OBITUARIES
JEAN-MAURICE BONNEAU
THE French medal-winning rider, coach and chef d’equipe has died aged 64.
The Bonneau family said they had lost “a father, grandfather, brother, and coach, so dear to us”, on 18 March.
“He made equestrian history through his knowledge and love of horses. He was a role model for many, his energy and good humour pulled many of us to the top. He illuminated our lives with his presence, he leaves a huge void,” they said.
Mr Bonneau was born in Vendée, France. He started riding aged 12, and followed his brothers Jean-Pierre and André into an equestrian career. He trained with Hubert Thirouin and Daniel Constant, setting up on his own in 1984.
He was part of the French showjumping team from 1987 to 1996, and in 1995 won team bronze at the European Championships on Urlevent Pironnière. The following year he retired to concentrate on coaching.
Mr Bonneau was the French showjumping team coach and chef d’equipe from 2000 to 2006. He led the team to gold at the 2002 World Championships and silver a year later at the Europeans.
He was coach to the Brazilian team from 2011 to 2015, and to elite riders including Kevin Staut and Phillippe Rozier. Mr Bonneau was a member of the FEI jumping committee, and most recently sports advisor and a selector for the International
Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) young riders’ academy.
“Before becoming a friend, you were one of the first who believed in me by giving me a chance, when you were coach of the French team,” said rider Simon Delestre.
IJRC director Eleonora Ottaviani said: “Jean-Maurice expressed his outstanding talents both as an international rider and as a top trainer, and as a point of reference in the training and development of young talents and champions.
“His victories and medals, sporting achievements and organisational capabilities will never be forgotten. But above all, he will be remembered as a sincere friend whose sensitivity and enthusiasm sustained the highest values of ethical sport and the welfare of horses.”
GRIZEL SACKVILLEHAMILTON
THE judge, trainer and organiser who put her heart into helping fellow riders has died at the age of 99.
Grizel’s love of horses came from her father, Colonel Cecil Alexander Boyle. Her early years were spent in India, riding her beloved chestnut pony Jimmy to school each day.
Her father died when she was 16. Back in Britain, Grizel found a wartime role in radar units, directing British and misdirecting German planes.
Although she was privileged, life was hard, which helped build her strength of character and determination to strive always to do the right thing, and help those in need.
Grizel married her soulmate James, Lt Col James Barclay Sackville-Hamilton, in 1947. Much of her life was armybased, and led to extensive travelling, though Grizel enjoyed her years of equestrian training in Europe with her horse Mona Lisa.
Always keen to work towards list one as a British Dressage judge, Grizel was respected and admired for her fairness in providing a level playing field.
Grizel was presented with a British Riding Clubs (BRC) life president’s award in 2003 in recognition of outstanding service to the riding clubs movement, having first joined in 1970. Grizel served on the BRC national executive committee. She was a riding club master judge, and Riding for the Disabled Association regional instructor.
Grizel put heart and soul into helping local riding club members achieve goals they could only have dreamed about, travelling the length and breadth of the country. Nothing was ever too much trouble.
Grizel ran Northern Horse Show Dressage for many years, raising many thousands of pounds for local charities.
Grizel was devoted to her husband and her four children, who were all taught to ride on Hamish, a cheeky Shetland.
The family finally settled in Acklam, North Yorkshire, when James retired in 1970.