Ann Riley (nee wisdom) 1934-2015  Appreciation by Joan Williamson

We are very sorry to have to report the passing of Ann Riley (born Ann Wisdom) on 14 October 2015.

As long-time co-driver to Pat Moss, Ann and Pat were one of the most formidable teams in international rallying in the late 1950s and early 1960s. They were not only successful as a ladies team but were able to compete on the same level as the men, and indeed often beat many of the best men's teams. Their outstanding success as outright winners of the Liege-Rome-Liege Rally in 1960 in an Austin Healey 3000 made them a legend in motor sporting circles.

Ann was born in 1934 to Tommie and Elsie Wisdom who were both well known in European motor sport. She grew up surrounded by horses and horse-jumping, as did Pat Moss, but it was at a BRDC dinner that she first met Pat Moss. Subsequently, the two became firm friends and ultimately took up rallying together in Pat's own Triumph TR2. Ann became an accomplished co-driver, who, despite frequently suffering from car sickness, refused to give up and the pair became a formidable duo on the rallying scene.

Ultimately, Pat Moss married Erik Carlsson whilst Ann met and married rally driver Peter Riley – their marriage service was conducted by none other than the ‘rallying Rev’ the Reverend Rupert Jones. After she was married, Ann went on with Pat Moss to win the Tulip Rally in 1962. It was after this that the Riley's first child was born and Ann subsequently retired from rallying. She went on to form a very successful family business, eventing horses, and then breeding cattle on a commercial basis in the 1980s and 1990s. Finally, she established a herd of pedigree Hereford cattle in 2000 – these won numerous prizes both as a herd and as individual animals.

Ann was a formidable lady and fierce competitor and, remarkably, died on the same day (14 October) exactly seven years after Pat Moss. Seven was their lucky number and they always tried to include it in the number plate or competition number of their cars.

We will all miss Ann – a plucky and very talented lady.