Tag Archives: In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Derek Liebenberg (RSA), 1960-2014

Derek Liebenberg (RSA), who has passed away at the age of 54, will be remembered for his life-long dedication to the sport of Endurance.

Lausanne (SUI), 10 October 2014 – Derek Liebenberg (RSA), FEI 4-star Judge and Technical Delegate, Chief Steward and Course Director, passed away on 8 October after losing his battle with cancer. He was 54 years old.

Affectionately known as Zulu, he was appointed as the FEI’s Regional Development Officer for Africa in 1998 and worked tirelessly to develop Endurance throughout Southern Africa from his home in Johannesburg.

He officiated at many FEI events around the world and at Championships in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. He was also FEI Chief Steward at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ Endurance test event last year, but was sadly too ill to attend the Games themselves this summer.

“Derek made a huge, life-long commitment to Endurance and its community, and we will be forever grateful for this,” said Ian Williams, FEI Director for Endurance.

“He will be remembered as the tall and imposing man in charge at the vet gates at Endurance events around the world, always prepared to help with a warm and ready smile for everyone.

“Zulu also played top-level rugby in South Africa before coming to equestrian sport. He will be sorely missed by those who witnessed his commitment to all types of sport.”

The FEI expresses its sincere condolences to Derek Liebenberg’s wife Caroline and his two daughters, Jannecke and Erin, to the South African Equestrian Federation and to the global Endurance community.

The service to remember Derek Liebenberg is on Monday, 13 October at 14.00 at Christ Church, 34 Gordon Road, Blairgowrie, Johannesburg.

FEI Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

In Memoriam: Jacques Schoufour (NED), 1927-2014

Jacques Schoufour (NED), honorary chairman of CHIO Rotterdam, who has died at the age of 86.

Lausanne (SUI), 19 August 2014 – Jacques Schoufour (NED), honorary chairman of CHIO Rotterdam, has passed away in hospital in Brasschaat (BEL) after a short illness. He was 86 years old.

Jacques Schoufour was born and grew up in Rotterdam and was a very well-known figure in the city. He was involved in the CHIO Rotterdam from the very first edition in 1948, but started in the equestrian world as a Cross Country fence judge. He also worked as a Dressage ringmaster before becoming secretary and finally chairman of CHIO Rotterdam.

In the first years after the war, the CHIO had a budget of 10,000 Dutch guilders and the event drew just a few thousand visitors. Thanks to Schoufour’s dedication and a great working partnership with his friend Daan Dura, the CHIO Rotterdam grew and developed into the world class equestrian event it is today.

Schoufour was president of the CHIO Foundation from 1978 to 1995 and attended the event every year, including the 66th edition in June 2014. The new restaurant at the show grounds, which was inaugurated in May of this year, is named the Schoufour Restaurant in his honour.

Jacques Schoufour was a member of the Jockey Club of Rotterdam at the Rotterdamsche Manege, venue for the CHIO, later joining the board of this traditional riding club, which is the oldest in the Netherlands at 177 years old. He was president of the Club from 1966 to 1979 and was made an Honorary Member after his retirement.

Jacques Schoufour was a hugely respected figure in the international equestrian world. In the 1980s he started the CSIO committee representing all major CSIO events and was also a former member of the Nations Cup committee. He represented the CSIO organisers at the FEI General Assembly for many years.

Jacques Schoufour was honoured many times in his life. In 2000, he was made an Honorary Member of the Dutch Equestrian Sports Federation (KNHS). In 2007, FEI President HRH Princess Haya presented him with the FEI Special Award in recognition of his outstanding services to equestrian sport and he was appointed an Honorary Delegate of the FEI. He was also a well-respected businessman, and was awarded a Knighthood by HRH Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands.

“Jacques Schoufour was a close friend and neighbour, who I will miss and never forget,” said FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos. “Jacques worked tirelessly for equestrian sport, and especially for CHIO Rotterdam, where his huge support has helped to bring the event to the truly international status it enjoys today. He nurtured the show from the outset and played a key role in its success. His passing is a tremendous personal loss, and the equestrian world joins me in wishing his family and many friends sincere condolences at this very sad time.”

