British Olympic Show Jumper Tim Stockdale Dies At 54
British Olympic show jumper, Tim Stockdale has sadly passed away at only 54 years of age.
Tim announced his diagnosis with stomach cancer in October. It was announced yesterday he passed peacefully in the Cynthia Spencer Hospice, Northamptonshire.
His career highlights included, representing team GBR at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, and fulfilling his dream of winning the prestigious King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead, riding Fresh Direct Kalico Bay in 2010.
Unstoppable, Tim was still competing up until a year before his diagnosis, and famously climbed back up to top-level after breaking three vertebrae in his neck, after a fall in 2011.
Not only did Tim perform incredibly throughout his career, his services to the sport were also well regarded. He was awarded an honorary degree by Nottingham Trent University and the British Equestrian Federation’s medal of honour, as a recognition of his outstanding services to equestrian sport.
Close friends and colleagues, such as Clare Balding, have shown out-pours of love and sadness toward the news.
Tim was Jumping Rider Representative on the Olympia Committee from 1992. His highly valued advice and knowledge of the sport helped to shape the Show into the international event that it is today. Nothing was too much trouble and his advice and counsel was sought and always listened to.
He competed at Olympia for many years and, recently, became a stalwart of the BBC commentary team, promoting his sport with insight and expertise.
With a heavy-heart, Simon Brooks-Ward, Olympia’s Show Director, said:
Tim and I joined the Olympia team in the same year – he on the Committee and me as Show Director. He was not only a great friend to all of us, he was also passionate about doing his best for the show and show jumping. He represented riders when he thought it was right to do so, yet Tim understood the challenges of organising large-scale international events.”
“He possessed huge integrity, was selfless and self-effacing and combined his love for the sport with a great sense of humour. His smile, his energy and his words of wisdom will be much missed in the Grand Hall at Olympia this year. I will miss him. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to Laura and his sons Joe and Mark.”
Our thoughts are with his family and all those close to him.
