Doney’s legacy

We pay tribute to Jon Doney, a highly-respected FEI official and an important part of Hickstead's team for many years 

Jon Doney web.jpg

A new class has been added to the schedule at this year's Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting. On Sunday, a few hours before the Al Shira’aa Derby itself, qualified riders will come forward for the Doney Championship, a 1.20m class held in honour of our former President of the Ground Jury, Jon Doney. It is a fitting tribute for a man whose life revolved around showjumping, who loved fostering talent, who played a big role in making Hickstead such a success.

Two years ago, early in the Covid-19 pandemic, when events were being cancelled and entire countries were going into lockdown, devastating news reached us that Jon had succumbed to the virus. He had been such an important part of the Hickstead team, and tributes immediately came from the Bunn Family, fellow officials and countless riders.   

“Jon was such a special person and an invaluable member of the team,” says Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn. “Aside from his obvious brilliance as a course designer and judge, his planning and attention to detail was second to none, and his knowledge of the rule book was encyclopaedic.  He loved Hickstead and all its traditions, and he was in his element holding court with the foreign judges and officials – usually with a glass of white wine in hand! We miss him terribly.”  

Jon Francis Doney was born on January 29th 1949, and he grew up in Stroud in Gloucestershire. He hailed from a horsey family, with his mother Beryl and sister Jackie both keen competitors – but while Jon was happy to build courses for his sister at home, he wasn’t always keen on being dragged off in the horsebox all day to various shows! He used to hunt with the Duke of Beaufort, but never competed himself, once telling British Showjumping magazine that he realised he was never going to be good enough, and nor did he want to be shown up by his far more talented family members.

Jon had left school and was already working in his father’s carpentry shop when he was introduced to Pam Carruthers at Ascot Show – a meeting that was to shape the course of his life and career. Pam was a pioneer in the course designing world, and had been instrumental in developing Hickstead alongside our founder, Douglas Bunn.

Pam was to prove to be a superb mentor. While he’d never sought out success in the show ring as a rider, Jon quickly fell in love with the design and technical side of showjumping. After his initial course design training with June Nuttall, his father arranged for him to come to Hickstead to assist Pam at various high profile international shows. For his 21st birthday present, Jon's parents paid for him to go to New York, Washington and Toronto with Carruthers, cementing his passion for working in the sport. “From there quite literally the world became his oyster, and instilled in him was Pam’s attention to detail,” says Nick Brooks-Ward, who had known Jon very well. 

From those early days assisting at Hickstead, sleeping in his car and earning just £5 per week, Jon would go on to officiate at countless shows in Britain and abroad, including HOYS, Olympia, Badminton, Burghley and Royal Windsor. But the All England Jumping Course always remained special to him throughout his illustrious career. When Pam retired after 30 years of service, Jon took over from her as Chief Course Designer here, a position he held for many years until his switch to the judges’ box following a hugely successful European Championships in 1999.

It is a measure of how highly regarded Jon was that he was asked to be the course designer for the FEI World Equestrian Games in The Hague in 1994, the first of many championships he was to officiate at. “He was instrumental in changing the design of fences to represent the region and country – his bicycle fence, now seen at Spruce Meadows, is probably the most influential fence in showjumping,” adds Nick Brooks-Ward. “That one fence has cost more riders more money than any other.”

Alongside working as a course designer, Jon had also qualified as a judge. Deciding to become more extensively involved in the officiating side, he started climbing the FEI ladder to become one of just six course directors in the world, a top-level international judge and technical delegate.

Jon’s extensive CV included three FEI World Equestrian Games, and a further three FEI European Championships - San Patrignano, Windsor and Aachen. He officiated at five Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Finals in Barcelona, and two FEI World Cup Finals. After officiating at his first Olympics in Seoul in 1998, Jon was a member of the Ground Jury at the London 2012 Games. He was extremely honoured to have been appointed by the FEI as President of the Ground Jury for the Tokyo Olympics, although sadly this was not to be.

