Known as ‘The Boss’…except when Bruce Springsteen is around!

Name: Nick Skelton

Age: 51

From: Bedworth, Warwickshire

Event: Showjumping

History: With just under 40 years riding experience, Skelton has a hugely succesful history behind him. His highlights include a Gold medal at the Junior European Championships, three consecutive Gold medals in the team jumping at the European Championships in 1985, 1987 and 1989 while also winning a Bronze in the individual jumping in 1987. In cohesion with this, there have been many silver and bronze medals in different competitions along with victories in the Hickstead Derby and the King George V Star Cup. 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.

Qualification for 2012: As host nation, Team GB is automatically allocated a place at the Olympics and will surely send a team to compete. It may be a tough ask for Skelton to be a competitor but he is likely to be involved with Team GB showjumping behind the scenes.

(Photo by Gary M. Prior/Getty Images)

Nick incredibly started riding at just 18 months old when he got his first pony called Oxo, who remained part of the Skelton family until the age of 39. Despite little tuition, Skelton found he had a natural ability for riding and decided to pursue it and took his pony to Ted and Liz Edgar at the age of 14.

He had many early successes of the horse, Maybe, but it went lame just before the Junior European Championships and Skelton had to ride a horse called O.K but he rode it magnificently and won gold at the Championships. The showjumper continued to ride Edgars’ horses and in 1985, set a British record, that still stands today, when he jumped 7ft 7in on the horse, Lastic.

Seven years later and Skelton broke away from the Edgars and his main horse, Apollo, went with him and as a partnership, the nearly won all the top prizes in the sport as well as many Championship medals. Skelton went on to compete at the Barcelona Olympics in ’92, and although it didn’t go to plan, the Warwickshire man did go on to win the World Cup final in Gothenburg in 1995 with the horse, Apollo.

Skelton then suffered a career-threatening injury in 2000 after breaking his neck but despite retiring in 2001, he returned to action in 2002 and with the horse Arko III, he went on to win the British Open title at the British Showjumping Championships in 2004 and did compete in Athens and lead until an unfortunate final round which saw him fall down the order.

The Full Interview

1) How did you first get into Showjumping?

Took a pony to Ted Edgar for help when I was 14 and at 16 went to work for him and it all continued from that.

2) You competed at Barcelona in 92 and then lead until the final round in Athens in 2004, how do you rate both yours and the team’s chances in London?

The British team have a good chance in London, we have some great horses in this country for 2012.

3) Do you have any nicknames?

 “Skelly” – my assistant calls me “The Boss” but when Bruce Springsteen was on the yard last year visiting his daughter that got a bit confusing!

4) Breaking your neck must have been a horrific injury, how hard was it both physically and mentally to come back from that?

When I broke my neck I didn’t know until months later that the doctors would tell me not to ride again so my focus was on recovering.  Eventually, wanting to compete got me back on a horse and of course Arko was on my yard at the time and I knew he could be brilliant so I was very motivated.

5) You’ve ridden a range of different horses over the years, is there a particular favourite that stands out?

Dollar Girl was my favourite horse ever.

6) The Equestrian Jumping  will be taking place at Greenwich Park, what are your thoughts on the chosen location?

Greenwich is a good location, the footing has been improved since the Test Event last year, which I competed in, so I think it will go really well for all the riders.

7) Away from showjumping, how much free time do you get and what do you like to do in those free hours?

In my free time I go racing.  My eldest son is Assistant Trainer to Paul Nicholls and my youngest son is a jockey.

8) If you had to choose another career path, what would it be?

When I was young I wanted to be a jockey but I grew too big.  Nowadays I think I am more suited to being a marriage guidance councillor!

One Word Answers

Favourite Colour: Red for “First” in rosette colours!

