https://wiki.sarg.dev/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=46.208.100.47Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]2026-08-07T20:53:39ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.44.2https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Harvey_Smith_(equestrian)&diff=582780Harvey Smith (equestrian)2025-01-08T11:04:39Z<p>46.208.100.47: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{short description|British show jumping champion}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}<br />
{{Infobox sportsperson<br />
| name = Harvey Smith<br />
| image = File:Harvey Smith (1974).jpg<br />
| image_size =<br />
| alt =<br />
| caption = Harvey Smith (1974)<br />
| sport = [[Equestrianism]]<br />
| event = [[Show jumping]]<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1938|12|29|df=y}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Gilstead|Gilstead, West Riding of Yorkshire, England]]<br />
| death_date =<br />
| death_place =<br />
| hometown = [[Bingley|Bingley, England]]<br />
| website =<br />
| show-medals = yes<br />
| medaltemplates =<br />
{{Medal|Country|{{GBR2}}}}<br />
{{Medal|Sport | [[Equestrianism|Equestrian]]}}<br />
{{Medal|Competition|[[World Equestrian Games|World Championships]]}}<br />
{{Medal|Bronze|[[Show Jumping World Championships|1970 La Baule]]|Individual show jumping}}<br />
{{Medal|Comp|[[European Championship]]s}}<br />
{{Medal|Bronze|[[European Show Jumping Championships|1963 Rome]]|Individual show jumping}}<br />
{{Medal|Silver|[[European Show Jumping Championships|1967 Rotterdam]]|Individual show jumping}}<br />
{{Medal|Silver|[[European Show Jumping Championships|1971 Aachen]]|Individual show jumping}}<br />
{{Medal|Silver|[[European Show Jumping Championships|1977 Vienna]]|Team show jumping}}<br />
{{Medal|Silver|[[European Show Jumping Championships|1983 Hickstead]]|Team show jumping}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''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;<ref>{{Cite web| title = Throwback Thursday: The Year Of The Harvey Smith Salute |work=The Chronicle of the Horse| accessdate = 2023-10-08| url = https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/throwback-thursday-the-year-of-the-harvey-smith-salute/ |first=Laura |last=Lemon |date=June 23, 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Harvey |date=2009-08-14 |title=15 August 1971: Harvey Smith's V-sign |url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/aug/15/harvey-smith-shows-v-sign |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Early life ==<br />
<br />
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.{{r|turns80}}<br />
<br />
== Show jumping career ==<br />
<br />
{{Expand section|date=October 2023}}<br />
{{External media |width=150px |video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb-7u0ivM40 Harvey Smith riding Graf] in a [[puissance]] competition at [[Horse of the Year Show|HOYS 1977]]}}<br />
Smith competed in two [[Summer Olympics|Olympics]]—riding ''Summertime'' to 4th place for Great Britain in the [[Equestrian at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Team jumping|Team jumping]] competition at the [[Equestrian at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Olympics]] in [[Munich|Munich, Germany]]. At the [[Equestrian at the 1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Olympics]] in [[Mexico City]], he rode ''Madison Time'' to 11th place in the [[Equestrian at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Individual jumping|Individual jumping]] and 8th place for Great Britain in the [[Equestrian at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Team jumping|Team jumping]].{{r|olympedia}}<br />
<br />
{{blockquote |text=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 [[Grand Prix show jumping|grands prix]], four [[Hickstead Derby]] titles, six championship medals and a swathe of prestigious trophies. —Jennifer Donald, ''[[Horse & Hound]]'' 2020 {{r|hh}}}}<br />
<br />
Smith won the John Player Trophy, the grand prix of Great Britain, seven times.{{r|hh}}<br />
<br />
In 1989 Smith was honoured for being the first man to have jumped in 100 Volvo [[Show Jumping World Cup|World Cup]] Qualifying Rounds.<ref>{{Cite web| title = The London International Horse Show Olympia | accessdate = 2023-10-08| url = https://www.solarnavigator.net/sport/olympia_the_londo_international_horse_show.htm}}</ref>{{r|hh}}<br />
<br />
He retired from show jumping competition in 1990.{{r|hh}}<br />
<br />
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150"><br />
File:Laatste dag CHIO te Rotterdam, Bestanddeelnr 914-2565.jpg|''War Paint'', 1962<br />
File:CHIO te Rotterdam. Europese kampioenschappen springruiter Nummer 1 Kaptein Weier, Bestanddeelnr 920-6540.jpg|''Harvester'', 1967<br />
File:CHIO in Rotterdam, Harvey Smith op Evan Jones in actie, Bestanddeelnr 924-8862.jpg|''Evan Jones'', 1971<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
== Other activities ==<br />
<br />
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.{{r|hh}}<br />
