On the red carpet as befits a family of champions! L- R Jaymee, Gemma, Karen, Stuart, Paula (Stuart’s sister) and Stuart’s father Brian
Congratulations to one of our favourite riders and Australian Olympic gold medallist, Stuart Tinney, who was inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions by the Hon. Graham Annesley MP, NSW Sport Minister at a ceremony held at Sydney Olympic Park yesterday.
Those of you who have read the book An Eventful Life will know that Stuart may be the 'quiet man' of the sport (often referred to as the 'ice man' for keeping his cool under pressure) but he is also a true champion. He has represented Australia as an elite athlete for over 20 years, competing in team and individual eventing at two Olympic Games, three World Equestrian Games and three Trans-Tasman championships.
Stuart won an Olympic gold medal as part of the Australian three-day eventing team at the Sydney 2000 Games. He was riding Jeepster (who sadly passed away in April this year aged 26), was the only Australian-based member of the team and was the best ranked of all our riders in the event
Stuart has also competed at three World Equestrian Games - 1998, 2002 and 2010; at the 2010 Games in Kentucky, USA, he was the highest placed Australian, coming 8th in the Individual Eventing. Stuart has won three prestigious Australian International Three Day Event titles in 2000, 2009 and 2011
As well as being one of the most highly regarded athletes, horse trainers and equestrian coaches in Australia, Stuart is one of the nicest guys you could meet and his knowledge never ceases to amazes us when we get a chance to spend time with him walking a course or talking about riding. As they say, behind every great man is a great woman and in Stuart's case, he has three as his wife Karen and daughters, Jaymee and Gemma are very much a part of the Tinney Eventing success
Stuart is currently aiming for selection for next year’s World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France and then at representing Australia again at the 2016 Olympics in Rio
More about the evening at the NSW Hall of Champions coming up in our Tinney family blog