After his death, a statement from British Showjumping confirmed how much the honour had meant to Jon: “He very much saw the appointment as being the pinnacle of his career to date. His commitment to ensuring he was fully prepared for the role was clearly evident to all that knew him, and he would have without doubt delivered it superbly.”

Jon was the only person in the world to hold O status (to officiate at either an Olympic Games or World Championship) as a Course Designer, Technical Delegate and Judge. He was immensely honoured when he was awarded an MBE for his services to equestrianism in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in June 2014.

Jon gave an extraordinary amount of time to our sport in a huge number of ways. From its base at Aldershot, he ran the British Showjumping Jump Store for more than 30 years. He was selected as one of the initial Judge and Course Designer mentors in 1999 when the programme was first founded, he was on the National Sport Committee, and he delivered the Judges’ and Course Designers’ national pathway programme for British Showjumping before going on to assist the FEI with their international programme. During Jon’s career he mentored a great many officials, many of whom have gone on to have successful careers of their own.

The FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez paid tribute to a man who played such an important role within international competition: “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.”

This year, with crowds returning to Hickstead for the first time in two years, we will pause for a moment to remember a man who was such an important part of Hickstead, who will be so sadly missed this week. Jon would have loved officiating at the 60th Hickstead Derby, having witnessed so many great Derby moments during his long career.

Jon travelled the world extensively to officiate at the equestrian world’s biggest events, once even travelling to Australia for just one day! But he was always happiest at home in Gloucestershire with his beloved wife Mary and their dogs.  

Jon will be remembered for his incredible knowledge, and his excellent company. “His unbelievable generosity and persuasive nature drew us all to him,” recalls Nick Brooks-Ward. “He was the greatest of hosts, either in his caravan at shows or at his home in Bredon. He never stopped thinking, and it was his persuasive and generous nature that we all came to love and adore. To the thousands of judges, course designers and officials that he helped all around the world, to the shows that he advised and encouraged, and to the riders that respected him wherever he went, he was the wisest of heads with the most wonderful self-deprecating sense of humour.”

Jon Doney, 1949-2020.

 

This article was first published in June 2022

15 outstanding moments from the Royal International

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff takes a look back at some of the best moments from last month's Royal International Horse Show 

Read more

Young guns

They are two of the best under-25 riders in the world, and last year they stood first and second in the King George V Gold Cup. Victoria Goff caught up with Gilles Thomas and Harry Charles   

Read more

Quick as a Flash

Victoria Goff spoke to Gemma Stevens, last year's winner of the Ashby Underwriting Eventers' Challenge 

Read more

A view from the Press Office: June 2023

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff takes a look at some of the standout moments from the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting

Read more

Showing's standout moments from 2022

We take a look back at the best moments from the show ring at the 2022 Royal International Horse Show 

Read more

Home turf

Shane Breen chats to Victoria Goff about finally winning the Al Shira'aa Derby, after nearly 20 years of trying 

Read more

An Olympic ambition

Victoria Goff visits Al Shira'aa Farms, to find out more about their journey in showjumping.   

Read more

Career change

It's been nearly two decades since the first RoR showing championship took place at Hickstead. Victoria Goff finds out more about transforming former racehorses into showing stars 

Read more

In his prime

He's been one of the most consistent horses in the history of the Hickstead Derby - Victoria Goff finds out more about Harriet Biddick's remarkable horse A Touch Imperious 

Read more

An outright victory

Clear rounds are a rarity in the Hickstead Derby, and often the class is won by a single first round clear. Victoria Goff takes a look back through the roll of honour

Read more

Hickstead's Christmas 2022 countdown

We count down our best moments from a brilliant year here at the All England Jumping Course 

Read more

10 best moments from this year's Royal International

This year’s Longines Royal International Horse Show was a cracker – and wasn’t it wonderful to have five-star showjumping back at Hickstead where it belongs? Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff picks out her top 10 moments from this year’s show.

