Nick Skelton

Last updated

Nick Skelton
CBE
Nick Skelton - Our Greatest Team Parade.jpg
Personal information
Full nameNicholas David Skelton
Nationality British
Discipline Show jumping
Born (1957-12-30) 30 December 1957 (age 66)
Bedworth, Warwickshire, England
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Equestrian Showjumping
Olympic Games
Olympic rings.svg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 London Team Jumping
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2016 Rio de Janeiro Individual jumping
Alternative Olympics
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1980 RotterdamTeam jumping
World Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1986 Aachen Team jumping
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1982 Dublin Team jumping
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1986 Aachen Individual jumping
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1990 Stockholm Team jumping
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1998 Rome Team Jumping
European Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1985 Dinard Team jumping
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1987 St Gallen Team jumping
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1989 Rotterdam Team jumping
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1991 La Baule Team jumping
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1993 Gijon Team jumping
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1995 St Gallen Team jumping
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1987 St Gallen Individual jumping
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2011 Madrid Team jumping
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2011 Madrid Individual jumping
Junior European Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1975 DornbirnIndividual jumping
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1974 LucerneTeam jumping
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1975 DornbirnTeam jumping

Nicholas David Skelton CBE (born 30 December 1957, Bedworth, Warwickshire) is a British former equestrian who competed in show jumping. He retired at the age of 59 years old, on 5 April 2017. He began riding at age 18 months and in 1975 took two team silvers and an individual gold at the Junior European Championships.

Contents

He has competed numerous times at the European Show Jumping Championships, winning three golds, three silvers and three bronzes both individually and with the British team over 26 years. In 1980, he competed in the Alternative Olympics, where he helped the British team to a silver medal. He currently holds the British show jumping high jump record, which he set in 1978.

His most notable successes occurred in back-to-back Olympic Games in the swansong of his career. In 2012, at the age of 54, Skelton won an Olympic gold medal as part of the Great Britain team. Four years later, he won the individual Olympic gold medal at his seventh Olympic Games. [1] Having won both team and individual Olympic gold, Skelton and his horse, Big Star, retired together shortly after the 2016 Games.

Education

Skelton was educated at Bablake School in the city of Coventry in Central England. [2]

Career

Skelton rode in pony classes with little tuition before taking his pony to Ted and Liz Edgar for help when he was 14. He worked for and helped at the Edgars for two years before leaving school with no qualifications to work full-time for them. Skelton had plenty of early success with a horse called Maybe, but he went lame just before the Junior European Championships in 1975 and his place in the team looked lost. However, a reputedly ordinary horse, O.K., was brought in as a substitute and Skelton won individual gold. After this, he began riding more of the Edgar horses and in 1978, at Olympia, jumped just over 7 foot 7 inches on Lastic to set a new British record, which still stands. When Skelton partnered with St James the following year he broke into the senior GB team, of which he remained an integral part until his retirement.

In 1985, Skelton split from the Edgars and went on his own; his main horse at the time, Apollo, went with him and together they formed a partnership that won nearly all the top prizes in the sport, as well as many Championship medals.[ citation needed ] After Apollo, Skelton competed at the top level with many different horses before he teamed up with Dollar Girl in 1992 with the specific target of competing at the Barcelona Olympics. Despite the Olympics going badly for them, Skelton and Dollar Girl ultimately won the coveted World Cup Final in Gothenburg in 1995.

In September 2000, Skelton broke his neck in a fall while competing. The injury was serious and could have ended his show jumping career, but after retiring in 2001 he recovered and began competing again in 2002. Skelton returned to the saddle to partner Arko III, a horse he had ridden before breaking his neck. Skelton and Arko won the British Open title in 2004 at the British Open Show Jumping Championships and many other top prizes. Their most disappointing moment came at the Athens Olympics in 2004, where they were leading until the final round but finished out of the medals.

After Arko retired, Skelton revisited an old friend and owner, Gary Widdowson, for support and new horses. Gary and his wife Beverley bought, or co-bought with Skelton, a number of competition horses including Carlo 273, Skelton's European Individual Bronze medal partner, Big Star and Unique. [3]

Following his Olympic 2012 gold medal, the post boxes in both Alcester, where he resides, and in Bedworth, where he was born, were painted gold in his honour. [4]

Skelton won gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics in the individual category. In doing so he became the oldest British Olympic gold medallist since 1908. [5] Following Skelton's success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, rail operator London Midland honoured him with a gold-painted sign at Bedworth railway station. [6] Skelton received a nomination for the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. He received 109,197 votes, placing him third. [7] He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism. [8]

Major achievements

Nick Skelton with Carlo, 2012 CSI 5* Hamburg Nick Skelton mit Carlo, CSI 5 Hamburg 2012.JPG
Nick Skelton with Carlo, 2012 CSI 5* Hamburg
Nick Skelton with Arko Nick Skelton on Arko.jpg
Nick Skelton with Arko

Skelton has had many successes at home and abroad and has ridden on over 164 Nations Cups teams (1978–2011).[ citation needed ] He has won various medals both as an Individual and as part of the teams in the Olympics, World Championships and European Championships between 1980 and 2016.

