Ringrose was a giant on world showjumping circuit
Col Billy Ringrose
Tributes have been flowing for show jumping legend Col Billy Ringrose after his death was announced yesterday following a period of ill-health.
The 89-year-old represented Ireland at two Olympic Games, took six individual titles at international showjumping grands prix and seven Nations Cup team events and was an Aga Khan winner as both a rider and chef d'equipe.
Within the space of one month in 1961, Army rider Captain Billy Ringrose won the Grand Prix in Nice, presented by Princess Grace of Monaco, and then the Grand P rix in Rome, presented by Queen Elizabeth II who was at the time on a State visit to Italy.
As part of his Nations Cup success he was a member of the first mixed Army-civilian Irish team to win the Aga Khan Cup in 1963 along with Diana Conolly-Carew, Seamus Hayes and Tommy Wade.
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He landed another Aga Khan in 1967 before later becoming commanding officer of the Army Equitation School at McKee Barracks in Dublin and chef d'equipe of the Irish team.
Under his expert tutelage, there was great success as he managed the famous three-in-a-row team of the late Paul Darragh, James Kernan, Eddie Macken and Captain Con Power in the late 1970s.
The Dubliner was also the only rider to have won the grand prix event at all four shows on the American tour; Washington DC, Harrisburg Pennsylvania, Madison Square Garden in New York and the Toronto Winter Fair.
In 2017, Ringrose's son Fergal published a 280-page memoir of his father's life and equestrian career 'Billy Ringrose - A memoir of my Father' including many images taking the reader back in time to his days as a rider on the international circuit.
Ringrose's Dublin Nations Cup successes came on the very same RDS turf where his grand nephew Garry Ringrose has now become a major star with the Leinster rugby team.
Paying tribute, Horse Sport Ireland CEO Ronan Murphy said:
"On behalf of everyone at Horse Sport Ireland, I want to pass on our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Col Billy Ringrose, who was one of the greats of Irish showjumping."
"His career as a rider and later as Chef d'Equipe was outstanding and he gained the respect of everyone he met not just for his sporting excellence but as a true gentleman."
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
