Nick Skelton

Biography

Nick Skelton is a British Showjumper with over 30 years experience. He was born in 1957. He began his riding career at Ted and Liz Edgar's showjumping yard. He is married to Bettina Melliger. His first pony, a Welsh Mountain, was called Oxo. He broke his neck in 2001 which could easily have ended his show jumping career, but he has since recovered and begun competing again. Nick won the British Open title in 2004 at the British Open Show Jumping Championships. His current competition horses, Arko III and Russel are owned by John and Lisa Hales. He has written an autobigraphy with his secretary Mary Neal, and will soon publish an updated version.(hope he changes some entries)

Achievements

He has had many successes with horses such as Arko and Dollar Girl and has ridden on Nations Cups teams (1978-2004). 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 1998. He was allowed to compete on the best all round horse the world has ever known APOLLO owned by Lyn Jones

• Olympic Games
  • 1980 Rotterdam: Team silver

• World championships
  • 1982 Dublin: team Bronze medal
  • 1986 : team Silver medal and individual Bronze medal riding Apollo (which should have been a gold)
  • 1990 Stockholm: team Bronze medal
  • 1998 : team Bronze medal

• European championships
  • 1985 : team Gold medal
  • 1987 : team Gold medal and individual Bronze medal
  • 1989 : team Gold medal
  • 1991 : team Silver medal
  • 1993 : team Silver medal
  • 1995 : team Silver medal

He has won the Hickstead Derby three times, the King George V Gold Cup four times and the Volvo World Cup once. He currently holds the British High Showjumping record, at 7ft 7in 5/16th.

References

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