Latest from Horse & Hound in Fresh-direct-corlato

Tim Stockdale’s Olympic Games diary: the team competition

Horse & Hound — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:21:04 +0000

The team competition at the Olympic Games is like a normal Nations Cup which we compete in all season, except the two rounds are spread over two days which gives the horses a good rest between.

The first round was a difficult course mainly because of optical factors — the arena, the white screen, the giant Olympic flame which burns brightly 24 hours a day and of course the colourful fences.

When we all walked the course, it was obvious the early water would cause problems but on reflection, the problems were evenly spread. Ruby (Corlato) was really on it in the ring and concentrating on the top rails, she was focused and not at all distracted.

My round went exactly to plan and the distances rode as I walked, which is always satisfying with one exception. The final combination, three from home, was made of cream poles against the backdrop of the white sand arena and it was difficult for me to judge, let alone Ruby. Basically, she just jumped too high over the middle part and didn’t make the back bar.

It was a super round for me and still kept us in the medal hunt even without our anchorman.

Second round

Last night brought a completely different type of course; switch backs, twists, turns plus it walked much bigger than the previous night.

Our round started good enough but there was a big set of planks off not the nicest of turns and Ruby rather shot at it off the turn to have it down. The pressure was on and I knew I had to keep the round together for the sake of the team plus my own individual qualification.

She was jumping well and really listening — at the tricky double of verticals she came right back and responded well. We were about two seconds up on the time according to my marker so I knew that wasn’t going to be an issue but then the mare just began to tire a little and get heavy in my hand.

The final fence was a 1.63m upright and I didn’t have the feeling I was hoping for and she had it down. It was a better round than eight faults and so I was disappointed. Perhaps the goings on affected me more than I realised with extra pressure.

The three of us will have a rest day tomorrow (Tuesday) and prepare our minds for Thursday to rally round and plan for gold.

Olympic show jumping photo gallery

Tim Stockdale photo gallery

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Tim Stockdale’s Olympic Games countdown diary: 8 days to go

Horse & Hound — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:06:16 +0000

I travelled down to Hickstead last Wednesday with Kalico Bay, Pircolando M, Roland and Talori.

Due to a staff shortage, and my groom Kristen getting Ruby [Fresh Direct Coralto] ready to go into quarantine on the Saturday, Holly Howsam, a girl I help, came to help me. And she was thrown in at the deep end!

I was at Hickstead until Sunday. It was hot and a good show. Kalico Bay went well and Talori went nicely, but Roland didn’t go as good as I expected, which is why I didn’t jump in the King Geroge V Gold Cup.

Ruby had a good workout before I left on Wednesday and went for a working swim on Thursday. On Friday, she did some galloping work with Daniel Delsart, who rides for me and is very good on the flat.

Then on Saturday, Ruby and the rest of the British team horses started their quarantine period at Unex Towerlands. It’s the perfect place for it and has all the facilities the team needs.

The horse stables are massive, about 5m sq, within a separate yard. They’ve made available lots of rooms, and a café where a chef comes in three times a day to cook meals for the grooms.

Then of course there are the exercise facilities — there’s a big indoor school — and the outdoor arena has white sand, like there will be in Hong Kong. And we’ve got a horse container, like that the horses will fly in, to practise loading them. We are very lucky, I think this place is second to none.

We’ve also had good weather over the past week, with temperatures between 28 and 30 degrees, so we have been able to do some training in warmer conditions.

Quarantine is a bit of a pain, but the advantage is that it’s brought us all together which is a really good team building exercise.

Last night we all ate together, included the reserve riders. With everyone in one place, including all the grooms, we’re starting to become more and more like a team.

Everything is going very well. Long may it last.

Tim

Tim Stockdale’s Olympic Games countdown diary: 16 days to go

Horse & Hound — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:47:20 +0000

I’ve had quite a busy week. On Tuesday, I worked ‘Ruby’ (Fresh Direct Corlato) in the indoor school because the weather wasn’t very good.

It’s a bit annoying, because I’m not getting to do much acclimatisation training, but she is on good form.

She really wants clipping, but it’s been so chilly at night we’ve been having to put any extra rug on her. It’s not really helping the cause. Of course, she can be clipped once she’s in Hong Kong.

In the afternoon Ruby went for her weekly swim and I had some physio myself to make sure everything is ok with me.

On Wednesday, I set up quite a complicated grid at home — I didn’t realise how complicated until after I’d worked Ruby.

It was three bounces at three feet, one stride to a four feet high and five feet wide oxer, followed by one stride to three more bounces.

The idea was to let Ruby do some intricate work with a big power jump in the middle. She’d worked hard over it but was bright, athletic and sharp.

At the end of the week I was at a four-day show with some novices and young horses at Weston Lawns. Each day, I had to get up early and work Ruby and one other before we left.

It’s nice to ride early in the morning, but it’s still not helping with the heat training. She was also getting some work when I got back from the show — it was a hectic four days. I just missed out on qualifying for the Foxhunter final, too, with Kalico Bay.

