Nick Skelton

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.

Nick Skelton
CBE
Personal information
Full nameNicholas David Skelton
NationalityBritish
DisciplineShow jumping
Born (1957-12-30) 30 December 1957
Bedworth, Warwickshire, England

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 a 26-year time period. 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.

In 2012, at the age of 54, Skelton won the Olympic gold medal as part of the winning Great Britain team. In 2016, at the age of 58, Skelton won the Individual Olympic gold medal at his seventh Olympic Games.[1]

Education

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

Life and 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 O.K a reputedly ordinary horse substituted and Skelton won individual gold. After this Skelton began riding more of the Edgar horses, and in 1978 jumped just over 7-foot 7 inches to set a new British record at Olympia with Lastic. When Skelton partnered with St James the following year he broke into the senior GB team, of which he has been an integral part ever since.

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. 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.

Skelton broke his neck in September 2000 which 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 been riding as a youngster before breaking his neck. Together 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.

After Arko retired, Skelton revisited an old friend and owner for support and new horses, Gary and Beverley Widdowson now own his competition horses that include Carlo 273, his European Individual Bronze medal partner, Big Star and Unique.[3]

He has written an autobiography, Only Falls And Horses,[4] and will soon publish an updated version.

He 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 and in 2020 won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.[5]

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to equestrian sport.[6][7]

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.[8]

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.[9] Following Skelton's success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, rail operator London Midland honoured him with a gold painted sign at Bedworth railway station.[10] Skelton received a nomination for the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. He received 109,197 votes, placing him third.[11] He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.[12]

Major achievements

Nick Skelton with Carlo, 2012 CSI 5* Hamburg
Nick Skelton with Arko

Skelton has had many successes at home and abroad and has ridden on over 164 Nations Cups teams (1978–2011). 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.

  • Olympic Games
    • 2012: London. Team Gold medal with Big Star
    • 2016: Rio. Individual Gold medal with Big Star
  • Alternative Olympic Games
    • 1980: Rotterdam. Team Silver medal with Maybe
  • World championships
    • 1982: Dublin. Team Bronze medal with If Ever
    • 1986: Aachen. Team Silver medal and individual Bronze medal with Apollo
    • 1990: Stockholm. Team Bronze medal with Grand Slam
    • 1998: Rome. Team Bronze medal with Hopes are High
  • European Championships
    • 1985: Dinard. Team Gold medal and individual 4th with St. James
    • 1987: St. Gallen. Team Gold medal and Individual Bronze medal with Apollo
    • 1989: Rotterdam. Team Gold medal with Apollo
    • 1991: La Baule. Team Silver medal with Phoenix Park
    • 1993: Gijon. Team Silver medal with Dollar Girl
    • 1995: St. Gallen. Team Silver medal with Dollar Girl
    • 2011: Madrid. Team Bronze and individual Bronze medal with Carlo 273
  • Junior European Championships
    • 1974: Lucerne. Team Silver medal with Maybe
    • 1975: Dornbirn. Team Silver medal and individual Gold medal with O.K.
  • Volvo World Cup Final
  • Hickstead Derby
    • 1987: Winner with J Nick
    • 1988: Winner with Apollo
    • 1989: Winner with Apollo
  • King George V Gold Cup
    • 1984: Winner with St. James
    • 1993: Winner with Limited Edition
    • 1996: Winner with Cathleen III
    • 1999: Winner with Hopes are High

