Clare Balding

Clare Balding is an award-winning television presenter, writer and broadcaster who has been presenting sports on television since 1998, when she became synonymous with horse racing on the BBC.

Since then, she has reported on five Olympic Games (from Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London) as well as four Paralympic Games and three Winter Olympics. In addition, she is well known for her rugby league coverage; has presented Crufts; and hosts BBC Radio 4's walking series Ramblings.

A regular presenter on Radio 4, she has fronted Saturday Live, Woman's Hour, Pick of the Week, Broadcasting House and (for the last 9 years) the walking series Ramblings. On 5 live, Clare Balding is part of the team that presents the National Hunt Festival from Cheltenham, co-presents its Wimbledon coverage and last year became the first woman to commentate on a Wimbledon final. She also works on the golf coverage at the Open.

In 2003, Clare Balding started to branch out of sport, presenting a new series, Housecall In The Country, a live weekday magazine programme covering a variety of lifestyle topics. She has also worked on The Lord Mayor's Show since 2003, Trooping The Colour and in 2006 was the first voice on BBC One as she welcomed in the New Year live from the Embankment.

A Cambridge graduate, Clare was elected President of the Union in 1992. She was a good all-rounder in sport, and was champion lady rider in 1990 and leading amateur flat jockey in 1989 and 1990. Clare Balding was honoured with the Horse Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) Racing Journalist of the Year Award in 2003 and in 2004 she won both the HWPA Sir Peter O'Sullevan Broadcaster of the Year award and the prestigious Royal Television Society Sports Presenter of the Year award.

In 2009, she was praised for “perfect presentation” by the judges of the Broadcast Awards who named the Grand National 2008 as their sports programme of the year.

Her autobiography, My Animals and Other Family, was published in 2012 and won the National Book Award for biography of the year. It has sold over a quarter of a million copies in hardback. The same year, she won the BAFTA Special Award and RTS Presenter of the Year Award for her coverage of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In 2013, she was awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting and journalism in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Having spent her childhood falling off and getting back in the saddle, in her first non-fiction book for children, Fall Off, Get Back On, Keep Going: 10 ways to be at the top of your game!, Clare shares her warm, funny and reassuring personal insights into what it means to make mistakes and be unafraid of failure.

With personal stories from Clare herself and from the lives of the people she most admires, we discover how to develop courage in the face of tough situations. Clare tells of how Charlotte Raubenheimer from South Africa completed a triathlon while in lockdown at home during the Coronavirus pandemic. We marvel at the amazing story of US surfer Bethany Hamilton, who got back in the water just one month after she lost her arm in a shark attack, going on to win her first US national surfing competition two years later. Plus many more stories including that of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, US soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe, Dutch inventor Boyan Slat and Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg.

As Clare says, Falling off is all part of life. The trick is to know how to dust yourself off, get back on, learn from your mistakes - and keep going!

Clare Balding is an experienced corporate presenter and host of awards ceremonies; a lively and amusing after dinner speaker and an authoritative voiceover artist.

Throughout her trailblazing career, Clare has empowered and inspired women, broken down barriers, and created memories for audiences across the globe.

Whether achieving personal milestones or witnessing historic moments, her experiences are unique and unrivalled. From reporting on seven Olympic and six Paralympic Games to becoming a best-selling author these stories inform Clare’s speaking and hosting.

A truly professional and skilful host with over 20 years’ experience, Clare brings her unparalleled brand of energy, gravitas and dedication to each event. Clare has earned significant recognition on the corporate circuit, not only in the UK but across the world. Clare has hosted events, conferences and awards; and participates in experiential events such as virtual horse racing and walking expeditions with global tech leaders.

With such a breadth of experience gained across multiple formats and industries, Clare is able to talk passionately and informatively on a range of themes. Equally adept at addressing business professionals, athletes, and school children, her speeches tackle topics such as equality, culture, resilience, motivation, diversity & inclusion, and current affairs.

Some particularly pertinent subjects include:
• Women’s Rights and Equality - Impassioned with giving women a spotlight, projecting their voices, and creating a platform to fulfil their aspirations, Clare understands the power of women, especially in the male-dominated industries she works in.

• Adaptability and Business Success - Discussing the transition of her own career and developing her personal brand, Clare analyses her transition, from a broadcaster, to an award-winning author and campaigner.

• Elite Mindsets and Sports Psychology - Clare uses different sporting disciplines, such as Emotional Intelligence, to draw parallels between sport and business; as well as reflecting on current affairs.

Clients often ask about purchasing books for giveaways and delegate packs. Below you’ll find a selection of products by Clare Balding. Click the images to view on Amazon's website. For bulk orders, please speak with your Booking Agent.