Long-serving Eventing Official Judy Haskell is Remembered

 

We acknowledge with great sadness the passing of Judy Haskell.

 

Judy has been an integral part of Eventing for 40 years, officiating events in many roles, including horse trials committee member, technical delegate, rules advisor, volunteer, organiser, owner and breeder. She was also a founding member of the Queen Elizabeth Park eventing group, and also found time to be a Waikanae pony club instructor.

 

Judy started out as an official when Bruce Haskell, her son, left NZ for the UK early in 1999 with Ngamatea All Fours. An English teacher at Paraparaumu College for many years, she built a great rapport with the younger Event riders.

 

She would often visit a venue the week prior to an event, to do all the measuring etc as she did not take time off from school in the days leading up to an event. She was meticulous in her measuring and spent many hours talking to riders and parents about how they could improve.

 

Judy was everyone’s supporter and a mentor to many up-and-coming officials. She took technical delegates under her wing as they started their journey as an Eventing official, explaining how to tactfully deal with situations, what to be looking for, when to put your foot down and when to use common sense.

 

 

She served on the Technical Committee in an educational capacity. She developed questions for trainee officials and collated fall reports that became a useful information set, informing current-day practice.

Judy had a global understanding of Eventing through her son Bruce and was always keen to see NZ Eventing improve. She attended seminars as a facilitator and gave much time freely to Pony Clubs in the Wellington area – often advising on courses and supporting new committees with information and encouragement.

 

In 2022, Judy was granted an Honorary Life Membership for her outstanding services to ESNZ and equestrian sport. She was also awarded the McCrostie Memorial Trophy, as voted by the ESNZ Eventing Board.