<br />
He later became a television commentator for the [[British Broadcasting Corporation]], doing [[Equestrian at the 1984 Summer Olympics|equestrian]] coverage at the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] in [[Los Angeles]].<br />
<br />
During the 1970s in his spare time he competed in [[professional wrestling]].{{r|hh}}<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = Faber and Faber| last = Garfield| first = Simon |author-link=Simon Garfield | title = The wrestling| location = London |title-link=The Wrestling | date = 1997 |isbn=0571190669 |ol=17417681M |page=53 |quote=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.}}</ref><br />
<br />
In 1990, after retiring from show jumping competition, Harvey joined with wife and trainer [[Sue Smith (trainer)|Sue Smith]], a former showjumper herself, to form a racing team at their Yorkshire base, Craiglands Farm.{{r|fling}} Their charge [[Auroras Encore]] won the [[2013 Grand National]].{{r|hh}}<br />
<br />
== Bibliography ==<br />
* {{Cite book |publisher = Kimber |isbn = 978-0-7183-0372-3 |last = Smith |first = Harvey |title = V is for victory |location = London |year= 1972 |ol=5451861M}}<br />
* {{Cite book |publisher = Arrow Books |isbn = 978-0-09-913700-9 |last = Smith |first = Harvey |title = Harvey |location = London |year= 1976}}<br />
* {{Cite book |publisher = Stanley Paul & Co |isbn = 0091368405 |last = Smith |first = Harvey |title = Show jumping with Harvey Smith. |location = London |year= 1979 |ol=4479426M}}<br />
* {{Cite book |publisher = Michael Joseph |last1 = Smith |first1 = Harvey |last2 = Green |first2 = Victor |title = Harvey Smith on Show-Jumping|year=1984 |isbn=0720714737}}<br />
* {{Cite book |publisher = Collins |isbn = 978-0-00-218182-2 |last = Smith |first = Harvey |title = Bedside Jumping |year=1985 |ol=9907843M}}<br />
<br />
== Personal life ==<br />
<br />
Harvey Smith is married to [[Sue Smith (trainer)|Sue Smith]] and they reside at Craiglands Farm.{{r|hh|grumpy}} He has two sons [[Robert Smith (equestrian)|Robert]] and [[Steven Smith (equestrian)|Steven]], with his previous wife Irene, who have also become equestrian champions.{{r|hh}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist|2|refs=<br />
<br />
<ref name="fling">{{Cite web| title = Mr and Mrs Smith's Fling| work = The Independent| accessdate = 2023-10-08| date = 2 April 2000| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/mr-and-mrs-smith-s-fling-280826.html |first=Andrew |last=Longmore}}</ref><br />
<br />
<ref name="grumpy">{{Cite web| title = Grand National 2014: Harvey Smith remains a grumpy national treasure as he and wife Sue tilt at Aintree history| work = The Telegraph| accessdate = 2023-10-08| date = 2014-04-02| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/grand-national/10740057/Grand-National-2014-Harvey-Smith-remains-a-grumpy-national-treasure-as-he-and-wife-Sue-tilt-at-Aintree-history.html |first=Ian |last=Chadband}}</ref><br />
<br />
<ref name="hh">{{Cite web| last = Donald| first = Jennifer| title = Legends of the sport: 'Outspoken and phenomenal' showjumper Harvey Smith | work = Horse & Hound| access-date = 2023-10-08| date = 2020-09-17| url = https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/plus/features-plus/legends-of-the-sport-outspoken-and-phenomenal-showjumper-harvey-smith-hh-plus-725282}}</ref><br />
<br />
<ref name="olympedia">{{Cite web| title = Olympedia – Harvey Smith| accessdate = 2023-10-08| url = https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/12759}}</ref><br />
<br />
<ref name="turns80">{{Cite web| title = Harvey Smith turns 80 - the Yorkshire sporting legend on a life no like no other with horses| work = Yorkshire Post| accessdate = 2023-10-08 | url = https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/harvey-smith-turns-80-the-yorkshire-sporting-legend-on-a-life-no-like-no-other-with-horses-175681 |first=Tom |last=Richmond |date=28 December 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Further reading ==<br />
* {{Cite AV media| work = [[At The Races]] | title = Harvey and Sue Smith - Legends of Horse Racing| accessdate = 2023-10-08| date = 2019-12-18 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KnyX9kOdpk |via=YouTube}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/competitionnews/390/297807.html Horse & Hound]<br />
<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
{{Commons category}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Harvey}}<br />
[[Category:1938 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Sportspeople from Bingley]]<br />
[[Category:Olympic equestrians for Great Britain]]<br />
[[Category:British male equestrians]]<br />
[[Category:Equestrians at the 1968 Summer Olympics]]<br />
[[Category:Equestrians at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]<br />
[[Category:British show jumping riders]]<br />
[[Category:English male equestrians]]<br />
[[Category:English male professional wrestlers]]<br />
[[Category:Sportspeople from Yorkshire]]</div>46.208.100.47