Ollie T interview

LEC

LEC

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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/p...ownend-gold-top-for-milkmans-son-7778769.html

Bit of an odd article that has caught my attention. Do not want to get into Ollie bashing but my feelings are that yes he might not be going to London but he made the choice to sell in order to have his own property and financially he has done pretty well out of the Olympics with Master Rose and a few others who were all qualified but were never going to be Team GB material being sold.

So many have had to sell horses - Lucinda and Clayton, Emile Chandler etc all to get a foot on the property ladder and Ollie providing he can pay the mortgage is set for life which a lot cannot say the same about.
 
Very interesting article and I think you're right. It's all about choice, Mary King's certainly sold a few of her's too to fuel other things. If that choice is then regretted, well it's on that one person and one person only.

Money makes the world go round (and pays for things like a house, or a pension), an Olympic medal doesn't, at the end of the day. Well certainly not in equestrian sports, other sports, maybe, possibly - look how much Jess Ennis is appearing at the moment in terms of sponsorship deals. And I can't believe athletics has as high a running cost as running an event yard does...
 
It comes across a bit 'woe is me, worked so hard from nowt' when he's been riding at a high level since he was a young teenager. Not doubting he didn't work hard, but when you're 17 and doing **, you have serious financial backing...
 
Ollie does like to portray this 'I came from nothing with no backing and parents couldn't support me' image - but his father rode at Burghley and he SJed at a high level as a kid before eventing!

It makes me smile every time I read it!
 
Well he's not doing himself any favours this week is he? What with this and the story in Latest News.

Equestrianism likes those who inherit do they? What did Mary King inherit exactly? Except a huge amount of talent, driving amibtion AND (take note Mr Townend) the personality to deal with the setbacks with the same grace as she deals with the triumphs. That article just makes him come over as another Yorkshireman with a big chip on his shoulder
 
And also in reference to the link in latest news, I don't know of many event riders driving the car he apparently has...
 
what on odd article, I don't think his wins have ever been 'brushed under the carpet' because 'they felt he was different' :confused: olympic selection has nothing to do with your background or whether your face fits.
 
teapot said:
And also in reference to the link in latest news, I don't know of many event riders driving the car he apparently has...
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Well I do........but hey i'm only an event groom.
Love how everyone takes whats written in the papers as gospel, I'm not an Ollie groupie BUT i work in eventing so see it for a different angle.
As for doing two star at 17... so must be from moneyed family....rubbish.
As for being done for drink driving he is a complete MUPPET of the highest order!!!!!!!!!!!
 
'I don't know of' probably wasn't the best turn of phrase, I meant more of terms of it wouldn't seem like the most practical car. And maybe plenty do, but I can't see it being a first choice of car, that's all. And I don't think anyone's taking anything for gospel...

ETS: they're not as expensive as I thought they were (or certainly used to be) so never mind. Shall bow down to your knowledge.
 
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teapot said:
Well maybe plenty do, but I can't see it being a first choice of car, that's all. And I don't think anyone's taking anything for gospel...
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Could he not be sponsored by mercedes.........?
Oh yes we don't know so just summise that he has bought it himself, in fairness does it really matter he was drink driving the madel of car doesnt matter!!!! Oh and if he does own it its his money ......so I'm guessing he can spend it how he likes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
yes but if that is the case you then can't moan about not being able to go to the olympics because you are from a poor background, and your sport doesn't pay you enough to retain the horsepower you need. (if that is in fact what was said obv)
 
Oh dear - am I to be shot down in flames for being a big Ollie fan? Yes, he does come across as having a chip on his shoulder; however I admire his work ethic and what he has achieved. I don't admire him any more than I do other heros such as Mary King, WFP etc. and definitely don't believe everything I read in the papers! Can't wait to see who makes the team :D
 
Kiribati_uk said:
Could he not be sponsored by mercedes.........?
Oh yes we don't know so just summise that he has bought it himself, in fairness does it really matter he was drink driving the madel of car doesnt matter!!!! Oh and if he does own it its his money ......so I'm guessing he can spend it how he likes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Well then he can't moan for being overlooked for the Olympics or saying his successes have been ignored when he's made the choice of selling horses to fulfill a certain lifestyle. Plus an article in the Daily Mail of all places, is not going to help his 'woe is me' attitude, going by that Independent column.

Which is the point of Lec's thread I think :)
 
teapot said:
Well then he can't moan for being overlooked for the Olympics or saying his successes have been ignored when he's made the choice of selling horses to fulfill a certain lifestyle. Plus an article in the Daily Mail of all places, is not going to help his 'woe is me' attitude, going by that Independent column.

Which is the point of Lec's thread I think :)
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I'm saying we dont know the facts, you were saying he had a flash car but now he is moaning cos he cant go to olympics cos he sold all is best horses, you/me don't know who the car belonged to!
But he is one of the hardest working eventers around and to own/run a place like Gadlas farm is brill at under 30!!
 
I think the point is to own a place like that comes at a price - whether that's working mega hours in the city so you don't have a life outside work or selling good horses.
 
well put SC.

You do know that if you sell your horsepower then you are reducing your chances of selection and accept that for what else you get.
 
I didn't think the article came across that badly??

