Jon Doney, one of the world’s top jumping officials, has died in hospital in Great Britain after a short illness. He was 71.
Jon was born in 1949 in Stroud in Gloucestershire, GBR. He started riding at an early age and was a regular riding out with the Duke of Beaufort Foxhounds, but his interest in and subsequent love for the jumping discipline came initially from his older sister.
His multiple roles included as show organizer and judge at the national level before he became an FEI official, going on to officiate at the world’s most respected events, including at iconic venues such as Barcelona, Aachen, Verona, Rome, Dublin and London Olympia.
His interest in course design was sparked in the 1960s as a 21-year-old when he accompanied renowned designer Pamela Carruthers to North America to watch the fall circuit indoor shows at shows at Washington, New York and Toronto. He later took over as designer at Hickstead after her retirement. As his reputation on the international circuit flourished, he was ultimately appointed as course designer for the FEI World Equestrian Games in The Hague (NED) in 1994 ‒ one of three WEGs he was involved in during his long career. He also officiated at three FEI European Championships ‒ Italy, Great Britain and Germany ‒ in 2015 as president of the ground jury. He officiated at five Nations Cup Finals in Barcelona and the World Cup Finals at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2012 and Gothenburg in 2016. He also acted as jumping judge for the the Badminton CCI5* on several occasions.
He officiated at the Seoul 1988 Olympics and was both a member of the jumping ground jury and the eventing jumping judge at the London 2012 Olympics. He was due to officiate at his third Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 as president of the ground jury before his tragic passing.
Jon also acted as Technical delegate and president of multiple Appeal Committees at top events all over the globe. He was recognized for his services to the sport when he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2014.
“We are devastated to hear of Jon Doney’s tragic passing,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “He was phenomenally experienced in all his roles and officiated at an incredible number of top level events. He will be remembered for all that, but also for his talent as a great raconteur that would have all around him rocking with laughter. He was such a charismatic and cherished member of the FEI Family and we will miss him enormously. An incredible soul has been stolen from us.
Jon leaves his wife, Mary, and their family, as well as an enormous circle of friends on the international circuit.
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