Jacques Schoufour’s generosity of spirit extended beyond the equestrian world into art and culture. He and his wife Ingeborg Martin, who passed away in 2001, were passionate about art, with a special interest in sculpture. In May 2008, they donated their beautiful collection of late-medieval sculptures to the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. The collection included 60 sculptures dating from 1350 to 1500 from the Netherlands, France and Germany.

The FEI expresses its sincere condolences to Jacques Schoufour’s family and close circle of friends, to the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation and to all his friends in the equestrian community.

Media contact:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Denise Devillaire
Manager Press Relations
denise.devillaire@fei.org
+41 787 750 6157

In Memoriam: His Highness – Now the Fruits Are Harvested

His Highness. Photos: Kiki Beelitz.

His Highness’ Offspring Are Highly Successful in the Dressage World

Dorum, Germany – Aug 7, 2014 – Here comes the nostalgia: His Highness is now on everybody’s lips in the world of national and international competition. Not, however, as a protagonist, but rather as a stallion, as his offspring are now bringing him honor in the sporting world.

His Highness, a son of Hohenstein out of a dam by Donnerhall, was the Hanoverian licensing champion of 2002. He had to be put down at the age of 7 after a tragic accident, which was devastating to owners Louise and Doug Leatherdale, as well as to Jens Meyer’s breeding station in Dorum, Germany, where he had been stationed throughout his life.

His career had begun so strongly, as a stallion as well as a sport horse. Today – seven years after his death – it is certain that this stallion made a very important contribution to sport horse breeding in his mere five years of action.

His Highness’ progeny include 16 licensed stallions and 45 state premium mares, as well as an ever-increasing number of superior performers in upper level dressage. His sons Hampton and Haydn were finalists last year at the Nuremberg Burgpokal in Frankfurt.

Hampton, a His Highness son and finalist at the 2013 Nuremberg Burgpokal in Frankfurt
Hampton, a His Highness son and finalist at the 2013 Nuremberg Burgpokal in Frankfurt

His Highness’ offspring achieved a total of €138,165 in winnings by the end of 2013. More than 430 of them, the oldest of which are now 10 years old, are successful sport horses.

For example, Hendrix, a licensed son from a Regazzoni mother, won the Inter I dressage in Redefin this year and achieved an excellent third place finish in the Hamburg Dressage Derby. His Heini, a 10-year-old son of His Highness and Woermann, was, along with his rider Silvia Busch Kuffner, a serial winner in dressage competitions, earning the title of Oldenburg Reserve Champion as well as the Golden Riding Badge.

At the Nuremberg Burgpokal Tour this year, Holly made a name for herself. The daughter of His Highness out of a dam by Walt Disney qualified, along with her rider Bianca Baum, in Mannheim for this popular dressage series for young dressage horses.

Beyond that, we have Harley, Harry Potter, Heartbreaker, Helena, etc. etc. etc. – the list of His Highness’ successful offspring is long. Even in a completely different sporting sector, His Highness’ offspring make a splash: at the CHIO in Aachen, AHA, son of His Highness and Sunlight, was named the most successful vaulting horse this year.

Hannah, the 3-year-old daughter of His Highness out of a mare by Damsey, incidentally the only His Highness offspring of the year 2011, qualified as a state premium candidate for the Herwart von der Decken-Show in early August in Verden.

“His offspring simply have priceless values when it comes to readiness to learn, rideability and character,” reported Jens Meyer a bit nostalgically, and he looks forward to breeding even more.

