Alan Oliver
Alan Oliver
Alan Oliver
1932 - 2006
1932 - 2006
Alan Oliver was far better known as an international show jumper but he also rode successfully in point-to-points and managed three wins under National Hunt rules.
Alan Oliver was far better known as an international show jumper but he also rode successfully in point-to-points and managed three wins under National Hunt rules.
Alan Arthur Jack Oliver was born in Kimble Wick, Buckinghamshire on September 8, 1932, the son of a farmer. A beanpole of a lad, he first emerged on the adult show jumping scene when aged just eleven, riding his father’s horses and a hunter on loan from a garage owner, Harry Payne.
Alan Arthur Jack Oliver was born in Kimble Wick, Buckinghamshire on September 8, 1932, the son of a farmer. A beanpole of a lad, he first emerged on the adult show jumping scene when aged just eleven, riding his father’s horses and a hunter on loan from a garage owner, Harry Payne.
Both his size and his acrobatic style made him easily recognizable. He would throw himself forward at the take-off, allowing the horse to jump with no weight on their back. That ‘weight out of the saddle’ technique was hardly copybook style but it was certainly effective.
Both his size and his acrobatic style made him easily recognizable. He would throw himself forward at the take-off, allowing the horse to jump with no weight on their back. That ‘weight out of the saddle’ technique was hardly copybook style but it was certainly effective.
By his late teens and early twenties Alan had a quartet of top-class horses to ride, all of them owned by Harry Payne, comprising Red Admiral, Red Star II, Galway Boy and John Gilpin. With their help, Alan was Leading Show Jumper of the Year in 1951, 1953 and 1954.
By his late teens and early twenties Alan had a quartet of top-class horses to ride, all of them owned by Harry Payne, comprising Red Admiral, Red Star II, Galway Boy and John Gilpin. With their help, Alan was Leading Show Jumper of the Year in 1951, 1953 and 1954.
Red Star II was the first of Harry Payne’s really great show jumpers. Between 1946 and 1955 he was regularly among the biggest winners and represented Great Britain in London and Geneva in 1951.
Red Star II was the first of Harry Payne’s really great show jumpers. Between 1946 and 1955 he was regularly among the biggest winners and represented Great Britain in London and Geneva in 1951.
Red Admiral was probably the best horse Alan ever rode. He was Leading Jumper of the Year at the 1953 Horse of the Year Show. They were involved in a memorable duel with the German Olympic captain, Fritz Thiedemann, in the 1954 King George V Gold Cup at White City. Time had not yet been introduced as the deciding factor in a jump-off, so the two riders completed five rounds in an atmosphere of mounting tension before Thiedemann prevailed on Meteor. Alan also rode Red Admiral to victory in the Fred Foster Puissance in 1955, 1957 and 1958.
Red Admiral was probably the best horse Alan ever rode. He was Leading Jumper of the Year at the 1953 Horse of the Year Show. They were involved in a memorable duel with the German Olympic captain, Fritz Thiedemann, in the 1954 King George V Gold Cup at White City. Time had not yet been introduced as the deciding factor in a jump-off, so the two riders completed five rounds in an atmosphere of mounting tension before Thiedemann prevailed on Meteor. Alan also rode Red Admiral to victory in the Fred Foster Puissance in 1955, 1957 and 1958.
On Galway Boy, Alan won the Walwyn Cup in 1954 and the Peal Cup at Badminton in 1955. He rode John Gilpin to win the B.S.J.A. National Championship in 1959.
On Galway Boy, Alan won the Walwyn Cup in 1954 and the Peal Cup at Badminton in 1955. He rode John Gilpin to win the B.S.J.A. National Championship in 1959.
Alan had already been a top show-jumper for 14 years when he was only 25 years of age. It was around this time, during the late 1950s and early 1960s, that he combined his show-jumping activities with riding in point-to-points and occasionally under National Hunt rules.
Alan had already been a top show-jumper for 14 years when he was only 25 years of age. It was around this time, during the late 1950s and early 1960s, that he combined his show-jumping activities with riding in point-to-points and occasionally under National Hunt rules.
Riding for Stratford-on-Avon owner-trainer Michael Marsh (later to become associated with dual Whitbread Gold Cup winner Larbawn) Alan’s first win under NH rules came at Newbury on March 4, 1960 when riding Ace Pot II to dead-heat with George Small on Devon Customer in the Snelsmore Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.
Riding for Stratford-on-Avon owner-trainer Michael Marsh (later to become associated with dual Whitbread Gold Cup winner Larbawn) Alan’s first win under NH rules came at Newbury on March 4, 1960 when riding Ace Pot II to dead-heat with George Small on Devon Customer in the Snelsmore Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.
Twelve days later, he was involved in another close finish on Ace Pot II, this time getting up in the last stride to pip Ron Harrison’s mount Kedar by a short-head in the Skeynes Novices’ Chase at Lingfield.
Twelve days later, he was involved in another close finish on Ace Pot II, this time getting up in the last stride to pip Ron Harrison’s mount Kedar by a short-head in the Skeynes Novices’ Chase at Lingfield.
He continued to ride in point-to-points throughout the early 1960s but his appearances under rules became rarer. He did, though, achieve one more victory, again for Michael Marsh, on Jungle Cry in the Stratford Handicap Chase at Warwick on February 29, 1964, this time winning by a comfortable four lengths.
He continued to ride in point-to-points throughout the early 1960s but his appearances under rules became rarer. He did, though, achieve one more victory, again for Michael Marsh, on Jungle Cry in the Stratford Handicap Chase at Warwick on February 29, 1964, this time winning by a comfortable four lengths.
When Alan retired from competitive show jumping, he became much in demand as an International Course Designer.
When Alan retired from competitive show jumping, he became much in demand as an International Course Designer.
Alan Oliver died in Dunstable, Bedfordshire on September 10, 2006, aged 74.
Alan Oliver died in Dunstable, Bedfordshire on September 10, 2006, aged 74.
Alan Oliver’s wins were, in chronological order:
Alan Oliver’s wins were, in chronological order:
1. Ace Pot II, Newbury, March 4, 1960 (dead-heat)
1. Ace Pot II, Newbury, March 4, 1960 (dead-heat)
2. Ace Pot II, Lingfield Park, March 16, 1960
2. Ace Pot II, Lingfield Park, March 16, 1960
3. Jungle Cry, Warwick, February 29, 1964
3. Jungle Cry, Warwick, February 29, 1964
