Harvey Smith (equestrian)

Harvey John Smith (born 29 December 1938) is a retired British show jumping champion. He stood out from the ranks of showjumpers because of his broad accent and blunt manner. His career was often controversial: in 1971 he was disciplined (overturned on appeal) after he gave a "V sign" to the judges following a near-perfect round which won him the British Show Jumping Derby for the second year in succession;[1] this act also earned him a 'tongue-in-cheek' part in an advertisement for Victory V sweets with the slogan 'They've got a kick like a mule!' The expression "Doing a Harvey Smith" entered the English language for giving a V sign.[2]

Harvey Smith
Harvey Smith (1974)
Personal information
Born (1938-12-29) 29 December 1938
Gilstead, West Yorkshire, England
Home townBingley, England
Sport
SportEquestrianism
Event(s)Show jumping
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Equestrian
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place1970 La BauleIndividual show jumping
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place1963 RomeIndividual show jumping
Silver medal – second place1967 RotterdamIndividual show jumping
Silver medal – second place1971 AachenIndividual show jumping
Silver medal – second place1977 ViennaTeam show jumping
Silver medal – second place1983 HicksteadTeam show jumping

Early life

Harvey John Smith was born on 29 December 1938 in Gilstead, England, to Walter and Ethel Smith who wanted him to "continue the family tradition and work in the construction industry with his older brother John". He rode his first pony at seven, and competed in his first show in 1947 at 8 years old on a local farmer's milk pony. He wasn't fond of school and preferred to spend his time outdoors with animals, and bought his first jumping horse Farmer's Boy in 1954.[3]

Show jumping career

Smith competed in two Olympics—riding Summertime to 4th place for Great Britain in the Team jumping competition at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, he rode Madison Time to 11th place in the Individual jumping and 8th place for Great Britain in the Team jumping.[4]

Harvey will always be remembered for the immense contribution he made to the sport, not only as the ultimate showman, but as an Olympian who represented his country with fierce patriotism and whose desire never to be beaten drove him to win more than 50 grands prix, four Hickstead Derby titles, six championship medals and a swathe of prestigious trophies. —Jennifer Donald, Horse & Hound 2020 [5]

Smith won the John Player Trophy, the grand prix of Great Britain, seven times.[5]

In 1989 Smith was honoured for being the first man to have jumped in 100 Volvo World Cup Qualifying Rounds.[6][5]

He retired from show jumping competition in 1990.[5]

  • War Paint, 1962
    War Paint, 1962
  • Harvester, 1967
    Harvester, 1967
  • Evan Jones, 1971
    Evan Jones, 1971

Other activities

Smith became so famous that he embarked on a brief, but unsuccessful, singing career. In 1975 he released a record with picture sleeve called True Love/End of the World on Handkerchief HANKY 3.[5]

He later became a television commentator for the British Broadcasting Corporation, doing equestrian coverage at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

During the 1970s in his spare time he competed in professional wrestling.[5][7]

In 1990, after retiring from show jumping competition, Harvey joined with wife and trainer Sue Smith, a former showjumper herself, to form a racing team at their Yorkshire base, Craiglands Farm.[8] Their charge Auroras Encore won the 2013 Grand National.[5]

Bibliography
  • Smith, Harvey (1972). V is for victory. London: Kimber. ISBN 978-0-7183-0372-3. OL 5451861M.
  • Smith, Harvey (1976). Harvey. London: Arrow Books. ISBN 978-0-09-913700-9.
  • Smith, Harvey (1979). Show jumping with Harvey Smith. London: Stanley Paul & Co. ISBN 0091368405. OL 4479426M.
  • Smith, Harvey; Green, Victor (1984). Harvey Smith on Show-Jumping. Michael Joseph. ISBN 0720714737.
  • Smith, Harvey (1985). Bedside Jumping. Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-218182-2. OL 9907843M.

Personal life

Harvey Smith is married to Sue Smith and they reside at Craiglands Farm.[5][9] He has two sons Robert and Steven, with his previous wife Irene, who have also become equestrian champions.[5]

References
  1. Lemon, Laura (23 June 2022). "Throwback Thursday: The Year Of The Harvey Smith Salute". The Chronicle of the Horse. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  2. Smith, Harvey (14 August 2009). "15 August 1971: Harvey Smith's V-sign". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  3. Richmond, Tom (28 December 2018). "Harvey Smith turns 80 - the Yorkshire sporting legend on a life no like no other with horses". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  4. "Olympedia – Harvey Smith". Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  5. Donald, Jennifer (17 September 2020). "Legends of the sport: 'Outspoken and phenomenal' showjumper Harvey Smith". Horse & Hound. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  6. "The London International Horse Show Olympia". Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  7. Garfield, Simon (1997). The wrestling. London: Faber and Faber. p. 53. ISBN 0571190669. OL 17417681M. Harvey Smith was another very good turn. He was strong, and loved wrestling as a boy. He used to go to all the venues round the Ilkley Moors, near Bradford. He didn't have to wrestle, but he loved it. We travelled all over in his top of the range Mercedes and wrestling was all he ever wanted to talk about. And he was good in the ring, strong legs, jutting jaw, loved a good scrap and the public loved him.
  8. Longmore, Andrew (2 April 2000). "Mr and Mrs Smith's Fling". The Independent. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  9. Chadband, Ian (2 April 2014). "Grand National 2014: Harvey Smith remains a grumpy national treasure as he and wife Sue tilt at Aintree history". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 October 2023.

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