Read more

The view from the Press Office - June 2022

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff reflects on a fabulous week at the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting. 

Read more

Still much more for Maher

Victoria Goff catches up with Olympic champion Ben Maher 

Read more

Superb Swedes

Victoria Goff reflects on the current strength and depth of the Swedish showjumping team 

Read more

Thirty glorious years

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff looks back over three brilliant decades of the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead 

Read more

Magical moments from the Royal International

We choose some of the best moments from the past 30 years since the Longines Royal International Horse Show moved to Hickstead 

Read more

Doney’s legacy

We pay tribute to Jon Doney, a highly-respected FEI official and an important part of Hickstead's team for many years 

Read more

Doing the double

Only a select band of riders have won the British Jumping Derby and the British Speed Derby - Victoria Goff reveals which famous equestrians hold the honour of winning both 

Read more

Teenage Dreams

In 2019, 19-year-old Michael Pender became the youngest ever rider to win the Hickstead Derby. Victoria Goff sat down to chat with him about his win  

Read more

The Hickstead Derby in numbers

In 2022 we’ll see the 60th running of the Al Shira’aa Derby, one of the most iconic classes in showjumping. We take a look back over the decades at the Hickstead Derby in numbers.

Read more

60 facts about the Hickstead Derby

How well do you know the history of the famous Al Shira'aa Derby?

Read more

The 60th Hickstead Derby

The 60th Al Shira'aa Derby takes place in June 2022. Victoria Goff looks back on the history of Hickstead's most famous class 

Read more

Harriet Nuttall Q&A

Showjumper Harriet Nuttall has an extraordinary record at Hickstead, having won the Science Supplements Speed Derby twice, the Science Supplements BHS Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Science Supplements All England Grand Prix - plus finishing runner-up three times in the Al Shira'aa Derby. Alex Irwin caught up with her to find out more about what makes her tick. 

Read more

Holly Smith Q&A

Alex Irwin caught up with Hickstead star Holly Smith at the Science Supplements All England Jumping Championships 

Read more

The unstoppable Irish

Victoria Goff looks back at Ireland's stunning win in the 2018 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain, and goes back into the history books to remember the other memorable Irish wins at Hickstead 

Read more

William’s fabulous four

William Funnell joined the elite band of four-time winners of the Hickstead Derby last summer. Victoria Goff spoke to him about what it means to join the likes of Harvey Smith, Eddie Macken and brothers John and Michael Whitaker. 

Read more

Top Speed

We take a look back over the history of the British Speed Derby. 

By Victoria Goff

Read more

Five of the best

Five riders share the record of having four wins in the Hickstead Derby. Victoria Goff takes a look through the archives to relive these legendary performances. 

Read more

Coming of age

A few days before his 21st birthday, James Whitaker scored his first major Hickstead win. Victoria Goff caught up with him ahead of the 2019 Longines Royal International Horse Show. 

Read more

A Platinum President

The BHS President Martin Clunes is a regular visitor to Hickstead. Victoria Goff finds out more about his role at the British Horse Society, and why he loves coming to our shows 

Read more

10 magical showing moments

We take a look back over some of the standout showing moments from the 2017 season 

Read more

Perfect Timing

Paul Tapner talks to Hickstead Press Officer Victoria Goff about his first win in the MS Amlin Eventers' Challenge

Read more

Miss Consistent

Harriet Nuttall proved she's no Hickstead bridesmaid, when adding yet another major title to her CV last summer. Victoria Goff caught up with the reigning Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner 

Read more

Fiesta Time

Brazil had an extraordinary run of form at last year's Longines Royal International Horse Show. Victoria Goff finds out more. 

Read more

Worth the wait

Victoria Goff describes the wait Nigel Coupe had before he finally become the Al Shira'aa Derby Champion in 2017. 

