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PRESS RELEASE

27 January 2008

TIM TAKES GRAND PRIX VICTORY

TWO YEARS ON THE TROT!!

Tim Stockdale from Roade, Northants riding John Bosher’s stunning grey mare Fresh Direct Corlato, has entered the history books this afternoon, winning the 30,000€ Nantes Grand Prix for a second successive year!!

Emulating their victory of 2007, Tim and ‘Ruby’ scorched to victory over Austria’s Gerfried Puck beating their jump off time by less than half a second.  French Olympian Patrice Delaveau finished third.

Todays win is a fantastic start to the 2008 season for Tim who recently announced his resignation as Chairman of the BSJA Marketing and Commercial Committee, to focus his attentions on selection for the Hong Kong Olympic Games later this year. 

CSI3* Nantes FRA

Grand Prix

1^st        Tim Stockdale             GBR     Fresh Direct Corlato               0/0 34.78 secs

2^nd        Gerfried Puck                AUT      11^th And Bleeker                        0/0 35.17 secs

3^rd         Patrice Delaveau            FRA      Katchina Mail                             0/0 36.00 secs

4^th         Gerald Geessink             NED     Casco                                        0/0 37.41 secs

5^th         Olivier Robert                FRA      Le Galant                                  0/4 39.66 secs

6^th         Christophe Vanderhasselt      BEL      Wariska de la Falize                    0/8 35.64 secs

7^th         Edouard Mathe             FRA      Cherie Lady                               1 64.53 secs

8^th         Emanuele Fiorelli            ITA       Western union Jumping             1 64.59 secs

9^th         Wilm Vermeir                 BEL      Umit                                         4 62.29 secs

10^th       Jerome Debas Montagner       FRA      Idem de b’Neville HN                 4 62.35 secs

Full results can be downloaded at www.jumpingdenantes.com

End of release

That was the year, that was the Year!

You haven’t heard from us for a while, that’s because it’s been a pretty hectic year, both here at home and out on the international competition trail.  Our apologies are coupled with thanks for all the magnificent support we have received over the year from our owners, sponsors, suppliers and all those who simply lend a helping hand.

One of the reasons for a roller coaster ride in 2007 is that Tim has been setting his sights firmly on winning a place in the Great Britain team for the 2008 Olympic Games. Let’s hope that he and our star horses make the trip to Hong Kong where the Olympic equestrian events will be staged. Apart from anything else, it will mean that some of us might have to be there to support him!

Whatever happens, we are looking forward to a happy, successful and fulfilling 2008 and wish the same for you.

In the meanwhile, let’s look back on 2007 and think about the year that was from the horses’ points of view.

FRESH DIRECT CORLATO (stable name, Ruby), owned by John and Sue Bosher, had an outstanding start to her year, travelling to World Cup qualifying events in Bordeaux, Vigo, Gothenburg and S-Hertogenbosch. Ruby spectacularly won back-to-back Grand Prix classes in Bordeaux and Nantes. But don’t just take our word for Tim and Ruby’s star-studded performance – here’s what the BSJA put out in an exuberant press release:

STOCKDALE MAKES IT TWO IN A ROW!

Tim Stockdale’s invincible form wowed a capacity crowd in Bordeaux this afternoon, snatching victory from a world class field of horses and riders when he won the Bordeaux Grand Prix, riding John Bosher’s sensational grey mare, Fresh Direct Corlato.

Fresh from the victory in the CSI3* Nantes Grand Prix last weekend, the combination jumped one of only four double clear rounds of the competition to take home the 18,000 euros first prize. Germany’s multiple Olympic Gold Medallist, Ludger Beerbaum, finished in second place and Switzerland’s Olympic Silver Medallist, Beat Mandli, took third spot.

After finishing in second place in the Links of London Grand Prix at Olympia – The London International Horse Show just before Christmas, Tim, chairman of the BSJA Marketing Committee and the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare (by Corofino I) have gone from strength to strength, launching their 2007 season in amazing style with two major Grand Prix wins in as many weeks!

