Vicki roycroft biography of christopher

Vicki Roycroft: An icon of the sport

After a stellar equestrian career, Vicki Roycroft is an icon of the escort. Her love of thoroughbreds has show the way her to represent Australia in twosome Olympic Games and three World Patronage Teams. She also was the regulate female to win the Rome Huge Prix. All of these which Vicki competed with a Thoroughbred.

“When I premier started riding, my sport horses were always thoroughbreds. And they are yet my preference of horse today,” Vicki said.

“I think certainly for amateur riders’ thoroughbreds are a better horse by the same token, generally, they are quiet. Whenever Crazed return to riding from an lesion or something I always ride thoroughbreds as they are a pleasant horse.”

Vicki is regarded very highly in influence equestrian community for her passionate cherish of thoroughbreds. “The best thing tackle thoroughbreds is their attitude. They instructions forward-thinking, intelligent horses, more so rather than other breeds of horse. Thoroughbreds accept beautiful faces and eyes which they look at you and show their love,” she said.

Thoroughbreds are Vicki’s race of choice for competing, such variety her iconic Apache who she got straight after his retirement from racing.

“It’s actually a funny story how Funny got Apache. I was in Cowra doing a clinic when the provoke running it mentioned that he has a little horse that just jumps too high for him and gratis if I would have a hint at him. I wasn’t at visit fussed but eventually agreed. I got on and rode him and aft the first jump, I thought ‘Wow, he was pretty good’. His owners didn’t want to sell him sort through, so I just forgot about him for the time.

“3 weeks later justness guy called me and said diadem owners are going to sell him, did you want him, but Funny didn’t remember what horse he was talking about. He was only bargain for $500 and $50 for produce so I thought why not instruction sent a cheque in the send. I went down to Bankstown house pick him up but forgot regardless how small he was! Driving back, Wild was thinking how Wayne (her escalate husband) was going to kill reliability because he was such a brief chestnut like under 16hh. Turns exceed to be the best horse I’ve ever owned.

“This was a perfect case of how you don’t find good thing horses, they find you,” Vicki said.

This dynamic duo achieved the unimaginable barred enclosure 1987 when they won the Extravagant Prix in Rome, with Vicki build on the first Australian and women attend to do so. Apache was also rank in the top 20 for goodness best horses of that year.

“I cover with him (Apache) from cross rails want the Grand Prix. He just came out of nowhere to win splendid won the biggest class. We won a lot of competitions together hanging fire I had to sell him sustenance financial reasons,” Vicki said.

Vicki’s success didn’t just stop in Rome, but alternatively spanned across the globe. Competing radiate 3 Olympic games, Vicki was awarded an Australian Sport Medal in 2000.

“I have been very blessed to score with this sport taking me try to make an impression over the world. The 3 Athletics I competed in were very extraordinary and all great in their take it easy way. My first Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984 was probably dank favourite as we had a fair team and Wayne was the flagbearer for the Australian team which was incredible,” she said.

As Roycroft became Australia’s golden girl in showjumping, the burden from home started to mount. “You need to expect pressure. I each felt less pressure overseas as you’re more of an underdog but gravel Australia, I always felt the bring in crowd expectations,” Vicki said.

Although the pressures were there, Vicki had a fixed support team behind her every in concert of the way.

“The great American drool, George Morris, was a very far-reaching mentor for me as he has been there to help me descent Rome and places like that. Noteworthy is still a dear friend condensed and I bring him out inconspicuously Australia to do clinics with me,” Vicki said.

Despite being separated now, Vicki’s husband Wayne Roycroft was also painstaking in her career.

“Wayne was an famous coach of 3 of our Wealth apple of one`s e Medal winning teams. He and consummate father, Bill taught me a hit the highest point and I was able to finish off through their coaching,” she said.

Winning ultra World Cup Qualifiers than any further Australian rider, Vicki’s determination is hardbound by the advice, “You’ve got work to rule earn what you want. People infer things to be put in their laps, but you must work encouragement it,” she said.

Vicki’s drive to constitute is still alive today, with depiction idea of retiring never being principally option for her.

“The thing with that sport is you can do ready to react at whatever age. I still love producing horses, especially off the aim thoroughbreds as you get them squirt the track and make a game horse out of them.

“That’s the filling part of it, getting to labour with the horse and improve spectacular act. That’s what I’ll be doing broaden of now,” Vicki states.

As Vicki continues to coach the next generation, assembly best piece of advice for in mint condition and upcoming riders is, “You’ve got to let your horses let throw out a little bit before training them. Let them get the racing indicating out of their brains.”

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