Read more

Doing it for Ella

Hickstead's press officer Victoria Goff caught up with Matthew Sampson, the winner of the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby 

Read more

Race against time

Victoria Goff takes a look back at some of the famous Hickstead Derby jump-offs that have taken place over the years. 

Read more

A New Era

Victoria Goff finds out more about Al Shira'aa, the title sponsors of the Hickstead Derby 

Read more

12 moments we loved at this year’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting

The Al Shira’aa Derby drew our June fixture to a close, and what a way to round off four fabulous sunny days of showjumping and showing. We take a look back at some of the best moments of this year’s show.

Read more

#RoadToHickstead contenders reveal...

We ask some of our leading Al Shira'aa Derby contenders some killer questions.

Read more

Harriet and Nigel go head-to-head

Two of the main Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby contenders, Harriet Nuttall and Nigel Coupe, discuss this year's challenge.

Read more

Hickstead Q&A - Hamad Ali Al Kirbi

UAE rider Hamad Ali Al Kirbi made his Hickstead debut last summer when he competed at the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting. We caught up with him ahead of this year's show. 

Read more

Can you spot our Mystery Guests?

We're very busy preparing the International Arena ahead of this year's Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting CSI4*, and with spring being somewhat late to arrive this year we've had to ask some special guests to join our Ground Crew! 

Read more

Billy the King

Ireland's Billy Twomey enjoyed an amazing run of success at the 2016 BHS Royal International Horse Show, including a win in the Longines BHS King George V Gold Cup. Victoria Goff spoke to him about his golden run.

Read more

A home from home

Hickstead is very familiar stomping ground for David Simpson, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner in 2016. Victoria Goff spoke to him about winning on 'home territory'. 

Read more

The One to Watch

In the run up to the 2017 Longines Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead Press Officer Victoria Goff caught up with Amlin Plus Eventers' Challenge winner Esib Power.  

Read more

The nation's favourites

Earlier this year, we asked you to vote for your favourite Derby-winning horses. Victoria Spicer counts down your top 10. 

Read more

An unforgettable Adventure

Adventure De Kannan is one of the most successful Hickstead horses of recent times. Victoria Goff looks back at the remarkable career of the one-eyed wonder horse

Read more

William Whitaker: How to win the Derby

The 2016 Hickstead Derby winner William Whitaker shares his winning formula! 

Read more

William Whitaker: Advice for Hickstead newcomers

If you haven't ridden at the All England Jumping Course before, the 2016 Hickstead Derby champion William Whitaker shares his insights into competing here.

Read more

William Whitaker: The perfect warm-up

The current Hickstead Derby champion William Whitaker explains how to nail your warm-up routine, both at home and at competitions. 

Read more

William Whitaker: Winning a jump-off

Want to nail those jump-off rounds? Hickstead Derby 2016 champion William Whitaker shares his advice, and suggests two training exercises to improve your performance against the clock. 

Read more

William Whitaker's training secrets

In the run up to this year’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, reigning Derby champion William Whitaker shares his showjumping training insights.

Words by Victoria Spicer, photos by Daisy Honeybunn

Read more

6 links between Hickstead and the Grand National

The home of British Showjumping and the most famous race on earth have more in common than you might think, writes Victoria Spicer...

Read more

A winning debut

Chloe Winchester, winner of the Templant Events Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2015, chats to Victoria Spicer about her winning debut at Hickstead

Read more

Elizabeth the first

Last year Elizabeth 'Beezie' Madden became the first woman ever to win the Longines King George V Gold Cup. In 2015, she did it again. Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Spicer caught up with America's first lady of showjumping. 

Read more

12 moments we loved at this year's Derby meeting

There was rain, there was mud, but much more importantly there was some brilliant competition at this year's Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting. We choose our top 12 moments from this year's show. 