The show also gave me a chance to give my new hat a run out — make sure it fits well and is comfy to ride in.

It’s got a great big Union Jack spray painted on it. It’s very in your face and completely obvious which country you are riding for. I think the best way to describe it is hideously smart. I really like it. I’m very proud of my flag.

On Monday I went to do a cover shoot for Horse & Hound at dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer’s with her and Daisy Dick. I got back in the afternoon and gave Ruby some work before doing a few interviews for a job we’ve got on the yard.

The show jumpers go into quarantine on Saturday, so I spent some time going through paperwork and making sure everything is ok for that.

Then I went to try a horse. It’s quite odd because I have to be very careful. I can’t risk getting on a horse that could be dangerous or do something stupid.

I once broke a collar bone riding a horse in Belgium a few weeks before the World Championships, and I don’t want that to happen now. Basically, it’s about using common sense.

I’ve had a lot of text messages and calls over the past few weeks of congratulations, support and people wishing me well. I’m really grateful to them as it means a lot.

Tim Stockdale claims qualifying spot for 2008 FEI World Cup final

Horse & Hound — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:07:40 +0000

Tim Stockdale looks odds-on for a place at the 2008 FEI World Cup Final, after finishing second in the FEI World Cup Qualifier in Vigo, Spain at the weekend.

Fresh Direct Corlato jumped one of only four double clears as Tim set the pace early in the jump-off. Only Austria’s Thomas Fruhmann riding The Sixth Sense was able to better his time. Spain’s Rutherford Latham finished third. Michael Whitaker suffered a disappointment when having the first fence down in the first round.

Tim is now in fourth position in the FEI World Cup Western European League with just the final qualifier in s’Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands left to go (27 – 30 March 2008).

The top 18 riders in the league following the final qualifier will go forwards to the 2008 FEI World Cup Final in Gothenburg, Sweden from 23–27 April.

Other British riders currently well placed for qualification include Whitaker family members William and Michael, currently in equal 12th and equal 15th respectively.

CSI-W Vigo, FEI World Cup Qualifier results

1. Thomas Fruhmann AUT The Sixth Sense 0/0 40.66sec

2. Tim Stockdale GBR Fresh Direct Corlato 0/0 41.74

3. Rutherford Latham ESP Guarana Champeix 0/0 43.05

4. Patrick McEntee BEL Ever Mury Marais Z 0/0 49.88

5. Markus Fuchs SUI Nirmette 0/4 41.58

6. Gerco Schroder NED Eurocommerce Milano 0/4 43.03

7. Oliver Lazarus RSA Crocket 18 0/4 46.26

8. Harry Smolders NED Exquis Oliver Q 0/4 46.97

9. Michel Robert FRA Mme Pompadour M 0/4 47.35

10. Eugenie Angot FRA Ilostra Dark 0/8 43.37

www.csivigo.com

Tim Stockdale resigns from BSJA marketing committee

Horse & Hound — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:07:45 +0000

Tim Stockdale has resigned from his role as chairman of the BSJA’s marketing and commercial committee to focus on preparing himself and Fresh Direct Corlato to have the best opportunity for British Olympic team selection.

Having just entered his fourth year in the role, Tim is proud to been part of the developments within the association during his tenure. During this time, the marketing committee has been modernising the BSJA and getting show jumping back into the public eye by methods including introducing the new style show jackets, taking part in the Only Fools On Horses television programme, and rebranding and relaunching the society.

“There have been tangible results,” says Tim, who will continue to sit on the BSJA’s executive board. “We’ve acquired new sponsors and the association is becoming more commercial.”

However, with Beijing 2008 in his sights, Tim feels he owes it to his owners and sponsors to concentrate his efforts on selection.

“It was for that reason alone that I felt this decision had to be made,” he says.

Tim has been a popular chairman of the committee.

“We have become a very close team under his Chairmanship and losing him from the helm has obviously come as a blow to all of us,” says BSJA head of communications Maria Clayton.

“However, given the choice, there is nothing any of us would want more than to let Tim focus on ensuring he has every chance to fulfill a lifelong ambition.”

www.bsja.co.uk

Tim Stockdale’s top horse injured

Karen Spinner — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:51:11 +0000

Fresh Direct Corlato (pictured right), Tim Stockdale’s popular grey mare, will be out of action for an indefinite period after a high suspensory ligament injury.

The news comes as a blow to British team show jumping hopes just two months ahead of the European Championships in Mannheim (14-19 August).

Tim told H&H: “I’m not very happy about it at all. In fact, I’m incredibly disappointed, but there’s not a lot that we can do apart from wait and see how she responds to treatment.

“We don’t know what length of time she’ll be out for. Hopefully it won’t be too long, but we just don’t know at present.”

Tim said he believed the injury had been building up for some time and that it probably explained why the mare jumped badly at the Nations Cup show in Switzerland earlier in the month.

** Update **

23 June, ’07

Corlato is expected to be back in action around three weeks time.