Two of eventing's fondest and most respected individuals will take their place among the greats of the sport with the announcement today that Jim Dunn OAM and Dr Denis Goulding will be inducted into the Equestrian Australia Hall of Fame in the Service to Sport category.
Denis accompanied the Australian Equestrian Team to six Olympic Games and he shared a close friendship with fellow recipient Jim who sadly passed away in December 2013.
Hall of Fame inductee - Dennis Goulding
Photo: EA
Dr Denis Goulding
In his 24 year tenure as a veterinarian to the Australian equestrian team, Denis aided the Equestrian Team at six Olympic and six World Equestrian Games as well as a host of other major international competitions. Within his role, Denis has provided support to the horses and their riders helping them achieve every rider’s dream of representing their country.
Throughout his role Denis has been at the forefront of the Australian Team’s celebrated highlights, grieved with their disappointments and made many a tough decision. Denis says the hardest part about his job was making decisions about the soundness of horses at the last moment. “As vets we’re there to protect the horse’s welfare and prepare the horse for competition. It’s our job to ensure that the welfare of the horse isn’t compromised in anyway.”
In 1997 Denis was appointed as a member of the five person FEI Veterinary Committee, a position which he held for four years. He was inducted into the Sports Australia Hall of Fame in 2000 for services to equestrian sport.
Jim is best known as being Chef d’Equipe of the Australian Eventing Team but he left his mark on the sport also as a coach, administrator and official.
Jim Dunn dedicated much of his life to equestrian sport
Jim Dunn OAM
Jim was a well-respected, coach, administrator and official, as well as a great ambassador for equestrian in Australia. Jim served as Chair of The National Eventing Selectors for more than 20 years and throughout this time Australia won three gold medals and one silver medal. Jim described the moment when Andrew Hoy on Darien Powers cleared the last jump at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, securing the gold for Australia as the best feeling in the world.
Jim served as President of the South Australian Branch (1988-1994) and was a long standing member of the SA state branch committee, sitting on its board from 1976 to 1997. Among his other roles Jim also took on various officiating postings and was a member of the grand jury at numerous International Three Day Events in Australia as well as a qualified FEI International Judge for three day events and show jumping.
Jim was described as a walking rule book, always doing his homework and remaining up to date on current rule changes, consequently he never lost an appeal or a protest in a team situation. Jim was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2004 for services to equestrian sport in Australia and at an Olympic level. In the same year he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Regardless of whether it was an Olympic Games or Jump Club, Jim would be there, equestrian was his life and his legacy will live on.
It was also announced that the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games Jumping Team of John Fahey, Bridget Macintyre & Kevin Bacon will be also inducted into the EA Hall of Fame
The 1964 Jumping team was at the forefront of shaping jumping in Australia, with all team members being influential as competitors, breeders and ambassadors for many years after the Games. The addition of an Australian Jumping Team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games made this Olympiad significant for Australian equestrian sport.
The jumping team that departed Australian shores for Tokyo consisted of Kevin Bacon with his old partner Ocean Foam, John Fahey and his brilliant little black gelding Bonvale and Bud Macintyre on the sensational Coronation. The Australians were amongst 46 riders from Britain, Italy, Korea, Argentina, Japan, USA, Mexico, France, Russia, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland and Germany.
Prior to the 1964 Olympic Games Australia had only been represented in eventing and it would be another twenty years until Australia had a dressage representative at an Olympics. The 1964 Jumping team was at the forefront of shaping jumping in Australia, with all team members being influential as competitors, breeders and ambassadors for many years after the Games.
It was a history making trip for the Australian jumping team – team member ‘Bud’ Macintyre was the first woman selected to represent Australia in equestrian and John Fahey in placing 4th attained the best ever result by an Australian jumping rider at an Olympic Games
The jumping was held on the final day of the Games, the first round proved to be challenging with all competitors coming away with faults. The course proved a challenge, although it appeared to not be too great in height, the oxers were wide and the ground was still heavy from prior rain. John Fahey and Bonvale were the first Australians to compete and they jumped a courageous round incurring only eight faults. Due to a leg problem, Bud and Coronation had done little jumping in the days before the event however they jumped well with only 16 faults. Kevin Bacon and Ocean Foam were the last to compete sitting on 8 faults but prior to the last jump, Kevin, in an effort to lift his horse from a false ground line, checked his horse severely causing Ocean Foam to stop causing Kevin to dismount. Undeterred, Ken remounted and completed the course but knocked last rail, for a total of 29.5 faults – 21.5 faults incurred at the troublesome last fence.
The second round of the event proved even more difficult with only one clear round. The star of the Australian team was the gallant pint sized Bonvale and John Fahey who again jumped for a tally of only 8 faults. Bud and Coronation jumped a solid round with 23.5 faults and Kevin and Ocean Foam had 24 faults. Fahey was unlucky not to win an individual silver medal after knocking a rail that John says he “never should have had down,” this placed him in equal third position. This being the first tie to occur at an Olympic equestrian event there was some deliberation from the jury on how to proceed. The order came for Bonvale and Fahey to jump-off against the British pair of Peter Robeson and Fire Crest. In the unexpected crowd pleasing jump-off Fahey had 2 fences down while Robeson was clear pushing them back into 4th place.
The team results concluded with Germany taking out the Gold medal, followed by France with Silver and Italy with Bronze.
Now in its fourth year, the Equestrian Australia Hall of Fame pays tribute to the heroes of equestrian sport and for the first time inductees have been selected by living Hall of Fame members.
The Equestrian Australia's Sport Achievement Awards Night is presented by Gow Gates Insurance Brokers and more information about this great night can be found by CLICKING HERE
