he has done at lexmark nick skelton, ta kes has done at lexmark nick skelton, takes the gold for greatindsor show, the 59—year—old. the curtain ona windsor show, the 59—year—old. the curtain on a long and distinguished career. i have been competing internationally for 43 years and i just thought now was the right time after rio, it was time to call day. yeah, ithink after rio, it was time to call day. yeah, i think sunday will bring it all back to me a little bit. maybe shed a few tears? i'm going to try not to but we will see. skelton has had decades of success, then to seven 0lympic had decades of success, then to seven olympic games and even ove rca m e seven olympic games and even overcame a broken neck. his right—hand man says the secret to all of that is simple. he is a worker. he is not only the top jockey that he will do anything, he will cut the lawns, wash the lorries out. he is not frightened of work. if nick says he is coming to ride at seven, he is their dead on at seven. he is never that at five past seven, he is out seven. but as anyone will tell you, aggression is not e

olympic showjumping champion nick skelton says he's proud of what he's achieved in showjumping aftery bowing out from the sport at the royal windsor horse show. skelton appeared with olympic gold medal winning partner big star at a public ceremony in the show‘s castle arena, in the presence of her majesty the queen. the 59—year—old has won a host of medals, including two olympic golds, a world championship silver, and three european golds. i have had some wonderful horses. and without the great owners, that i have had, and the sponsors and the staff, everybody has really contributed towards my career. even the lads but i compete against, they've kept me on my toes through my life and i'm very grateful to them. i'm very proud of what i've done. that's all from sportsday. i'll be back with more sport through the evening here on the bbc news channel. from celebrated novelist to poet. michel faber‘s success has come with some long books, like the crimson petal and the white, and, more recently, the book of strange new things, which is science fiction. but after the death of his wife, eva

the partnership created headlines last summer when skelton won gold at his seventh 0lympics aged 58.ea rs old really. i got him when he was five years old and he has been a tremendous horse right from the word go. he is right at the top. he is like one of the family. he has been here all of those years in that same box. no one else goes in that box, it's his. such a good partnership. he said when big star retired, so would he, and he did. consecutive gold medals, all they went through. aged 58. he said it is time to go out when they are both on the top of their game. and we will hear more from the defending champion. excellent staff. an amazing story that we were talking about yesterday. the average survival time in cold water is two hours, a surfer who was stranded in the irish sea, 13 miles from land survived for more than 30 hours. how did he do it? it gets more and more incredible the more i hear it. matthew bryce from glasgow has been described as being "lucky to be alive." he's now recovering from hypothermia in hospital in belfast. so, what does it take to survive such extreme

all—time greats with an impressive medal haul including two olympic golds, we've been speaking to nick skelton he and his brilliant stallion big star prepare to bow out. here's helen with a look at this morning's weather. a bit damp but a bit warm? yes, a bit damp buta bit warm? yes, a mixed bag. it is needed rain across eastern areas in particular. it is a really positive picture today. particularly with what's coming our way for the new week so stay with us. this was sent in from norfolk, showing the rain to start the day. it has already cleared in northern ireland, wales, the south—west of scotla nd ireland, wales, the south—west of scotland that it will hang into the south—east for the next couple of hours. mid—morning, by the time most of us finished breakfast getting out for a stroll, it should have cleared. it should take rather longer across the north—east of scotla nd longer across the north—east of scotland and linger in the isles for the afternoon but on the whole, once it clears away, it will be a much, much brighter prospect for scotland from lunchtime on. there are showers alread

and double olympic champion nick skelton and his horse, big star, both retired from showjumping today the london games in 2012. is there a new kind of politics emerging. the vote to leave the eu cut across the political lives and elsewhere established parties are facing challenges. in the first of a series on the changing face of uk politics, are home editor has been to liverpool and sunderland to examine the old left right divide. sunderland used to be shipbuilder to the world. a new vessel slipped into the world. a new vessel slipped into the water every nine days at one time, but the globalisation that created this proud city is still seen created this proud city is still seen by many locals as a threat. they are selling us down the river. i'm passionate about sunderland. the welcome tarver and would once have been packed with merchants and sailors buying beer with the profits of international trade but now custom comes from the struggling neighbourhood just beyond its door. 0n the river, you would see nothing but ships. fishing boats, there was that many. gone. nothing. we have to