Skelton currently holds the British Show Jumping High Jump record, at 7 ft 7in 5/16th (2.32m) set at Olympia in 1978 with Lastic.

Horses

Nick Skelton & Arko III, Dublin 2008 Nick Skelton & Arko III - Dublin CSIO5* - Aug. 2008.jpg
Nick Skelton & Arko III, Dublin 2008

Top horses that Skelton has ridden include Maybe, If Ever, Apollo, St. James, Major Wager, Top Gun, Grand Slam, Phoenix Park, Dollar Girl, Limited Edition, Showtime, Tinka's Boy, Hopes are High, Russel and Arko III.

Skelton's current top flight horses are Big Star, Carlo 273 and Unique, all of which are owned by Beverley Widdowson.

Skelton won team gold at his home Olympics in London 2012 with his horse Big Star, alongside Ben Maher, Peter Charles and Scott Brash.

Career statistics

Individual wins

YearLocationClassHorse
2016 Flag of Brazil.svg Rio. Brazil 2016 Olympics Big Star
2012 Flag of Germany.svg Hamburg, Germany GCT Grand Prix Big Star
Flag of France.svg La Baule, FranceGrand PrixCarlo 273
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Antwerp, BelgiumGrand PrixBig Star
Flag of the United States.svg Palm Beach, USAGrand PrixBig Star
2011 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg St Gallen, SwitzerlandGrand PrixCarlo 273
2008 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, CanadaCN International Grand Prix Arko III
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Grobbendonk, BelgiumGrand PrixArko
2007 Flag of Portugal.svg Estoril, PortugalGlobal Champions Tour Grand PrixArko
2006 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Lucerne, SwitzerlandGrand PrixArko
Flag of Italy.svg Rome, ItalyGrand PrixArko
2005 Flag of Germany.svg Leipzig, GermanyWorld Cup QualifierArko
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Spruce Meadows, CanadaGrand PrixArko
2004 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great BritainGrand PrixRussell
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Open Show Jumping Championships, Sheffield, Great BritainThe British OpenArko
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Windsor, Great Britain Grand PrixRussell
2003 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Leeuwarden, The NetherlandsGrand PrixArko
2002 Flag of Portugal.svg Portimao, PortugalGrand PrixArko
Flag of Portugal.svg Lizerias, PortugalGrand PrixArko
2000 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Windsor, Great Britain Grand PrixJalisco
1999 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great BritainKing George V Gold CupHopes Are High
1998 Flag of Spain.svg Madrid, SpainGrand PrixShowtime
Flag of Spain.svg Gijon, SpainGrand PrixHopes Are High
Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, IrelandGrand PrixHope Are High
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, CanadaDu Maurier Grand PrixHopes Are High
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Leeuwarden, The NetherlandsGrand PrixZalza
1997 Flag of Portugal.svg Lisbon, PortugalGrand PrixShowtime
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainGrand PrixShowtime
1996 Flag of France.svg Bordeaux, FranceWorld Cup QualifierDollar Girl
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great BritainKing George V Gold CupCathleen III
Flag of Italy.svg Moorsele, ItalyGrand PrixDollar Girl
Flag of Spain.svg Madrid, SpainGrand PrixShowtime
Flag of Spain.svg Gijon, SpainGrand PrixDollar Girl
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Olympia, Great BritainMastersZalza
1995 Flag of Sweden.svg Gothenburg, Sweden World Cup Final Dollar Girl
Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona, SpainGrand PrixShowtime
Flag of Italy.svg San Marino, ItalyGrand PrixShowtime
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainGrand PrixShowtime
Flag of Denmark.svg Aarhus, DenmarkMastersDollar Girl
Flag of Germany.svg Stuttgart, GermanyGrand PrixDollar Girl
1994 Flag of Ireland.svg Millstreet, IrelandWorld Cup QualifierDollar Girl
1993 Flag of France.svg Paris, FranceGrand PrixMajor Wager
Flag of France.svg Paris, FranceWorld Cup QualifierMajor Wager
Flag of Sweden.svg Gothenburg, SwedenGrand PrixMajor Wager
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great BritainKing George V Gold CupLimited Edition
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg St Gallen, SwitzerlandGrand PrixDollar Girl
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainEverest FinalShowtime
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Ascona, SwitzerlandGrand PrixDollar Girl
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, CanadaDu Maurier Grand PrixDollar Girl
1992 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Genk, BelgiumGrand PrixMajor Wager
Flag of Sweden.svg Gothenburg, SwedenGrand PrixMajor Wager
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Amsterdam, The NetherlandsMastersLimited Edition
1991 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainLeading Showjumper of the YearPhoenix Park
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainMastersPhoenix Park
Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, IrelandGrand PrixPhoenix Park
1990 Flag of Austria.svg Kossen, AustriaGrand PrixFiorella
Flag of Italy.svg Cortina, ItalyGrand PrixFiorella
Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, IrelandGrand PrixPhoenix Park
Flag of Germany.svg Dortmund, GermanyGrand PrixTop Gun
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainGrand PrixGrand Slam
1989 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hickstead, Great Britain Hickstead Derby Apollo
1988 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hickstead, Great Britain Hickstead Derby Apollo
Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, IrelandGrand PrixApollo
Flag of Germany.svg Aachen, GermanyGrand PrixApollo
1987 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hickstead, Great Britain Hickstead Derby J Nick
Flag of Germany.svg Aachen, GermanyGrand PrixApollo
1985 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Antwerp, BelgiumWorld Cup QualifierSt James
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, CanadaDu Maurier Grand PrixSt James
Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, IrelandGrand PrixApollo
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Toronto, CanadaWorld Cup QualifierApollo
Flag of the United States.svg New York City, USAWorld Cup QualifierApollo
1984 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great BritainKing George V Gold CupSt James
1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Toronto, CanadaWorld Cup QualifierSt James
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Olympia, Great BritainWorld Cup QualifierSt James
Flag of Germany.svg Aachen, GermanyGrand PrixIf Ever
1979 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Geneva, SwitzerlandWorld Cup QualifierLastic
1978 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainLeading Showjumper of the YearMaybe