Hendrix, a licensed His Highness son and 2014 Inter I dressage winner in Redefin
Hendrix, a licensed His Highness son and 2014 Inter I dressage winner in Redefin

About Leatherdale Farms

Situated 20 minutes from Minneapolis, MN, Leatherdale Farms is a privately owned farm owned and managed by Louise and Doug Leatherdale and dedicated to Hanoverian, Trakehner and Oldenburg breeding. The Leatherdale family owns several licensed stallions based in Germany at Hengstation Jens Meyer: Hanoverians Dorum, the premium elite, Damsey (Dressage Royal), First Dance (Florestan II), Rob Roy (Rubin Royale), Hampton (His Highness), Beltano (Belissimo M); the premium elite Trakehner, Herzensdieb (Tambour); and the Oldenburg Fairbanks (Flemmingh). Frozen semen is available in North America and Europe. Leatherdale Farms was also the owner of the Licensing Hanoverian stallion His Highness, who died in 2007 and whose progeny is much appreciated all over the world.

To learn about Leatherdale Farms stallions in Europe, go to www.jens-meyer.com.

For more information, go to www.leatherdalefarms.com.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/leatherdalefarmsworld.

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In Memoriam: Michael James Bullman (GBR), 1942-2014

Michael James Bullman (GBR), well-known horse owner and chef d’équipe, has passed away at the age of 72. (Kit Houghton/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 6 August 2014 – Michael James Bullman (GBR), well-known horse owner and chef d’équipe of the Great Britain and Hungary Jumping teams, has passed away at the age of 72 at his home in Hungary.

Michael Bullman was a man who lived for his passion and, in his own words, was a “lover of horses first, and a horseman second.” A former Vice-President of the British Show Jumping Association, he was also chairman of selectors, chef de mission and chef d’équipe, frequently alongside his great friend Ronnie Massarella.

Michael Bullman was a hugely successful owner and his stable produced not only unforgettable stars like Vital and Kruger but numerous brilliant horses such as Costello, Mark Two, Abbeyville, Bonneville, Stanford, Superville and Nightlife.

As mentor and great supporter of talents like Olympic Jumping rider Joe Turi (GBR), considered one of the greats of the 1980s generation, Bullman amassed a huge array of prizes at top-international level.

Turi established an enduring partnership with Bullman’s talented stallion Vital and was unlucky to miss out on the jump-off for an individual medal after a foot in the water at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988, where the British team finished sixth. Turi’s victory in the 1990 Hickstead Derby with Vital, beating the 1989 winner Nick Skelton, was one of Michael Bullman’s most cherished memories.

There were many other wonderful moments for this most generous of owners, including the British team gold at the European Championships in Rotterdam 1989, when Turi rode Kruger alongside John and Michael Whitaker and Nick Skelton. After reverting to ride for his native Hungary, Turi finished sixth in the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 1998 in Rome (ITA), riding the eight-year-old Epona Superville, a horse he owned jointly with Michael Bullman.

Thanks to Bullman’s support, Turi rode in more than 50 Nations Cups, 16 of them on winning teams. He qualified six times for the FEI World Cup™ Final, four times for Great Britain and twice for Hungary, scoring a top-10 finish in 1988.

In his later years, Michael Bullman lived mainly at the Hungarian residence he built together with Turi before Joe’s tragic death in 2003 at the age of 48 in a motorcycle accident.

British rider James Wingrave also formed a great partnership with Michael Bullman and Hungarian businessman Gáspár Gyula. After moving to Hungary in 2002 and taking Hungarian nationality three years later, Wingrave has ridden in more than 30 Nations Cup and represented Hungary at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2006 in Aachen (GER).

“There has not been a more fortunate person than me to have found patrons like Michael Bullman and Gáspár Gyula, with whom I have enjoyed so much success,” Wingrave said.

“Michael Bullman was one of the sport’s true gentlemen,” FEI Jumping Director John Roche said. “He was a real ambassador, both nationally and internationally, not just for the sport but also for the horse, his true love. He will be sadly missed.”

Michael Bullman is survived by his five brothers and one sister.

The FEI expresses its sincere condolences to Michael Bullman’s family, to the British and Hungarian equestrian communities and to all his many friends on the international circuit.

FEI media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Denise Devillaire
Manager Press Relations
denise.devillaire@fei.org
+41 787 750 6157

In Memoriam: Tommy Brennan (IRL), 1940-2014

Tommy Brennan (pictured here with his horse of a lifetime, Kilkenny) has died at the age of 74.