The pair then went on to win Royal Windsor Grand Prix.  Success in France was followed by triumph for Team GB at the Nations Cup event in Rome. Listen again to the BSJA as it announced victory:

‘The quartet of Performance Squad riders competing at the Piazza di Siena, Rome, has won the Samsung Super League with FEI Series in fine style! As the temperatures in Rome sizzled into the 80’s, the British contingent gave red hot performances to  bring home a crucial ten Super League points................Tim Stockdale riding John Bosher’s in-form grey mare, Fresh Direct Corlato on her  Super League debut, had just one fence down in the second round to finish on four faults. The team finished on a total of eight penalties, giving them a fence in hand over Germany, Belgium, France and Switzerland who all shared second place.’

Next stop on the road to Hong Kong for Ruby and Tim was Manheim, Germany, for the European Championship. Although standing in reserve for the competition, our duo played its part in helping the British team to achieve the Bronze Medal, so securing a coveted place in the 2008 Olympics.

Then, it was off across the Atlantic to Spruce Meadows, Calgary. Despite being reluctant to board the aircraft and the horse box after landing in Canada, Ruby went on to strut her stuff at this fantastic show ground, finishing fifth in the world’s richest and most fiercely contested Grand Prix.

Back home, Ruby missed winning the Horse of the Year Show Grand Prix by a whisker.
She and Tim looked like dead certs for first place but, in the end, came a few hundredths of a second behind Patrice Deleveaux.

More recently, Tim and Ruby have taken a leisurely approach at shows in Oslo, Helsinki and Lyons. 

By the time you read this, Ruby should be back in the equestrian limelight at Olympia to round off what has been (literally) an eventful year.

SANCER TURVAL (Nemo), owned by Laura, has enjoyed a promising year, progressing to Foxhunter level initially with Adam Botham and now with Tim on top. Nemo finished his season by achieving Licensed Stallion status at the Anglo European Studbook Grading in November. Out of 43 candidates he was only one of two horses to be graded. It means that Nemo has recognised potential in the show ring and can also be used for breeding. His objectives for 2008 are the Newcomer and Foxhunter finals.

VENI VIDI VICI (Vinnie), owned by Katherine James, has lived up to his name
(‘I came, I saw, I conquered,’ as it translates from the Latin). The horse is quite small (15.2hh) but has exceptional jumping ability. It would have been easy to ask too much of him too soon, but we’ve purposefully held Vinnie back. Nevertheless, he won the Equimat Challenge at Addington in the summer, bringing home the £1,000 prize. Next year, Vinnie will jump in some young horse classes and in the Newcomer and Foxhunter qualifiers.

LOU LOU (Lulu), owned by Amlin Plus Insurance, came with a chequered history but seems to have settled in under Tim’s guidance and is now going from strength to strength. The grey mare’s first major international competition was in Belfast, where she won a tight jump-off class.

PIRCOLANDO M (Marco) has also had a pretty decent year, competing in national and international shows. Owned by Janet Cosgrove, Marco performed particularly well in Belfast.

KALICO BAY (Frankie), owned by Melanie Davidson, came to us in July. Tim had trained Melanie on him and her other horses earlier in the year but it was agreed that Frankie – a big horse – needed to be brought on some more. Tim is now looking forward to putting Frankie through his paces in the seven-year-old classes next year.

UNA (Flick), a steady, careful horse has competed well in some accumulator competitions. Owned by Colin and Ann Garrett, she did particularly well at Oslo in October.

ROLAND II (Jack) has made big progress in 2007. The chestnut gelding, owned by Derek and Jenny Ward, was entered for the first time in some big international classes and took to them with ease and confidence. Jack was placed in both the International Trial and the Grand Prix at Newbury. After the Horse of the Year Show, he travelled to Oslo, Helsinki and Lyons where he was also placed in several important classes.