Nation's Cup wins

YearLocationHorse
2011 Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, Ireland Carlo 273
2008 Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, Ireland Arko III
2005 Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, Ireland Arko III
2005 Flag of Italy.svg Rome, Italy Arko III
2004 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hickstead, Great BritainRussell
2003 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hickstead, Great Britain Arko III
1997 Flag of Italy.svg Modena, ItalyShowtime
1997 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Windsor, Great BritainShowtime
1997 Flag of Spain.svg Gijon, SpainTinka's Boy
1996 Flag of Portugal.svg Lisbon, PortugalCathleen III
1996 Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, Ireland Dollar Girl
1996 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Calgary, CanadaShowtime
1993 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hickstead, Great BritainLimited Edition
1992 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hickstead, Great BritainLimited Edition
1992 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Calgary, CanadaDollar Girl
1991 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Calgary, CanadaPhoenix Park
1991 Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, IrelandPhoenix Park
1991 Flag of Italy.svg Rome, ItalyApollo II
1991 Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg, LuxembourgPhoenix Park
1990 Flag of Italy.svg Rome, ItalyGrand Slam
1990 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Calgary, CanadaGrand Slam
1990 Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, IrelandPhoenix Park
1990 Flag of the United States.svg New York City, USAGrand Slam
1989 Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg, LuxembourgSerenade
1989 Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, IrelandGrand Slam
1989 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Calgary, CanadaGrand Slam
1989 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg St Gallen, SwitzerlandApollo
1988 Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, IrelandApollo
1988 Flag of Italy.svg Rome, ItalyApollo
1987 Flag of Spain.svg Gijon, SpainAirbourne
1986 Flag of Spain.svg Jerez, SpainApollo
1986 Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, IrelandApollo
1986 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Toronto, CanadaApollo
1986 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, USAApollo
1986 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Rotterdam, The NetherlandsAirbourne
1985 Flag of Ireland.svg Dublin, IrelandApollo
1985 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hickstead, Great BritainApollo
1985 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Calgary, CanadaApollo
1984 Flag of France.svg Paris, FranceSt James
1984 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Liege, BelgiumApollo
1983 Flag of France.svg Paris, FranceSt James
1982 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Lucerne, SwitzerlandIf Ever
1981 Flag of Germany.svg Aachen, GermanyMaybe
1979 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Zuidlaren, The NetherlandsMaybe

