Always convinced that he could make it to the top levels of the sport, competing with the very best in the world, Tim bypassed the opportunity to study at agricultural college after leaving school, opting instead to go straight to work with horses in July 1975.
Following a year in Mike Saywell’s yard at Retford, Nottinghamshire he seized the chance to work as second jockey to the acclaimed rider, Graham Fletcher. Gaining valuable experience in the world of professional show jumping, Tim went on to work and train under professional, John Taylor.
He struck out on his own in 1990 with six horses and a yard rented a yard in Buckinghamshire. Competing well enough to keep the venture viable, Tim’s major breakthrough came in 1988 when he won the AIT Class at the Royal Windsor Horse Show with Supermarket. Success followed success over the years, with Stockdale-trained horses like The Frog, Mighty Mcguigan, Santa’s Echo, Interview, Glenwood Springs, Wiston Bridget and Corlato becoming star performers in the top show rings of Britain, Continental Europe and North America.
In 1995 Tim was the subject of a Channel 4 TV documentary on show jumping. Then, in 1996, he won no less than 6 Grand Prix competitions. Tim’s outstanding event of that year, however, was his marriage to Laura, herself a BHS-qualified instructor. They are now the proud parents of sons, Joseph (born October, 1999) and Mark (born April, 2004). |
Since 1997, Tim has run his thriving yard at Roade, Northamptonshire, assisted ably by Laura and a staff of four. In 2000, Tim was involved with the popular Channel 4 TV series, Faking It! A few years later, in 2006, he starred in the BBC-TV Sports Relief special, Only Fools On Horses, in which celebrities were fast-track trained to compete in televised show jumping.
International honours have been won regularly as a member of the British Nations Cup team but Tim regards being selected with Corlato to represent Great Britain at the 2008 Olympic Games in China as an exceptional career achievement. His sights are now set on competing at the London 2012 Olympics.
When not in the show ring, Tim is busy with private tuition and training clinics, an aspect of the sport he is keen on. His book, Tim Stockdale Training Techniques and series of instructional DVDs are much in demand. Tim also offers his expertise in buying and selling top class horses to prospective clients. At the same time, he enjoys giving after dinner speeches, talks and lectures. An authoritative and entertaining speaker, Tim is noted for tailoring presentations to his audiences’ specific requirements. (For more information on any of these services please contact us).
In 2006, he was awarded an Honorary Degree by Nottingham Trent University for services to equestrianism.
In rare moments away from horses, Tim enjoys following the fortunes of the Sheffield Wednesday football team and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. He also likes to relax over the occasional round of golf and – of course – spend time with his family. |
