Stuart Tinney OAM Inducted into NSW Hall of Champions

Wendy Cohen,

Stuart joins an illustrious list of sportsmen and women in NSW to be honoured including such greats as Don Bradman, Dawn Fraser, Shane Gould, Dally Messenger and our sport's own Andrew Hoy, Neale Lavis, Judith Mackay, Laurie Morgan, Wayne Roycroft and Matt Ryan.

This year only four champions across a variety of sports were inducted, the others being Sophie Muir for inline and ice speed skating, Rebecca Gilmore for diving and Nathan Smith for surf lifesaving.

Stuart told the appreciative crowd he was very honoured to be recognised by the Minister and the Hall of Champions in this way and paid tribute not only to his equine partners during his career but his wife, Karen, and daughters Jaymee and Gemma.

Stuart Tinney is one of Australia’s most successful and respected riders. Starting at the age of 8 mustering cattle and riding at pony club, Stuart has now represented Australia as an elite athlete for over 20 years. He has competed 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 victorious three-day eventing team at the Sydney 2000 Games. This was the third consecutive Olympics in which Australia had won this this event. Stuart, on the much loved 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. At the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Stuart and Jeepster competed in both the team and individual events, coming 6^th in the team competition.

Stuart has competed at three World Equestrian Games - 1998, 2002 and 2010. At the 2010 Games in Kentucky, USA, he was the highest placed Australian, coming 8^th in the Individual Eventing. Stuart has won three prestigious Australian International Three Day Event titles in 2000, 2009 and 2011 in the four star category, the highest level of international eventing.  In 2009 he also won the three star class at Puhinui in New Zealand

Stuart Tinney is one of the most highly regarded athletes, horse trainers and equestrian coaches in Australia. He is a champion for equestrian sport in the local region, developing world class horses on home soil, supporting international level events around the country and nurturing future Olympians.

Stuart is currently campaigning at international level with his goal being selection for next year’s World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France and then, beyond, a shot at representing Australia again at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.