International Championship Results

Results
YearEventHorsePlacingNotes
1975European Junior ChampionshipsEverest OKSilver medal icon.svgTeam
Gold medal icon.svgIndividual
1979World Cup FinalLastic7th
1980World ChampionshipsMaybeSilver medal icon.svgTeam
25thIndividual
1981World Cup FinalMaybe / If Ever14th
1982World Cup FinalEverest Carat8th
1982World ChampionshipsIf EverBronze medal icon.svgTeam
48thIndividual
1983World Cup FinalIf Ever16th
1984World Cup FinalSt. James7th
1985World Cup FinalSt. JamesSilver medal icon.svg
1985European ChampionshipsSt. JamesGold medal icon.svgTeam
4thIndividual
1986World Cup FinalSt. James28th
1986World ChampionshipsApolloSilver medal icon.svgTeam
Bronze medal icon.svgIndividual
1987World Cup Final12th
1987European ChampionshipsApolloGold medal icon.svgTeam
Bronze medal icon.svgIndividual
1988World Cup FinalJ. Nick26th
1988Olympic GamesApollo6thTeam
7thIndividual
1989European ChampionshipsApolloGold medal icon.svgTeam
18thIndividual
1990World Cup FinalGrand Slam6th
1990World Equestrian GamesGrand SlamBronze medal icon.svgTeam
20thIndividual
1991World Cup FinalGrand Slam41st
1991European ChampionshipsPhoenix ParkSilver medal icon.svgTeam
17thIndividual
1992Olympic GamesDollar Girl7thTeam
70thIndividual
1993World Cup FinalMajor Wager28th
1993European ChampionshipsDollar GirlSilver medal icon.svgTeam
16thIndividual
1994World Equestrian GamesDollar Girl6thTeam
22ndIndividual
1995World Cup FinalDollar GirlGold medal icon.svg
1996World Cup FinalDollar GirlBronze medal icon.svg
1996Olympic GamesShow Time11thTeam
23rdIndividual
1997World Cup FinalShow Time12th
1998World Equestrian GamesHopes Are HighBronze medal icon.svgTeam
27thIndividual
1999European ChampionshipsHopes Are High4thTeam
24thIndividual
2003European ChampionshipsArko III9thTeam
26thIndividual
2004Olympic GamesArko III10thIndividual
2005World Cup FinalArko III22nd
2005European ChampionshipsArko III25thIndividual
2006World Equestrian GamesRussel9thTeam
30thIndividual
2008Olympic GamesRussel5thTeam
28thIndividual
2011European ChampionshipsCarlo 273Bronze medal icon.svgTeam
Bronze medal icon.svgIndividual
2012Olympic GamesBig StarGold medal icon.svgTeam
5thIndividual
2016Olympic GamesBig Star12thTeam
Gold medal icon.svgIndividual

Personal life

Skelton has two sons with his first wife Sarah Skelton (née Edwards) and both are active in horse racing. Daniel is a National Hunt trainer, and Harry is a National Hunt jockey who in 2009 became the youngest winner of the Irish Grand National on Niche Market[ citation needed ] and in 2020 won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. [9]

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to equestrian sport. [10] [11]

In 2001, Skelton published an autobiography, Only Falls And Horses [12] and wrote a second, Gold, in 2018.

See also

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References

  1. "Rio Olympics 2016: GB's Nick Skelton wins show jumping gold". BBC News. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  2. "Former Pupil's 7th Olympic Bid". bablake.com. Bablake School. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  3. "Home page of Nick Skelton's website". nickskelton.com. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  4. "Skelton's golden honour in home town of Alcester". BBC News. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  5. "GB's Nick Skelton wins show jumping gold". BBC Sport. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  6. "Golden sign in Bedworth to celebrate show jumper's Olympic achievement". Nuneaton News. Local World. 5 September 2016. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  7. "BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016: Andy Murray wins for a record third time". BBC Sport. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  8. "No. 61803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2016. p. N9.
  9. Milne, Alex (11 March 2020). "Politologue wins Champion Chase on day two of Cheltenham Festival 2020". mirror. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  10. "No. 60173". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 2012. p. 12.
  11. Nick Skelton awarded OBE Archived 17 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine , Victoria Spicer / horseandcountry.tv, 16 June 2012
  12. Skelton, Nick (2001). Nick Skelton: My Autobiography – Only Falls and Horses. Greenwater Publishing. ISBN   978-1903267059.

Bibliography