After Dinner Speakers: Clare Balding, Alexander Allan, Sally Meen

After almost eight years with the BBC, Clare Balding is widely acknowledged as being one of BBC Sport's leading broadcasters on a wide range of sports. Known specifically as BBC Television's racing presenter and a Radio Five Live broadcaster, her other credits include fronting Wimbledon and the Atlanta Olympics. A leading amateur flat jockey in 1989 and 1990, and Champion Lady Rider in 1990, her speciality, unsurprisingly, is horse racing. Daughter of trainer Ian Balding with Uncles Toby and William also renowned trainers, Clare's presentation has been at the heart of the BBC's enhanced racing coverage for the last 3 years. Born in January 1971, Clare came to radio from Newnham College, the University of Cambridge, where she obtained an upper second degree in English. Clare's move into television began in the summer of 1994 as she made her debut during Royal Ascot, following a recommendation from Julian Wilson, the man she would eventually take over from as horse racing presenter in December 1997. During her career with the BBC, Clare has worked on a wide range of sports from Olympic Games to Wimbledon, the Rugby Union World Cup and the Cheltenham Festival for Radio 5 Live. Clare was part of the presentation team for BBC One's Sports Personality of the Century programme in December 1999 and is also a regular presenter on Radio Five Live's Sunday morning show Sportsweek.