David Broome

For the Real World contestant, see David Broom.

David Broome
CBE
Broome c. 1974
Personal information
Born1 March 1940 (1940-03) (age 84)
Cardiff, Wales
Height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight76 kg (168 lb)
Sport
SportEquestrianism
EventShow jumping
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1960 Rome Individual jumping
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Mexico Individual jumping
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1960 Venice Individual jumping
Gold medal – first place 1970 La Baule Individual jumping
Gold medal – first place 1978 Aachen Team jumping
Bronze medal – third place 1982 Dublin Team jumping
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Stockholm Team jumping
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1961 Aachen Individual jumping
Gold medal – first place 1967 Rotterdam Individual jumping
Gold medal – first place 1969 Hickstead Individual jumping
Silver medal – second place 1977 Vienna Team jumping
Gold medal – first place 1979 Rotterdam Team jumping
Silver medal – second place 1983 Hickstead Team jumping
Silver medal – second place 1991 La Baule Team jumping
Broome on Sportsman in 1975

David McPherson Broome CBE (born 1 March 1940) is a retired Welsh show jumping champion. He competed in the 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1988 Olympics and won individual bronze medals in 1960 on Sunsalve and in 1968 on his best-known horse Mr Softee.[1] In 1960, he was also voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and at the 1972 Games served as the Olympic flag bearer for Great Britain.[2]

Broome was born in Cardiff, attended Monmouth School, and still maintains his stables at Mount Ballan Manor, Crick, near Chepstow in Monmouthshire. He held the individual European title in 1961, 1967 and 1969. In 1970, he won the world title and became Western Mail Welsh Sports Personality of the year. He turned professional in 1973, and in 1978 helped the British team to win the world championship. Broome has won the King George V Gold Cup a record six times on six different horses between 1960 and 1991, a record yet to be equalled.[1] He has enjoyed most of his success on Irish Sport Horses and he has said his favourite horse of all was Sportsman. Broome's sister, Liz Edgar, was also a top-class showjumper.[3]

Broome is still active in the administration of the sport. In 2013, he became president of the British Showjumping Association.[4]

Broome was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1970 Birthday Honours, and promoted to Commander of the same order (CBE) in the 1995 Birthday Honours, on both occasions for services to showjumping.[5][6]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference sr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference sr2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Liz Edgar (28 April 1943 – 25 April 2020)". British Showjumping. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference r2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ United Kingdom list: "No. 45117". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 June 1970. p. 6374.
  6. ^ The United Kingdom:"No. 54066". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 16 June 1995. p. 8.