They returned to England with their mother to join their father, Gerald, at the end of the war. He went to Beaudesert before following his brother to Marlborough College where he represented the school at rugby, hockey, cricket and boxing. Having broken his wrist he learnt to play racket games left handed to a decent level. He played rugby for Dorset and Wilts whilst still at Marlborough College and won the best young polo player in 1955. His academic efforts were less successful and when his father died in 1956, he was set on leaving school without A levels. 

Offered further education by a life long friend of his father’s, he went to Millfield to try and gain those elusive exams. Despite being awarded even more O levels for his work, he managed to gain a place at Cambridge and survived three years at Christ’s College gaining a rugby blue at full back. He was at the same time pursuing his riding career as an amateur jockey, having ridden his first winner at 16, he continued to combine his rugby and riding playing for Bath and Cambridge and even riding and playing on the same day. He was a member of the unbeaten Cambridge side of 1961.

On leaving Cambridge he switched his main attentions to his riding but in 1964, having started as assistant to Peter Hastings-Bass at Kingsclere, he found himself in charge of the stables when his employer died at the age of 42.  The yard was, by today’s standards small, forty two horses but some very prominent owners including Her Majesty The Queen, Paul Mellon, the Earl of Sefton and Earl Cadogan.

He was blessed with good luck in the first weeks he held a license but he really hit the jackpot in 1970 when he took on the training of one of the great horses of the times in Mill Reef. In 1971 together they won the Derby, Eclipse, King George and Arc de Triomphe and went into the record books. 

He continued to train successfully until handing over to his son Andrew in 2003. Despite the lack of academic accreditation, Marlborough had been a happy and character building time and he always bore a huge affection for the College and the wonderful members of the staff who encouraged him.