CASSIA (Jess), owned by Leila Azmoudeh, gave birth to a foal at the age of four, so started her jumping career later than normal. For the two years that we’ve had the grey mare, she has been limited to novice classes but will step up to tougher competition in 2008.

ANIMATION (Annie) has partnered Ruby at many of the big shows and produced some very good results. Owned by Di and Russell Jay-ing, Annie suffered a bad fall with Tim in the puissance class in Rome. Fortunately, neither horse nor rider were hurt seriously and soon recovered. Annie had the honour of jumping in her first Nations Cup event at Spruce Meadows, Calgary.

TALORI (Tally). After a very busy season in novice classes, Tally has recently stayed home for some rest and recreation. Tim and the horse’s owner, John Steels, are extremely pleased at the way she is shaping up.

PALOMA (Cody), owned by Janet Cosgrove, was back in action this year after some foot problems which have taken some time to grow out. It’s been worth the wait, though, as Cody jumps beautifully and has been placed at virtually every show he entered. 

FRESH DIRECT GLENWOOD SPRINGS (Woody) as he’s known, has been a loyal servant to Tim and his owners John and Sue Bosher. He has won over £147,000 in his career.  It has been agreed between John, Sue and Tim that he has worked hard and deserves a long and happy retirement as he turns 20 years old next year.  He will be officially retired on Saturday night at Olympia, but as Woody doesn’t like to go in the field much he will remain here at Dovecote Farm.  Tim plans to take him to some Lecture Demonstrations in the Spring.

TEAM TALK

Keeping the horses fit, comfortable and in tip-top condition would be extremely difficult without the excellent team here at Dovecote Farm. As usual, 2007 has seen some comings and goings but the overall quality of skill and professionalism remains as high as ever.

Adam Botham, who was with us for 18 months, left to set up his own yard near Banbury in partnership with girlfriend, Jess Marshall. Adam remains in close touch and will still ride for us at shows.

Daniel Delsart (21yrs) from France has joined the team to replace Adam as rider. Daniel previously rode for world cup rider, Bruno

Katy James, who trained with us for almost a year, has returned to help run the yard on a day-to-day basis while other staff are away at shows.

Joanna Boyd, who helped out earlier in the year, went off to work in Australia, as planned. Once on the other side of the world, however, she missed us all and luckily decided to come back. Needless to say, we welcomed her with open arms.

Krysten Kemp has now been with us for a year and is very much appreciated as an important member of the team.

Jacqui Levers left in October to be able to work closer to her home and we wish her well.

Thank you goes to Nigel Turner, our farrier.  Nigel took over from Martin Lewis earlier this year and has worked all sorts of hours for us especially when a shoe gets pulled off the night before a show.

Thank you to all the other people that help keep the horses on the road.  Thorsten Feddern, Andy Bathe – Veterinary Surgeons, Anna Johnson and Debbie – Physios. Our feed is always delivered when we need it and on time by Heart of England Country Feeds.  And everyone else who helps keep the team running as smoothly as it does.

And finally to Don who works doing maintenance jobs three days a week, in a yard this size he is a vital member of the team.

FAMILY MATTERS

We’re pleased to say that good things have been happening on the family front.

Tim’s brother, Ivan (the equine dentist) and his wife, Lisa, had their baby, a delightful little girl named Ellie, in September.

Joseph has a new pony, Beauty. They entered their first show jumping competition in September and were the first to score a double clear. Beauty was owned by one of our sponsors, Julia Andrews of Kate Negus Saddlery and we hope Joseph has as much fun and success with the pony as Julia’s daughter, Sophie, did.

Mark continues to entertain staff and visitors alike by charging around the yard on his bike, scooter or electric car in all weathers.  Mark is beginning to take an interest in riding and regularly gets aboard the elderly Miss Muffet.

For something completely different, we are all off on a skiing holiday immediately after Christmas. That should allow Tim to re-charge his batteries before he heads of to Nantes, France, at the end of January for the first big show of 2008.

From all of us to all of you, A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!