Lausanne (SUI), 23 July 2014 – Tommy Brennan, the legendary Irish Olympic event rider and championship course designer, has passed away after a short illness. He was 74.

Tommy Brennan was born in Kilkenny on 29 January 1940 and grew up on the family farm at Dunnamaggin, where his love of horses started at an early age. He hunted with the local Co Kilkenny Foxhounds every Saturday, learning the art of jumping big fences that would be so important in his later dual career in Eventing and Jumping.

After training in animal husbandry, he decided to further his equestrian and agricultural education by moving to Skiddoo Stud in Dublin. The young Tommy Brennan, or TB as he was known to so many, was given a key role in the operation and, not long afterwards, was running the stud and developing his famous partnership with a horse called Kilkenny.

Brennan and Kilkenny were successful in both Eventing and Jumping, and went on to represent Ireland at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964, finishing fourth in the Eventing, just outside the medals. The highlight of Brennan’s career came in 1966 when he and Kilkenny were on the gold medal team alongside Virginia Freeman-Jackson (Sam Weller), Major Eddie Boylan (Durlas Eile), and Penny Moreton (Loughlin) at the FEI World Eventing Championships at Burghley (GBR).

Kilkenny was then sold to the USA where he was ridden to continued success by Jimmy Wofford, including team gold at the 1967 Pan-American Games and team silver at both the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games.

Tommy Brennan was also instrumental in the early career of another great Irish-bred Olympic hero, the grey Ambassador, which went on to claim individual gold at the 1972 Games in Munich with the great Italian Jumping rider Graziano Mancinelli.

In 1968, Brennan became the first Irishman to be selected to compete in two disciplines at one Olympic Games, when he was named for both the Jumping and Eventing teams travelling to Mexico. Sadly, one month before the Games, his Jumping horse Tubber Mac broke a leg in a fall at the water at the Dublin Horse Show. Unbelievably, water played a major role in the Cross Country at Mexico too, with torrential rain causing the river at the second last fence to burst its banks. Brennan and his horse March Hawk bravely jumped in but were swept downstream in the raging torrent. The horse could swim, but Brennan couldn’t and he only survived by clinging onto the saddle until he was hauled out of the water by the then FEI President, HRH Prince Phillip.

Brennan notched up 67 international Jumping wins, and also claimed nine Irish National Championships on nine different horses at the Royal Dublin Society, home of the Dublin Horse Show. But his talents were not just on horseback. He also used his creative and artistic talents to produce stunning Cross Country courses around the world, drawing particular praise for his design of the European Championships course at Punchestown (IRL) in 1991 and 2003. He named the final fence on the 1991 course “They will rise again”, a quote from the Book of Kells, the gloriously illuminated religious book widely regarded as Ireland’s finest national treasure.

He helped countless riders over the years, particularly at junior and young rider level, and was also an inspirational chef d’equipe. Between 1981 and 1985, the Irish junior Eventing team won a gold, two silver and a bronze with Brennan at the helm. On occasion he also took on chef d’équipe duties for the senior Jumping squad, notably at the FEI Nations Cup™ in Linz (AUT) in 2007 when Ireland scored a hat-trick of wins that included Drammen (NOR) and Poznan (POL).

In 1985 Tommy Brennan was awarded the FEI Gold Badge of Honour and in 1997 he was entered into the Irish Sports Council Hall of Fame for Services to Equestrian Sport.

“Tommy Brennan was a real character, a legendary producer of top horses and a very talented course designer,” FEI Eventing & Olympic Director Catrin Norinder said. “His designs for the European Championships in Punchestown were brilliant. He always had a story to tell, and his many talents will be sadly missed.”

He is survived by his sister Kathleen (O’Neill), brother Peter, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. A huge crowd attended his funeral mass on 22 July, prior to his burial at Callan in his home county of Kilkenny.

The FEI expresses its sincere condolences to Tommy Brennan’s family and huge circle of friends both at home and abroad, to Horse Sport Ireland and the wider equestrian community.