I think it is quite a fair point, he's a top athlete but he needs a horse of equal ability to match him in order to succeed. Sadly, he has to make the decision to sell his top horses, in order to survive ... but that lessons his chances of being as good an eventer as he could be. I don't think that sounds spoilt, but just realistic for the sport?
It does seem very unfair that footballers and other sporting stars are paid so much, when horse riders at the very top of their game aren't, although I'm sure that is true of a lot of sports. The same could be said for actors.

As for Oli's face not fitting, I didn't take it to mean British Eventing per say, but the general media? If he was a footballer or rugby player or even tennis player, then there would have been a big deal about it. The press has sports that fit and get the media attention, and those that don't.
Eventing is one of the UK's best sports, in terms of ability world wide and reliability for medals ... but how many ordinary people know the names of any horse riders? I'm not saying eventers should be elevated to football standard ... but I know the names of far more footballers than I'd really like to, because the media force them down our throat.

Obviously Zara gets the media attention because of the royal connection, I'm sure if she was just some girl working hard to event, then she wouldn't.

I'm sure Oli has had a lot of support, and I haven't always agreed with how he rides, but I think he's improved a lot in the last few years, and I respect how hard he works to make a living.

Sorry my post went off on a slightly unrelated tangent :p general gist - I didn't think it was too bad an article about him, I thought he just came across as being realistic about how the sport is? But I haven't seen whatever is in latest news. So maybe that will skew my opinion :p
 
Kiribati_uk said:
Well I do........but hey i'm only an event groom.
Love how everyone takes whats written in the papers as gospel, I'm not an Ollie groupie BUT i work in eventing so see it for a different angle.
As for doing two star at 17... so must be from moneyed family....rubbish.
As for being done for drink driving he is a complete MUPPET of the highest order!!!!!!!!!!!
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Well, that's not what I said. I said that he's not come from nothing and his family wasn't exactly scraping their last pennies to allow him to have a weekly riding lesson off the lady down the road...
 
Lolo said:
Well, that's not what I said. I said that he's not come from nothing and his family wasn't exactly scraping their last pennies to allow him to have a weekly riding lesson off the lady down the road...
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absolutely, and the chances of a kid from a poor background getting to ride at 2* at 17 are very very slight, tbh.
i thought it was a weird article, but of course there's no way of knowing how much of it he actually said...
 
I am not a massive fan as he seems to have problem spams with fitness of some of his horses and badminton 2011 was horrendous. I do however, applaud his business acumen and he is a grafter. I didn't really read him as complaining about his lot, more that that is is eventing is not nearly as well paid as some of the more popular sports.
 
At least the article achieved what all good articles that involve horses should do and mention Zara quite a few times.

I guess if footballers could chop of their feet and sell them there would be a few talented but legless footballers around..... oh wait....
 
Ollie has the restless energy of the driven but perhaps he has difficulty in knowing exactly what he's driven by.
Who knows the context of some of the quotes in the article .
He's a prize idiot to get caught drink driving that's what taxis are for.
 
I dont see what the problem is ,a few people always want to knock Ollie.
I am not sure if they are jealous or what! I think 95% of people on here would have done the same if they had the chance.He has worked hard all his life to achieve what he has, it has not been on a platter for him and he got the breaks because of his talent for riding horses and no other reason.KC does not have idiots as stable jockey and how many of you criticising would have the guts to take on a yard at 21 and work your butt off to make it pay.
I have said it before on here ,I personally do not know anybody else in eventing I would trust more and tell you straight about your horse.He has always taken on horses nobody else would touch and get results from them.This sometimes makes people antagonistic towards him ,I always think very similar to the way Martin Pipe was viewed in racing when he first came on the scene.
 
ester said:
olympic selection has nothing to do with your background or whether your face fits.
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This is either very tongue in cheek or very naive! I dont know which.Ask a few of the riders just under the radar!PF would be a prime example in my eyes at the Europeans YB was nearly choking talking about the medal!
 
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I think Oli's comments about his face not fitting stems from experiences in team situations where he has felt looked down upon.
To me the article didn't read that he was complaining as much as he was saying it how it is. He said that he is more proud of his farm than any of his wins. He just says he can't survive just by competing as he doesn't have family money. Everyones concept of not being rich is different and 11+ years ago there would have been more less well off young people competing at 2* as qualifications were less and juniors went round Windsor. They were not all well off.
He may not be everyone's cup of tea and he has certainly made mistakes but he also has a lot of good qualities.
Perhaps he has a point - some of his team mates are given God-like status and any less than perfect behaviour is glossed over.
 
oldvic said:
He may not be everyone's cup of tea and he has certainly made mistakes but he also has a lot of good qualities.
Perhaps he has a point - some of his team mates are given God-like status and any less than perfect behaviour is glossed over.
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I was amazed how much I liked him and his attitude when I went to the Harthill open day recently as I have never been his biggest fan. He worked his butt off and was very approachable too.

As to God like status, is £5000 to do a clinic for college students without your own horses the normal charge as that's what one of 'the Gods' who can never be criticized wanted for three hours work? Given their own humble beginnings that seemed a bit harsh; needless the say, the college did not book them.
 
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