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

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

Year Location Class Horse
2016 Rio. Brazil2016 OlympicsBig Star
2012 Hamburg, GermanyGCT Grand PrixBig Star
La Baule, FranceGrand PrixCarlo 273
Antwerp, BelgiumGrand PrixBig Star
Palm Beach, USAGrand PrixBig Star
2011 St Gallen, SwitzerlandGrand PrixCarlo 273
2008 CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, CanadaCN International Grand PrixArko III
Grobbendonk, BelgiumGrand PrixArko
2007 Estoril, PortugalGlobal Champions Tour Grand PrixArko
2006 Lucerne, SwitzerlandGrand PrixArko
Rome, ItalyGrand PrixArko
2005 Leipzig, GermanyWorld Cup QualifierArko
Spruce Meadows, CanadaGrand PrixArko
2004 Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great BritainGrand PrixRussell
British Open Show Jumping Championships, Sheffield, Great BritainThe British OpenArko
Royal Windsor, Great BritainGrand PrixRussell
2003 Leeuwarden, The NetherlandsGrand PrixArko
2002 Portimao, PortugalGrand PrixArko
Lizerias, PortugalGrand PrixArko
2000 Royal Windsor, Great BritainGrand PrixJalisco
1999 Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great BritainKing George V Gold CupHopes Are High
1998 Madrid, SpainGrand PrixShowtime
Gijon, SpainGrand PrixHopes Are High
Dublin, IrelandGrand PrixHope Are High
CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, CanadaDu Maurier Grand PrixHopes Are High
Leeuwarden, The NetherlandsGrand PrixZalza
1997 Lisbon, PortugalGrand PrixShowtime
Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainGrand PrixShowtime
1996 Bordeaux, FranceWorld Cup QualifierDollar Girl
Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great BritainKing George V Gold CupCathleen III
Moorsele, ItalyGrand PrixDollar Girl
Madrid, SpainGrand PrixShowtime
Gijon, SpainGrand PrixDollar Girl
Olympia, Great BritainMastersZalza
1995 Gothenburg, SwedenWorld Cup FinalDollar Girl
Barcelona, SpainGrand PrixShowtime
San Marino, ItalyGrand PrixShowtime
Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainGrand PrixShowtime
Aarhus, DenmarkMastersDollar Girl
Stuttgart, GermanyGrand PrixDollar Girl
1994 Millstreet, IrelandWorld Cup QualifierDollar Girl
1993 Paris, FranceGrand PrixMajor Wager
Paris, FranceWorld Cup QualifierMajor Wager
Gothenburg, SwedenGrand PrixMajor Wager
Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great BritainKing George V Gold CupLimited Edition
St Gallen, SwitzerlandGrand PrixDollar Girl
Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainEverest FinalShowtime
Ascona, SwitzerlandGrand PrixDollar Girl
CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, CanadaDu Maurier Grand PrixDollar Girl
1992 Genk, BelgiumGrand PrixMajor Wager
Gothenburg, SwedenGrand PrixMajor Wager
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsMastersLimited Edition
1991 Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainLeading Showjumper of the YearPhoenix Park
Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainMastersPhoenix Park
Dublin, IrelandGrand PrixPhoenix Park
1990 Kossen, AustriaGrand PrixFiorella
Cortina, ItalyGrand PrixFiorella
Dublin, IrelandGrand PrixPhoenix Park
Dortmund, GermanyGrand PrixTop Gun
Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainGrand PrixGrand Slam
1989 Hickstead, Great BritainHickstead DerbyApollo
1988 Hickstead, Great BritainHickstead DerbyApollo
Dublin, IrelandGrand PrixApollo
Aachen, GermanyGrand PrixApollo
1987 Hickstead, Great BritainHickstead DerbyJ Nick
Aachen, GermanyGrand PrixApollo
1985 Antwerp, BelgiumWorld Cup QualifierSt James
CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, CanadaDu Maurier Grand PrixSt James
Dublin, IrelandGrand PrixApollo
Toronto, CanadaWorld Cup QualifierApollo
New York City, USAWorld Cup QualifierApollo
1984 Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great BritainKing George V Gold CupSt James
1983 Toronto, CanadaWorld Cup QualifierSt James
Olympia, Great BritainWorld Cup QualifierSt James
Aachen, GermanyGrand PrixIf Ever
1979 Geneva, SwitzerlandWorld Cup QualifierLastic
1978 Horse of the Year Show, Great BritainLeading Showjumper of the YearMaybe