FEI media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Denise Devillaire
Manager Press Relations
denise.devillaire@fei.org
+41 787 750 6157

In Memoriam: Hubert Bourdy (FRA), 1957-2014

Hubert Bourdy and Morgat competing at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games where they were on the bronze-medal winning French team. Bourdy has died at the age of 57. ©FEI/Kit Houghton.

Lausanne (SUI), 25 June 2015 – Hubert Bourdy (FRA), double Olympic medallist and world team Jumping champion, passed away yesterday at the age of 57.

Born in the town of Troyes in north-eastern France, Bourdy began riding at the age of 11 and embarked on a career as a professional rider when he was 23. He was first selected for the French Jumping team in 1983 and, in the two decades that followed, he scored a series of remarkable victories at top events including the Mediterranean Games, national and European Championships.

In 1988 at the Seoul Olympic Games, Hubert Bourdy aboard Morgat was on the bronze-medal winning French team alongside Jumping legends Michel Robert and La Fayette; Frédéric Cottier and Flambeau G; and Pierre Durand and Jappeloup, who went on to claim individual gold.

At the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992, Bourdy again took team bronze, this time riding Razzia du Poncel alongside Hervé Godignon (Quidam de Revel); Michel Robert (Nonix) and Eric Navet (Quito de Baussy).

Bourdy and his 1988 Olympic ride Morgat took individual bronze at the inaugural FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Stockholm (SWE), where he joined his compatriots Eric Navet, Roger-Yves Bost, and Pierre Durand to take the team title.

Bourdy continued his international career until 2009 with great horses like Toulon, Centino and Tenson. After retiring from the competition arena, he went on to manage his horse dealing business which became one of the largest in Europe. Thanks to his deep understanding of horses and good business sense, he discovered many talents, including such greats as Cyrenaika, Flèche Rouge, Olympic and Centino du Ry, which currently competes with Olivier Guillon. Through his extensive network, he attracted many international clients.

“The passing of Hubert is very sad news,” FEI Director of Jumping John Roche said. “He was a real character and a true horseman who has inspired many people. Despite his illness, he was still present at major FEI events, including the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Lyon in April and CSI4* Bourg en Bresse three weeks ago. His talent and sense of humour will be sadly missed.”

A minute’s silence was held at the Stade d’Ornano today immediately before the second Jumping competition at the test event for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.

The FEI extends its deepest sympathies to Hubert Bourdy’s family, his many friends in France and abroad, and the entire equestrian community.

Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

In Memoriam: General Piero d’Inzeo (ITA), 1923-2014

Piero d’Inzeo (ITA), who with his brother and teammate Raimondo were the first athletes in the world to compete in eight Olympic Games, is pictured on Uruguay at the Stockholm 1956 Olympic Games where he took individual bronze and team silver.

Lausanne (SUI), 20 February 2014 – General Piero d’Inzeo, one of Italy’s greatest Olympic Jumping champions, has died at the age of 90 in Rome, just three months after his younger brother Raimondo passed away.

The brothers, who were both military officers, were the first athletes in the world to compete in eight Olympic Games.

Piero d’Inzeo, who would have celebrated his 91st birthday on 4 March, won a total of six Olympic medals. At his first Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1956, he claimed individual bronze and team silver. He then won individual silver and team bronze at Rome in 1960, followed by team bronze at Tokyo in 1964 and Munich in 1972. At each of these Games, Piero and Raimondo shared the glory and special bond of team gold.

Piero d’Inzeo also won medals at four consecutive FEI European Championships. He took the individual title in 1959 at the Parc des Princes in Paris (FRA), individual silver at Aachen (GER) in 1958 and 1961, and shared silver with the legendary Hans Günther Winkler at London (GBR) in 1962, the same year that d’Inzeo won the prestigious Dublin Grand Prix in Ireland.

As well as his incredible medal haul, Piero d’Inzeo had a formidable international track record, winning numerous Grand Prix. He won the Aachen Grand Prix a record four times between 1952 and 1965, and it was not until 2013 that this impressive tally was matched by Great Britain’s London 2012 team gold medallist Nick Skelton.