Favourite Food: Chinese

Favourite Type of Music: Jazz/Blues/Rock fusion

Favourite TV Program: Only Fools and Horses

Biggest Inspiration: David Broome

Best Memory in Showjumping: Winning the 1995 World Cup with Dollar Girl

Watch Nick Skelton’s record jump here:

I would like to thank Nick and his team for all their cooperation and wish him all the best for the future.

Don’t Trust Your Early Instincts…From Thinking It Was ‘Weird’, Meet One Of Team GB’s Leading Archers!

Name: Naomi Folkard

Age: 28

From: Leamington Spa

Event: Archery

History: Naomi took part in Athens in 2004, where she was the youngest member of the GB archery team. The archer got through to the last 16 before losing to eventual gold medalist, Park Sung Hyun, finishing 11th overall. She was also a part of the archery team that finished 12th. The Archer also travelled to Beijing in 2008, where she progressed to the third round, but was eliminated by Japenese Archer, Nami Hayakawa. Along with Alison Williamson and Charlotte Burgess, Naomi made it through to the semi finals against China but were unfortunately defeated and they then couldn’t beat the French so finished fourth and just missed out on the medals.

Qualification for 2012: Has qualified and will be a part of Team GB.

Copyright Getty Images

After a bit of a quiet period in regards to Athletes, the blog is active once more and this time with Great Britain’s leading female archer.

Naomi Folkard is preparing for her third appearance at the Olympic Games and is aiming to for it to be third-time lucky in her pursuit of a medal after just falling short in 2004 and 2008.

Amazingly, Naomi wasn’t so keen on the first time she played archery. Thankfully, her dad loved the sport and enrolled at the local club in Leamington Spa. She went along simply to spend time with him, but soon discovered her ability and by the age of 12, Naomi found herself in the British Junior Archery team.

The sport runs in the family as Folkard’s brother is an archer in the British Junior team while both mum and dad have competed at county level in the sport.

Clearly not one to shy away from hard work, Naomi is a music graduate from Birmingham University and is an accomplished violin and piano player and she’s also chasing another degree, this time in mathematics, at the Open University.

A strong contender in the team event in London but watch out for Naomi in the individual event, a definite dark horse.

Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images AsiaPac

The Full Interview

1) How did you first get into Archery?

I tried it when I was at a family scout camp when I was 5 years old. I can’t remember it well, but I do believe that I thought it was weird and wasn’t particularly keen to do it again. However my dad loved it and soon after we got back home he investigated and joined our local club in Leamington Spa. Dad spent so much time down the field shooting that my mum, brother and myself started archery a year or so later.

2) After competing in Athens and Beijing, this will be your third Olympics, does the fact that it’s in London have any effect on your ambitions? Or is it simply another competition that you train for in the same manner as the previous competitions?

I always shoot as best I can whatever the competition. Obviously the London Olympics is a special event, but it’s pointless to me to pile extra pressure on myself, so all I can do is prepare as best I can for it and then when the time comes to compete there, I will just enjoy shooting great arrows. 

3) Do you feel that because it’s in London, there may be a level of complacency or is it completely the opposite and you want to impress because it’s on your home  turf? 

Neither situation would lead to good shooting from me, so I will behave the same as I would at any other event.

4) When did you believe that you wanted to pursue this as a career as oppose to a hobby?

I became a full time archer after I graduated in 2005. However I would not call archery a career – one day I will grow up and do something a little more sensible with better long term! After London I will train part time and set myself up as a private violin and piano teacher. I have also  started studying mathematics with Open University and I would like to continue with this through to getting a degree.

5) You graduated from Birmingham University, was it hard to balance both your education and the sport? Was there ever a time in which one took priority?

I spent a lot of time practicing my instruments and archery, which didn’t really leave enough time for the rest of my studies. A lot of time was expected to be spent self studying in the library which wasn’t my thing. My tutors were supportive enough and the  Munroe sport centre allowed me to use the gym for free which was great.

6) The archery will be taking place at Lords Cricket Ground which has come in for a fair amount of criticism, what are your thoughts on the chosen location?