Read more

Back on top

Hickstead Press Officer Victoria Spicer chats to the connections of Loughnatousa WB, a horse who holds a very special record in the Derby...

Read more

Three in a row

Journalist Andrew Baldock takes a look back over the Hickstead archives at the three riders who have won the Derby three times in succession - and finds out which other riders came close...

Read more

A cool guy

Victoria Spicer chats to Guy Williams, the winner of the 2015 British Speed Derby, about setting records and why Hickstead will always be special to him

Read more

Eight great Derby rivalries

There have been some amazing clashes in the 56 years of the Hickstead Derby. Pippa Cuckson takes a look at some of the great rivalries over the years...

Read more

Breen’s Derby dream comes true

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Spicer chats to the 2014 winner of the Equestrian.com Derby, Trevor Breen. 

Read more

Five Minutes with Fran Callan

Continuing our new Five Minutes With... series, we caught up with Fran Callan, the head travelling groom for Trevor Breen. As part of her job, she looks after Hickstead megastar and reigning Equestrian.com Derby winner Adventure De Kannan...

Read more

Miller's tale

Victoria Spicer meets Phillip Miller, winner of the 2013 Hickstead Derby, to talk about his rise from riding school lessons to Hickstead champion. 

Read more

A lesson with Derby winner Phillip Miller

When we ran an exclusive Hickstead Derby Community competition to win a lesson with the 2013 Derby winner Phillip Miller, we had a great response. In the end, we selected 25-year-old Jodine Brooks from Kent and her seven-year-old Dutch gelding, Camorasun.

Read more

15 facts about the Derby course

From poles that 'twang', resident newts and motorway fences turned into showjumps, Victoria Spicer investigates 15 things that you might not know about the most famous course in British showjumping...

Read more

Five minutes with Phillip Miller

Her latest victim in the 'Five Minutes With Series…', Daisy sits down with natural born comedian and Hickstead Derby superstar, 2013 winner Phillip Miller…

Read more

Five minutes with Bob Ellis

Daisy Bunn is back in the interviewer's chair this week with Hickstead's very own Bob The Buider, world renowned, Olympic course builder Bob Ellis...

Read more

10 iconic Derby moments

Last seen disappearing into our dusky archives, Hickstead Press Officer and journalist Victoria Goff has put together a review of 10 of our most iconic Derby moments over the years 

Read more

Five Minutes with Steve Wilde

Continuing our new Five Minutes With... interview series, Hickstead Director Daisy Bunn sits down with Hickstead's 'golden tonsils', commentator and Director of Ceremonies Steve Wilde...

Read more

Five minutes with Daisy Bunn

As part of a new series, exclusively for our HDC members, Hickstead Director Daisy Bunn is going to catch key members of the Hickstead team for mini 5 minute interviews, to give our members a unique, behind-the-scenes take on everything Hickstead. Who better to start with than Daisy herself!

Read more

The best of the best

Equestrian journalist Charlotte Ricca-Smith asks Hickstead Derby winners to name the performance - apart from their own! - that impressed them most. 

Read more

A Hickstead first

In 2013, Paul Beecher became the first person to produce a clear round having been drawn first to go in the Hickstead Derby, then go on to win the class. Victoria Spicer spoke to him about his achievement.

Read more

A National treasure

Harvey Smith is the only man to have won both the Hickstead Derby and trained a Grand National winner. Victoria Spicer reflects on his remarkable achievement.

Read more

Olympic heroes

Did you know that three out of the four showjumping gold medallists from London 2012 are past winners of the Hickstead Derby? Victoria Spicer catches up with them to find out what those wins meant.

Read more

FOLLOW US

CONTACT US
 

THE ALL ENGLAND JUMPING COURSE HICKSTEAD HASSOCKS WEST SUSSEX BN6 9NS Tel: +44 1273 834315 Fax: +44 1273 834452 View our Privacy Policy.

Our website uses cookies

Find out more about how these are used in our privacy policy.