Grubb, Tim – GB Olympic showjumper switched allegiance to USA

Tim Grubb (1954-2010)

Grantham-born Tim Grubb, represented Great Britain on their Olympic Show Jumping team on three occasions and rode in over 75 Nations’ Cups.

His riding history ran the gamut from Pony Club through foxhunting, steeplechasing, and finally showjumping when he started working for horse dealer John Massarella, the brother of British chef d’equipe Ronnie Massarella.

Riding Linky, he helped Team GB win the team silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with teammates Steven Smith and the Whitaker brothers, John and Michael. He also competed in the Alternate Olympics in Rotterdam in 1980, where the British team won a silver medal, and at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Following his marriage to US showjumper Michele McEvoy in 1978, he moved to the USA and became an American citizen in 1994.

In the years that followed, he represented the USA. at the 1994 World Equestrian Games, won the American Invitational, the Devon and the Hampton Classic grand prix, and the American Grand Prix Association Championship.

His mount, Denizen, w11on the AGA Horse of the Year title in 1993. Although he no longer rode competitively, Grubb had continued to be involved in the industry through his California-based company, Tim Grubb Training & Sales, which specialized in retraining and developing horses,

Grubb, who was divorced at the time of his death from congestive heart failure aged 55.