2006
Mr Tim Stockdale (deceased)
HonMSc in recognition of his major contribution to the equine world.
Tim, has not only enjoyed significant success as a show jumper but has also helped raise the profile of sport through numerous media appearances. The honour reinforced his strong links with NTU's School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences. He has shared his expertise with students via industrial placements and has also contributed to the School's programme of lectures and demonstrations.
Nottinghamshire-born Tim – and his horses – have featured regularly in the Great Britain Nationals Cup squad. He embarked on the road to international honours at the age of seven when his riding talents were first spotted at Nottinghamshire's Grove Pony Club.
On leaving school he went straight to work with horses at Mike Saywell's yard in Retford and then seized the opportunity to work as second rider to the show jumper, Graham Fletcher. He then gained further valuable experience by working with and training under two other noted professionals, John Taylor and Lutz Meyerding.
In 1990 he struck out on his own with six horses at a rented yard. His key breakthrough had come two years earlier when he won a major competition at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on his horse Supermarket. More success followed and in 1993 he was selected for the British team which beat the rest of the world in the Nations Cup event in Hungary. Stockdale-trained horses have since gone on to become star performers in Europe's top show rings. In 1996 alone Tim won no fewer than six Grand Prix events.
Now with his own yard in Northamptonshire, Tim has also risen to fame through significant media appearances. He was the subject of a Channel Four documentary on show jumping and featured in the Faking It show and raised substantial sums for Sport Relief via the Only Fools on Horses celebrity challenge.