To this day, Piero d’Inzeo also remains the rider with the most wins at the Rome CSIO in the famous Piazza di Siena (ITA), with a phenomenal total of 64 victories, seven of them in the Grand Prix.

On Piero’s 90th birthday last March, the Italian Defence General Staff awarded a joint medal of honour to the two brothers, Piero and Raimondo. Together they represented a golden age of Jumping and created an incredible equestrian and Olympic legacy for Italy. In recognition of Piero d’Inzeo’s Olympic contribution, his body was laid in state at the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) Hall of Honour, prior to his funeral this week.

“Piero d’Inzeo was an officer and a gentleman,” said John Roche, FEI Director Jumping. “With his brother Raimondo he accomplished great things. The world has lost a great horseman.”

Media contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

In Memoriam: Brian Burgess (GBR), 1931-2014

Brian Burgess (GBR), Vice President of the Malawi Equestrian Federation and President between 2001 and 2003, who has passed away at the age of 82. He is pictured riding Maestoso Capriola. (Photo: Burgess family)

Lausanne (SUI), 11 February 2014 – Brian Burgess (GBR), Vice President of the Malawi Equestrian Federation and President between 2001 and 2003, has died at the age of 82. He passed away peacefully just before his 83rd birthday at home with his family on the Zomba Plateau in Malawi, where he had lived for nearly 40 years.

He took up Dressage while working as an officer in the British army and police force in the 1970s, and his passion for the discipline led him to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna (AUT) where he was trained by Hans Riegler (GER) and Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg (AUT).

He moved to Malawi in 1953, and with his wife Jayn Burgess (GBR), daughter Zoe Kayes (MAW), Deborah Murphy (GBR), Katherine Paul (GBR) and Diane Pieterse (RSA) founded the Malawi Equestrian Federation. He also set up the Plateau Stables, Malawi’s first Dressage instruction and residential training centre, with a string of Lipizzaners.

During the 1980s and 1990s, he travelled extensively in neighbouring countries to judge and train riders, and also further afield including to New Zealand.

“My father lived an exceptional life doing what he loved best,” commented his daughter Zoe Kayes and President of the Malawi Equestrian Federation. “He was also a keen musician, which was part of his love for Dressage and rhythm. Certainly for myself I have not only lost a father but my trainer and my mentor. He was a huge inspiration for us all in the Dressage community here in Malawi and will be very sorely missed.”

The FEI extends its sincere condolences to Brian Burgess’ family, to the equestrian community in Malawi and to his many friends around the world.

Media contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

In Memoriam: Pedro Oscar Mayorga (ARG), 1921-2014

Pedro Oscar Mayorga (left), former FEI Honorary Vice President and Bureau Member, who has passed away at the age of 93. He is pictured here with HRH Prince Philip, FEI President from 1964 to 1986.

Lausanne (SUI), 8 January 2014 – Pedro Oscar Mayorga, former FEI Honorary Vice President and Bureau Member, passed away peacefully on 6 January 2014 surrounded by his family at home in Buenos Aires. He was 93.

A Jumping rider, an Olympian, a chef d’équipe, and an official at the highest level of the sport, Mayorga was the longest serving FEI Bureau member, having joined in 1956 as the first ever Latin American representative on the Bureau.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1921, the year in which the FEI was created, Pedro Oscar Mayorga began competing in equestrian events in his native city at the age of eight and was a two-time national junior champion. In 1947 he met top rider Elena Argañaràz on the Jumping circuit and they married eight months later. Together they competed at FEI events in Europe and America throughout the 1950s. They had five children, three of whom – Eduardo, Juan Francisco and current FEI Second Vice President Pablo Mayorga – are involved in equestrian sport.

In 1955 and 1959, Mayorga was on the Argentinean Jumping team at the Pan American Games in Mexico City (MEX) and Chicago (USA), but probably his most significant achievement as an athlete was the fourth place of his country’s team in the Jumping competition at the Stockholm 1956 Olympic Games. This remains the best Olympic placing by an Argentinean equestrian team to date.

