Posted: 2nd July 2019 | Back to news feed
Olympic riders don their running shoes to race in memory of Tim Stockdale
Olympic gold medallists Nick Skelton and Laura Kraut are among the equestrians who’ll be switching riding boots for running shoes at Hickstead later this month.
The pair are among the entrants for the first ever #10forTim run, an event taking place on the Saturday night of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Great Britain meeting (24-28 July).
This charity run is being held in memory of showjumper Tim Stockdale, who sadly died last November at the age of 54, just one month after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. It is hoped that the runners taking part in the event will raise a target of £50,000 – all of which will be donated to the Tim Stockdale Foundation.
Photo: Tim Stockdale competing at Hickstead in 2016 © Craig Payne
Skelton and Kraut are just a few of the famous faces taking part. Showjumping brothers Shane and Trevor Breen will be going head-to-head with their rival teams, while Guy Williams – a dual international winner at last week’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting – will be setting out to prove if he’s as fast against the clock on foot as he is on a horse.
The officials from the sport will be facing off against the riders, with a team led by British Showjumping’s Performance Manager Di Lampard, while another team made up of equestrian commentators will also be sprinting for that finish line. Horse & Hound reporters are used to chasing riders for a quote, but now they’ll be chasing them round Hickstead’s iconic Longines International Arena, while a team from Hickstead’s security specialists WH Security will also be seeking glory in this fun run event.
“It’s a measure of how popular Tim was that we’ve attracted such a stellar field of would-be runners for this race,” says Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn, who is also fielding a team of runners from the show office. “It’s also apt that the race is taking part at the Longines Royal International Horse Show. Tim was a regular member of the British team in the Hickstead leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup series, plus one of his proudest moments was winning the Longines King George V Gold Cup here in 2010.”
While the team spaces for the #10forTim run are now filled, individuals who wish to take part can enter by emailing lizzie@hickstead.co.uk, and they will be allocated a space on an existing team providing they can pledge to raise a minimum of £250.
So if you fancy overtaking an Olympian or two, now is your chance. Each team of up to 10 runners must run 10 perimeter laps of the Longines International Arena, with each lap being around half a mile long. “Expect it to be fast and furious – showjumpers are known for their competitiveness – plus as a relay race it’s going to be more of a sprint than a marathon pace!” adds Lizzie.
Tickets for the Longines Royal International Horse Show are on sale now from www.hickstead.co.uk.
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