EQUESTRIAN VICTORIA
LIFETIME SERVICE TO EQUESTRIAN SPORT – NEIL CLINTON
EVENTING | INDUCTED 2023
Neil has been involved with horses all his life. As a 3rd generation horseman, he was a boy rider champion as a 6 yo at Melbourne Royal riding Shetland ponies. He was always competitive and rode successfully at Pony Club where he was a member of Eltham PC and represented Australia in the Inter Pacific Championships.
Way back before the OTT initiative he would purchase horses just off the track and start campaigning them in both show jumping and eventing in the same season. In those days there were only limited eventing competitions so all horses were taken on the jumping circuit between events.
He was a pretty fair eventer too – short listed for the Mexico Olympics, he ultimately made the decision to focus on his career. Hence the new chapter of officialdom began. Neil really enjoyed working as a TD, particularly in his relationship with riders, where he was known to be tough, but fair. The riders understood that he was always willing to listen to their concerns, would join in any fooling around but when it came to rules and safety, there was never any compromise.
Neil felt privileged to receive the recognition from the FEI and international OCs that enabled him to officiate as the first non-European to TD the European Championsips and work as an International Technical Official at 4 Olympic Games. He has been the TD at the Asia Pacific Games/Championships, and officiated in the US, Ireland, the UK and as a senior international TD in every state in AustraliaPerhaps though, his greatest satisfaction has been the opportunity to mentor and support our National Officials.