A photographic tribute to Gillian Rolton

Gill started out with ponies like most Australian riders, but moved to the Hacking scene as she got older, here she is  winning Champion Lady Rider at Adelaide Royal Show. Adelaide was Gill’s hometown.

Gill with the first of her Olympic Gold Medals, with team members, Andrew Hoy and Mat Ryan, at Barcelona

Gill and Freddie at a selection event at Avenel

Part of the Australian Team again in The Hague

And a second Gold at Atlanta, with Andrew Hoy, Wendy Schaeffer, and Philip Dutton

One of Gill’s areas of input to the sport of eventing was teaching, many young and older riders benefited from her experience and knowledge…

When Gill became interested in judging the sport she loved, she travelled overseas to further her knowledge, we met up with her in Europe when she was visiting leading dressage trainer, Jan Bemelmans who was training the Spanish team at the time…

Gill was part of many Ground Juries overseas, here at the World Eventing Championships in Malmo in 2005

Sonja Johnson’s Jaguar was a  Peppermint Grove Trophy winner

Adelaide 4* remains the only event of that level in the Southern Hemisphere, and Gill was proud of the event in her home town that she was part of. Appropriately, Gill and Greg Rolton presented a trophy in memory of Peppermint Grove each year. Gill will be missed, but remembered for what she achieved…

3 thoughts on “A photographic tribute to Gillian Rolton

  1. Gill was a ‘one off’ & an inspiration to the equestrian world. She will be really missed.

  2. Beautifu tribute – worked closely with Gill on A3DE (now MMA3DE) – you always knew where you stood with GIll, no beatng around the bush, no fluff or bluster – just straight up, on the money, making it happen. I will miss her as we all will

  3. I never met Gillian Rolton but I remember Atlanta – everyone in my household glued to the commentary and waves of relief when it was announced that Gill wouldn’t be forced to ride the show jumping phase with her injuries. Tears of pride and joy at her courage and the achievement of the team in winning gold. Such an inspiration then and now.

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