OBITUARIES
PENNY POLLARD
THE former British Dressage (BD) chairman died on 31 January aged 63, following a long illness with cancer.
Mrs Pollard started riding as a child at the Fulmer School of Equitation near Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. She and her husband Keith Humphrey spent time living and working in Dublin, where her mentor was Joan Keogh, who played a major role in putting dressage on the map in Ireland.
On returning from Ireland, Mrs Pollard moved her horses Corky and Buccaneer to international rider Peter Storr’s yard and later bought Holme Grove Bernini, whom she competed at prix st georges. She and Hermione Black bought Royal Concert for Peter to ride as a youngster, before he was taken on by Maria Eilberg and competed at grand prix. Mrs Pollard later gave her share in “Rico” to Maria.
Mrs Pollard was an established international business consultant, which she combined with her passion for dressage. She was BD marketing director for six years and in 2013 was elected BD chairman. In 2018, she was forced to stand down from her position owing to her illness.
BD chief executive Jason Brautigam said Mrs Pollard leaves a “great legacy” professionally, and personally, as someone who “always gave so generously and selflessly to others”.
“Penny had her own unique style and a great sense of fun.
She was one of those people who would brighten any room with her positivity and effervescent personality. Even in her darkest days, she was never without a smile and enjoyed nothing more than laughing with friends and colleagues,” he said.
“Penny tackled adversity with the same optimistic outlook and courageous spirit that she lived her life, with an inspirational determination and positive energy that we could all learn from. We are all very grateful to have had Penny in our lives, but also thankful that she is now finally at peace.”
She is survived by her husband Keith.
JOHN FREDERICK BLAKE CARPENTER
THE much-loved showjumping supporter died on 20 December, aged 75, after a short illness.
From an early age, Mr Carpenter was involved in sport, but recently he was a familiar figure on the junior jumping circuit watching grandsons Morgan, Iwan and Owen in competition.
Mr Carpenter was a proud Welshman, his parents Frederick and Zilla owned Sun Valley holiday camp on the north Wales coast and his first memory of ponies was riding his own to school. However, although competitive, it was horsepower of a different nature that Mr Carpenter first excelled at. He drove high-end go-karts and, until around 10 years ago, he held the lap record on the Isle of Man.
He married Sue in February 1967 and their children David and Clare rode ponies and competed, David especially inheriting his father’s competitive spirit.
The Carpenter team was strengthened further when David married Amanda Potts, also a successful showjumper.
In addition to managing his firm Cats & Pipes (catalytic converters), Mr Carpenter remained a constant source of support at the ringside. He supported the local British Showjumping area 19 committee and hosted shows at Holywell and through Cats & Pipes.
He was a generous sponsor at local and national level and supported the Scope Festival for more than 20 years.
Mr Carpenter, affectionately known as “Taid” or Granddad
John, guided his grandsons’ showjumping journey from national to international level, and from ponies to horses. He was there to drive, support, advise and walk every course, his words of wisdom never merely confined to his grandsons, but to every rider who asked his advice.
He was never happier than at the ringside, and was particularly proud when Morgan was a member of Great Britain’s children-on-horses team in Austria in 2012, followed by Iwan at Fontainebleau in 2018.
He is survived by Sue, his children and grandsons.