In the late 1950s, Mayorga combined riding and the role of chef d’équipe and in 1960 he was chef d’équipe of the Argentinean team which won the historic Aga Khan trophy at the Dublin Horse Show in Ireland. He was also chef d’équipe at the Olympic Games in Rome the same year.

Between 1962 and 1976 he was Technical Delegate in Jumping and Eventing, President of the Ground Jury in Jumping, and a member of the Appeal Committee at key events, including four Olympic Games – Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972, and Montreal 1976.

In 1956, while walking the Jumping course in Aachen (GER), he was told that the then FEI President HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands would like to meet him. Shortly afterwards Pedro Oscar Mayorga became an FEI Bureau member. From 1965 he held the position of Second and then First FEI Vice President until he stepped down in 1981. “The Bureau will not be the same without you,” HRH Prince Philip, FEI President from 1964 to 1986, wrote to Mayorga upon his retirement.

“The passing of Pedro Oscar Mayorga comes as very sad news to us all,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya said. “He was a talented rider, a successful chef d’équipe, a much respected official, the longest serving FEI Bureau member and Vice President, and a real gentleman whom I admired very much. He dedicated his long life to serving our sport and the contribution he has made in his various roles is truly exceptional Our thoughts are with his family and especially with our dear friend, FEI Second Vice President Pablo Mayorga, at this time of mourning. Pedro Oscar Mayorga’s legacy will live on through his son.”

“I believe I will never be able to contribute to our FEI as much as my father did during his 25 years as Bureau Member and Vice President,” Pablo Mayorga said.

The FEI extends its sincere condolences to Pedro Oscar Mayorga’s family, to the Argentinean equestrian community and to all his many friends around the world. May he rest in peace.

Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

In Memoriam: Peter Stoessel (SUI), 1944-2013

Peter Stoessel, former president of CSIO5* St Gallen, who has passed away at the age of 69. (c) Valeria Streun.

Lausanne (SUI), 6 January 2013 – Peter Stoessel, longtime president of CSIO5* St Gallen and successful Swiss businessman, passed away on 26 December 2013 after a short illness. He was 69.

Born in 1944, Stoessel completed his higher education at the internationally renowned University of St Gallen in 1970 and entered Switzerland’s high-class department store Globus as a personal assistant to the company’s CEO. Eight years later, he created MS Mail Service AG, a visionary business idea that quickly developed into a leading marketing services company and a major employer in the region. Today the business has a staff of 2,000 and generates an annual turnover of over CHF 100 million.

Apart from his business interests, Peter Stoessel was very involved in the social and cultural life of his native region. He was the founding member and longtime president of the Swiss Dialogue Marketing Association and organiser of the New Orleans Meets St Gallen Jazz Festival. But he was perhaps best known as the president of one of the leading FEI events, CSIO5* St Gallen, which he chaired for 25 years from 1987 to 2012.

Thanks to his management qualities, his outstanding work ethic, his diplomatic approach and his meticulousness, he developed the equestrian event held in the beautiful Gruendenmoos stadium into a first-class sporting and social occasion.

In 2012, after careful planning, Peter Stoessel stepped down as president of CSIO5* Switzerland in favour of his daughter Nayla, who organised her first edition of the event at the end of May last year.

In addition to being an exceptional organiser, Stoessel was also a passionate breeder of Arabian horses.

“Peter’s death comes as a shock to us all and leaves a great void in our lives,” said FEI Jumping Director John Roche. “He was a friend and a visionary. He will be remembered for his kindness, wonderful sense of humour and extremely positive approach to life from which we have all profited. During this difficult time our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones, especially his daughter Nayla and son Milo.”

Peter Stoessel’s funeral took place today, Monday, 6 January 2014, in the St Gallen cathedral.

The FEI extends its sincere condolences to Peter Stoessel’s family, to the Swiss equestrian community and to all his many friends around the world. May he rest in peace.

Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133