It was with great sadness that HPower Group learned of the death of Bob Ellis this morning.
Known to many as Bob ‘The Builder’, he was a mainstay of both London International Horse Show and Royal Windsor Horse Show. He was Senior Course Designer at both events for multiple years — held in high esteem by all who worked with him, as well as the riders who jumped his courses. He was a great friend, much loved by all and will be greatly missed by all that knew him.
The pinnacle of Bob’s career was as Course Designer for the London 2012 Olympics. He also worked with HPower at the Alltech European Jumping and Dressage Championships in 2009, and The Al Maktoum Memorial Challenge in Dubai. He travelled the world, working in 33 different countries including Brazil, Mexico, The UAE, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and South Africa.
He was a huge support to HPower, serving as Jumping Advisor on the London International Horse Show Committee from 2006 to 2021. He retired from course building in 2019, after a career spanning over 40 years. Thanks to Bob Ellis’s popularity, and the respect in which he was held, LIHS had 5* level course designers working as corner men. Bob launched many course designers’ careers, and was always ready to put others before himself.
On retirement, he continued to visit the Shows for many years with his wife, Cal, and family. His cheery smile and sense of humour were omnipresent .
‘Bob the Builder’ will never be forgotten.
