( TIM STOCKDALE ) THE LOST INTERVIEW
A TRIBUTE TO TIM STOCKDALE (1964-2018) by Charley Snowdon
A
t the tragic news of Tim’s passing I knew I had to write this interview, the privileged interview that was sitting in a ‘Cloud’ somewhere in outer space that I had recorded a year ago last August.
Why oh why, would any journalist sit on such an interview you may ask and rightly so, but the truth was that Tim, unsurprisingly, was gracing the front covers of every equestrian magazine that month and so, I made that executive decision to archive it for a later date; little did I know that that date would be such a sad one.
I still cannot quite believe he has gone, like how? How can this charismatic man, who beamed so much life and love and enthusiasm into ‘our sport’ (as he unselfishly always referred to British Showjumping) not be with us anymore? It makes no sense.
From the sadness Tim does leave us with is his legacy, the unique way that only Tim could explain things to any rider, regardless of their ability. “There is no such word as can’t”, said Tim; the mantra by which he led his life and published a book by the same title. “You will, or you won’t, it really is that simple.”
There you go, straight away, with a couple of sentences from the legend, you’re already tacking your pony up with a different mindset and that in my opinion, regardless of all his deserving accolades is what Tim will be remembered for most. “You have to believe in yourself, if you can’t then nobody will!”
There was no sports psychologist required in Tim’s world due to his natural ability to simplify tasks. “When you walk a course of jumps, don’t concentrate on the elements you hate but focus on the bits you like, embrace what suits you.” Maintaining this mindset during and after your round was equally important to Tim. “Tell your mum, dad, friend, whoever is accompanying you, that after you have jumped you are going to talk about three good things first.” Said Tim. “Also, always have a plan in place, get up early, know where the toilets are, where the secretary is located, always give yourself the time you need to give you and your horse the best chance.”
Tim was so grounded and spoke such sense that if you applied the above mentality to your riding then it was a no brainer that you would create (in Tim’s words) a ‘feel good factor’ that subsequently would then be transmitted to your horse. Ta dah! There you go folks, how to achieve success in two paragraphs, courtesy of Mr Stockdale!
Moving on, Tim of course, was never backward in coming forward and I feel I would be doing him a great injustice by not voicing his opinions on the
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importance of funding for young riders and how he found the introduction of data analysis into British selection a mind-boggling disbelief. “I am going to get on my high horse here!” I remember Tim stating. “Equestrianism cannot and must not be put in the same bracket as other sports, horses are individuals, there are lots of X Factors, even the bookies can’t work it out!”
After the success of 2012, Tim was thrilled at the new interest and influx of cash that was generated through showjumpings new heightened profile. “It’s a very simple concept”, said Tim. “You need to look after existing owners, encourage new ones, invest in good horses and riders and then train them.” This simple equation, and I doubt anyone could argue otherwise, is hindered in Tim’s lasting view ‘by the continual need to fulfil lottery funded briefs.’ Now, there is no way I would have written about this in any generic tribute, but Tim wanted his opinion heard. “Maybe we would be better off without lottery funding and rowing our own canoe? Whenever I say that everyone looks at me like I am ridiculous, but they are the ones spending large sums of money on consultants to meet the criteria of lottery applications rather than investing into the training of young riders.”
Tim always applied the same comprehendible For the latest news visit
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