- Nick Skelton
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Medal record 
Nick SkeltonEquestrian Alternative Olympics Silver 1980 Rotterdam Team jumping World Championships Bronze 1982 Dublin Team jumping Silver 1986 Aachen Team jumping Bronze 1986 Aachen Individual jumping Bronze 1990 Stockholm Team jumping Bronze 1998 Rome Team Jumping European Championships Gold 1985 Dinard Team jumping Gold 1987 St Gallen Team jumping Bronze 1987 St Gallen Individual jumping Gold 1989 Rotterdam Team jumping Silver 1991 La Baule Team jumping Silver 1993 Gijon Team jumping Silver 1995 St Gallen Team jumping Nicholas "Nick" Skelton (born 30 December 1957 in Bedworth, Warwickshire) is a British Showjumper with over 30 years experience.
Contents
Biography
He began his riding career at Ted and Liz Edgar's showjumping yard. His first pony, a Welsh Mountain, was called Oxo. He broke his neck in September 2000 which could easily have ended his show jumping career, but after retiring in 2001 he recovered and began competing again om 2002. Skelton won the British Open title in 2004 at the British Open Show Jumping Championships. His current competition horses are owned by Beverley Widdowson. He has written an autobiography, and will soon publish an updated version. Nick has two sons, Harry and Daniel, who both are very active in Horse Racing.
In 2010, Skelton travelled to Hamburg for the second leg of the Global Champions Tour. On day 1 he finished second to Ireland's Denis Lynch in the 1m55 'Mercedes-Benz Championat of Hamburg' with Carlo. On day 2 he took the honours in the 1m50 one-round competition with Unique XVII to take the €5000 first prize.
Major achievements
He has had many successes with horses such as Maybe, St. James, Apollo, Dollar Girl and Arko. Skelton has ridden on over 144 Nations Cups teams (1978–2007). 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.
- Alternative Olympic Games
- 1980: Rotterdam. Team Silver medal with Maybe
- World championships
- 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
- Junior European Championships
- Volvo World Cup Final
- 1985: Berlin. 2nd with St James
- 1995: Gothenburg. Winner with Dollar Girl
- 1996: Geneva. 3rd with Dollar Girl
- 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
Nick 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
The famous horses Maybe, If Ever, Apollo and St. James helped Nick to the become a big name in the showjumping profession, winning many top prizes. Skelton has notably won the Hickstead Derby 3 times. Other horses that Nick has ridden include : Major Wager, Top Gun, Grand Slam, Phoenix Park, Dollar Girl, Limited Edition, Showtime, Tinka’s Boy, Hopes are High, Russel and Arko III.
One of his rides, Arko III, is a 1994 16.2 hh Bay Oldenburg Stallion, by Argentinius (Hanoverian), out of Unika (Oldenburg) by Beach Boy (Oldenburg). He was previously ridden by Robert Whitaker. Arko has carried Skelton to several Grand Prix wins, as well as an 11th place finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Also another World Class Horse Skelton rode was Russell, owned by John and Lisa Hales, both Arko III and Russell are now both retired and situated at Stud.
Skelton currently rides Big Star, Wotamillion, Unique, Nemo, Transmission and Carlo all of whom are owned by Beverley Widdowson.
Career statistics
Individual wins
Date Location Show Class CSI Horse 4 September 2008 
Spruce Meadows, CanadaCSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament CANA Cup CSIO***** Arko III 7 September 2008 Spruce Meadows, CanadaCSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament CN International CSIO***** Arko III Team wins
Date Location Show Class CSI Horse 8 August 2008 
Dublin, IrelandDublin Horse Show Samsung Super League CSIO***** Arko III References
- Skelton, N. (2001) Only Falls and Horses. Greenwater.
- BSJA profile
- FEI Rider's Biography
External links
Categories:- 1957 births
- Living people
- People from Bedworth
- British show jumping riders
- British equestrians
- Olympic equestrians of Great Britain
- Equestrians at the 1988 Summer Olympics
- Equestrians at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Equestrians at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- Equestrians at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Equestrians at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Old Wheatleyans
- Alternative Olympic Games
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