Nation's Cup wins

Year Location Horse
2011 Dublin, IrelandCarlo 273
2008 Dublin, IrelandArko III
2005 Dublin, IrelandArko III
2005 Rome, ItalyArko III
2004 Hickstead, Great BritainRussell
2003 Hickstead, Great BritainArko III
1997 Modena, ItalyShowtime
1997 Royal Windsor, Great BritainShowtime
1997 Gijon, SpainTinka's Boy
1996 Lisbon, PortugalCathleen III
1996 Dublin, IrelandDollar Girl
1996 Calgary, CanadaShowtime
1993 Hickstead, Great BritainLimited Edition
1992 Hickstead, Great BritainLimited Edition
1992 Calgary, CanadaDollar Girl
1991 Calgary, CanadaPhoenix Park
1991 Dublin, IrelandPhoenix Park
1991 Rome, ItalyApollo II
1991 Luxembourg, LuxembourgPhoenix Park
1990 Rome, ItalyGrand Slam
1990 Calgary, CanadaGrand Slam
1990 Dublin, IrelandPhoenix Park
1990 New York City, USAGrand Slam
1989 Luxembourg, LuxembourgSerenade
1989 Dublin, IrelandGrand Slam
1989 Calgary, CanadaGrand Slam
1989 St Gallen, SwitzerlandApollo
1988 Dublin, IrelandApollo
1988 Rome, ItalyApollo
1987 Gijon, SpainAirbourne
1986 Jerez, SpainApollo
1986 Dublin, IrelandApollo
1986 Toronto, CanadaApollo
1986 Washington, USAApollo
1986 Rotterdam, The NetherlandsAirbourne
1985 Dublin, IrelandApollo
1985 Hickstead, Great BritainApollo
1985 Calgary, CanadaApollo
1984 Paris, FranceSt James
1984 Liege, BelgiumApollo
1983 Paris, FranceSt James
1982 Lucerne, SwitzerlandIf Ever
1981 Aachen, GermanyMaybe
1979 Zuidlaren, The NetherlandsMaybe

International Championship Results

Results
Year Event Horse Placing Notes
1975European Junior ChampionshipsEverest OK Team
Individual
1979 World Cup Final Lastic 7th
1980World ChampionshipsMaybe Team
25th Individual
1981 World Cup Final Maybe / If Ever 14th
1982 World Cup Final Everest Carat 8th
1982World Championships If Ever Team
48th Individual
1983 World Cup Final If Ever 16th
1984 World Cup Final St. James 7th
1985 World Cup Final St. James
1985 European Championships St. James Team
4th Individual
1986 World Cup Final St. James 28th
1986 World Championships Apollo Team
Individual
1987 World Cup Final 12th
1987 European Championships Apollo Team
Individual
1988 World Cup Final J. Nick 26th
1988 Olympic Games Apollo 6th Team
7th Individual
1989 European Championships Apollo Team
18th Individual
1990 World Cup Final Grand Slam 6th
1990 World Equestrian Games Grand Slam Team
20th Individual
1991 World Cup Final Grand Slam 41st
1991 European Championships Phoenix Park Team
17th Individual
1992 Olympic Games Dollar Girl 7th Team
70th Individual
1993 World Cup Final Major Wager 28th
1993 European Championships Dollar Girl Team
16th Individual
1994 World Equestrian Games Dollar Girl 6th Team
22nd Individual
1995 World Cup Final Dollar Girl
1996 World Cup Final Dollar Girl
1996 Olympic Games Show Time 11th Team
23rd Individual
1997 World Cup Final Show Time 12th
1998 World Equestrian Games Hopes Are High Team
27th Individual
1999 European Championships Hopes Are High 4th Team
24th Individual
2003 European Championships Arko III 9th Team
26th Individual
2004 Olympic Games Arko III 10th Individual
2005 World Cup Final Arko III 22nd
2005 European Championships Arko III 25th Individual
2006 World Equestrian Games Russel 9th Team
30th Individual
2008 Olympic Games Russel 5th Team
28th Individual
2011 European Championships Carlo 273 Team
Individual
2012 Olympic Games Big Star Team
5th Individual
2016 Olympic Games Big Star 12th Team
Individual

See also

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, Nick (2001). Nick Skelton: My Autobiography – Only Falls and Horses. Greenwater Publishing. ISBN 978-1903267059.
  5. Milne, Alex (11 March 2020). "Politologue wins Champion Chase on day two of Cheltenham Festival 2020". mirror. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  6. "No. 60173". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 2012. p. 12.
  7. Nick Skelton awarded OBE Archived 17 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Victoria Spicer / horseandcountry.tv, 16 June 2012
  8. "Skelton's golden honour in home town of Alcester". BBC News. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  9. "GB's Nick Skelton wins show jumping gold". BBC Sport. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  10. "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.
  11. "BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016: Andy Murray wins for a record third time". BBC Sport. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  12. "No. 61803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2016. p. N9.

Bibliography

  • Skelton, N. (2001) Only Falls and Horses. Greenwater.

{{Olympic champions – Equestrian team jumping}} {{Olympic champions – Equestrian individual jumping}}

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