I don’t recall much criticism.

The best venue I will  ever shoot at was in Panatheniko Stadium in Athens. I felt like a gladiator. This could never be created in London. However Lord’s as a venue is much better than the venue in Beijing, which was a specially built construction and was demolished immediately after the competition had finished. There the seating started well above eye level so it had no atmosphere from the crowd and it just felt cold and thankless.

Lords is not ideal as the nursery isn’t big enough to hold the number of practice bosses which will be required. However the important thing is the competition. Lords is a world renown venue and has a great prestige. I know the Indian team are excited to compete there. Temporary seating will be built over the grass at Lords,  which will not detract from the venue as the seating will be low lying and you will still be able to see the media centre and the special architecture on the outside of the Long Room and changing rooms.

I know that the crowd will be excited to watch sport whatever the sport and in the case of archery it will be just the same. In the end it is the crowd, the volunteers and the archers that make the competition a success, not a venue.

7) How do you rate your chances of going to London and achieving a top three finish?

In Beijing we were so close to a bronze medal. We have improved a lot since then, however so has everybody else, of course. We  will do everything we can to prepare and in the end, all we can do is do our best.

8) Away from Archery, how much free time do you get and what do you like to do in those free hours?

Not a lot of free time. I have one day off a  week. I like to spend time with my family, my parents have a dog (we never had a pet any better than a hamster when I was young) so I love to fuss Bessie and take her out walking. I also spend time reading, painting, practicing my music and gardening. During the spring and summer I spend about an hour in the garden every day that I’m at home, I find it so diverting and relaxing, even if it’s  just a bit of weeding.

9) If you had to choose another career path, what would it  be?

As I previously said violin and piano teacher, perhaps a mathematics teacher.

One Word Answers

Favourite  Colour: Purple

Favourite  Food: Anything with pasta, especially lasagne

Favourite  Type of Music: Debussy

Favourite  TV Program: Big Bang Theory

Biggest  Inspiration: Miss Park

Best  Memory in Archery: Walking down the tunnel and out into  the Panatheniko Stadium

I’d like to wish Naomi all the best for the future and thank her and her team for their recent cooperation.

Watch Naomi in action against Charlotte Burgess!

To Make Sure You Don’t Miss It, Here’s The Route Of The Olympic Torch…

The Olympic Torch is nearly as famous as the Olympic Games itself.

All of us have tuned in on the opening ceremony to see a famous athlete completing the final bit of the journey and you can feel the anticipation as the torch signals the beginning of a competition that has taken four years to arrive.

The thought of it being paraded around the Olympic Stadium on the 27th July is enough to send shivers down your spine and make your hairs stand on end. It will truly be a moment to remember.

But what a lot of people seem to forget is the journey the torch has been on before arriving on the big stage.

Beginning 70 days earlier, the Torch will set off on a journey that it will see it covers all areas of the UK and what’s more, it means you can see it as well.

So let me talk you through the route of the Torch when it hits the West Midlands and make a note in your diary, this is not a moment to be missed!

Thursday 24th May

The torch will arrive in the region at Ledbury in just over a month’s time before moving swiftly on Bartestree and then Lugwardine. The torch is then carried to Hereford and Leominister before arriving in Ludlow and Clee Hill. On a whistle stop tour, it then arrives at Cleobury Mortimer, Far Forest, Callow Hill and Bewdley before moving swiftly on to Kidderminster, Droitwich Spa and Fernhill Heath before ending a very busy in Worcester for an evening celebration.

Friday 25th May

Only five locations on Friday as the torch begins day two in Worcester moving on to Powick, Malvern and Malvern Wells before ending the day in Ross on Wye.

Wednesday 30th May

After a few days rest, there’s a big day ahead on Wednesday. The torch begins on the Welsh border at Oswestry before moving along to Pant and Llanymynech.   The torch then moves to Shrewsbury and Cressage before arriving at the Olympic’s Mascot namesake Much Wenlock. The route continues with stoppages at Benthall, Broseley, Ironbridge and Telford before keeping with the Welsh theme and arriving at Newport. Straight on to Gnosall and Haughton before the final leg of the day as the torch enters Stafford, Shelton and then spending the evening celebration in Stoke on Trent. 

Thursday 31st May

After a big day of travelling previously, there are only four stops on Thursday.

Beginning in Stoke on Trent, the torch moves on to Cobridge and Burslem before ending the day in Middleport.

Saturday 30th June

After a month’s break from the region, the torch burns brightly for an extremely busy day at the end of June. Beginning at Burton on Trent, the torch moves on to Streethay and Lichfield before moving on through Hopwas, Tamworth, Great Wyrley and Newtown.  The torch continues to move forward with stops at Bloxwich, Leamore and Birchills before arriving at the city of Walsall. Getting right into the heart of the West Midlands, the torch passes through Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Dudley and West Bromwich before a quick stop at Smethwick before having an evening celebrating in Birmingham.

Sunday 1st July

As we enter July and the Games are within touching distance, there are just two more days for the torch to pass through the West Midlands. It begins in Birmingham and moves on through Solihull, Earlswood, Redditch and Astwood Bank. The route continues with stops at Alcester, Evesham and Wickhamford and then arrives at Broadway, Newbold on Stour and Alderminster before travelling back north to Stratford-Upon-Avon through Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa and Kenilworth before arriving at Coventry for the evening celebrations.

Monday 2nd July

It’s a short, final day on the 2nd July as the final three locations are reached. The torch starts in Coventry before moving onto Rugby and then finishing at Danchurch.

So there you have it, you now have no excuses not to come out your house and see the Olympic Torch being carried through your town or city. Also, please support the torch bearers, they all have incredible stories and fully deserve this opportunity.

Watch the full route here!

Dame Kelly Holmes Opened It So It Must Be Olympic Worthy!

Name: The City of Coventry Stadium

Age: 7

Event: Football

History: The City of Coventry Stadium is the home to current Championship football club, Coventry City. It was built and opened in 2005 but the official opening took place in 2007 when Dame Kelly Holmes and Sports Minister (at the time) Richard Caborn unveiled it. The arena has an impressive capacity of 32,609 and will be used for the football at the Olympics. It is officially known as the Ricoh Arena but stadium-naming sponsorship is forbidden in major events, hence the re-naming of the ground.

Qualification for 2012: Assured, definitely taking part.

Copyright - SteveC77

Men’s football was first introduced at the Olympics in 1900. Just eight years later, Great Britain won the event and then defended it four years later. How times have changed! The event has then been staged in every Olympics since excluding 1932 in Los Angeles.

However, women’s football was only officially introduced in 1996.

The football is likely to draw a big audience for sporting fans as some of the best teams and best players will be on show. It adds to an already exciting summer of the sport with the European Championships taking place in June in Poland and Ukraine.

There will be 16 teams in the mens tournament and 12 in the womens and each squad can have 18 players in.

The draw for the event will take place in nine days time, on the 24th April.

In the male game, the stadium will host five group games and in the women’s game, it will host four group games, a quarter-final and the bronze medal match.

The stadium will also host an Olympic Qualifier Play-Off between Oman and Senegal on the 23rd April 2012.

Take a virtual tour of the stadium in this video!

A Bit Of A Lull In Proceedings…

After a promising start, I’m afraid the athlete interaction has slowed down a bit.

However, I can promise you that I have some excellent athletes, who are from or train in the West Midlands ready to be interviewed, it’s just a case of ironing out a few minor details!

But, in the meantime, I have decided to expand the blog and inform you about what else is connected with West Midlands in regards to this summer’s Olympics.

So apologies for the recent lull in proceedings but I can guarantee that the entries will be coming thick and fast so keep your eye out for new entries!

Thanks,

Michael