NEWS > Eventing

VALE Gill (Gilly) Elwes - 1997-2020

Story by by Jacqueline Sayers

Who is Gillian Elwes?

Highly regarded groom for the Australian Olympic Equestrian team in 1964, strapping for Bill Roycroft, a member of one of the most famous Australian equestrian families in the 20^th century! It all started when Gilly was involved with the English eventing team for the 1960 Rome Olympics & the Aussie team returned to England post-Olympics & Gilly met up with them. It must have been a mutual admiration as this inspired Gilly to move her passion & expertise to The Land Down Under! Gilly fast became a highly regarded rider & trainer with many horses going on to compete at World Cup and Olympic level, for both Italian and Australian teams. She also joined the committee of some of Australia’s most well-known equestrian events, a well respected dressage judge, Volunteer of the Year Award recipient for her contributions to the equestrian industry, high-level equestrian competitor, and simply just a beautiful human being, Gillian Elwes.

Gillian Elwes or Gilly/Gill as she is better known to those who know her was a highly knowledgeable, experienced and humble horse woman, who contributed significantly throughout her life in all Olympic disciplines of the sport.

She was an excellent horsewoman and World Cup/Advanced Eventer, a beloved instructor, a knowledgeable and fair Dressage judge/official as well as a hardworking volunteer on too many committees to note. Gill was awarded The Equestrian Victoria Volunteer of the year award in 2014 acknowledging the hundreds of hours a year she had contributed.

Trouble is, Gill was so humble, it makes finding the full extent of her contributions difficult with many people agreeing with what she has done, but never being clear on just how long she’s done it, (but it is always a long time).

Always the adventurer

The fact that Gill was such an excellent horsewoman runs in her blood considering her brother was one of the Queen’s grooms. Gill often would retell childhood memories of going hunting with her family and being told never to gallop home. Of course, she and her brother would always gallop home and just slow down for the last mile so that their ponies could appear cool and to avoid getting in trouble.

Always adventurous Gill left England as a young woman, bound for Canada to Au Pair, before eventually ending in Australia.

Gill’s introduction to the Olympic Games

She arrived in Victoria with her cohort Sharle Dodgson by her side and quickly cemented her spot in the equestrian world. Including immediately landing a job as an official Australian groom for the infamous 1964 Olympic Equestrian Team, comprising Bill Roycroft, John Kelly & Brian Cobcroft. Gilly strapped for Bill & Sharle groomed for John Kelly.

It must be noted that almost every person you ask about Gill and her achievements, immediately recalls Gill and Sharle. They became inseparable as friends when working as grooms in the lead-up to, and on the boat over to, Tokyo in 1964. They are still a formidable pair, whom I am sure could share many stories, about their antics and adventures.

Gill quickly established herself as a sound, experienced and successful competitor in the highest level of Eventing and Showjumping. The horses that Gill trained not only represented Australia but also Italy, after she sold some to the Italian team who came to Australia looking for quality eventers.

Gill, the high-level competitor

Gill didn’t only compete in the Olympic disciplines, she remained a keen hunter throughout her life, riding in many Royal Shows, often jumping but also showcasing Crabbet Arabs bred by the Larcot’s family in the Western Districts of Victoria. Despite showing and riding Crabbet Arab’s at many shows and events Gill remained a passionate lover of the Thoroughbred horse. Many horses she had loved, competed and trained were Thoroughbreds.

Gill was part of the renowned Caramut Riding Club, established in the 1950’s. Between the 1950s and 1980s, the club would get truckloads of horses, otherwise destined for dog food, for the members to train. More than 20 of these horses subsequently represented Australia at World Cup or Olympic levels.

Gill competed up and down Australia’s East Coast, including Tasmania and New Zealand, either on the horses she’d trained or on ‘catch rides’. Many of these travels Gill did with the well known Kelly family from Barwidgee station.

After many years at Barwidgee station, Gill settled onto her own purpose-built equestrian property in Moriac. All who know & love her, also know that where there’s Gilly, there’s a beloved Jack Russell or Foxy cross, devotedly following or being transported around in her car!

Gill, the judge and coach

Always generous with her knowledge, it is no surprise that Gill was also an established and well-loved coach, known for her practical, down-to-earth advice. One story, recalled with great humor by Gillian Canapini, was about how Gill agreed to help Gillian at the dreaded combination jump at Avenal Horse Trials in the 1980s, after the event. Gillian recalls riding a true “big dumb blood” and after refusing the combination again during the lesson, Gill stated, “I am not sure I should say this.” But after some encouragement Gill said, “Well, you are riding very badly.” She proceeded to tell Gillian to kick the horse in no uncertain terms and they eventually got the horse through the combination.

Gill was an accredited Level E judge, who often travels around the state to judge, and who is known for being approachable to all riders if they want to find out how to get an extra couple of marks or what is meant by a particular comment.

Gill, the volunteer of the year

Gill has volunteered thousands of hours to running Horse Trials throughout the state and has literally held every position on a horse trials committee there is to hold.

She was an active member of the Caramut Horse Trials committee, which ceased about 10 years ago. At that time when the event folded it had been the longest running event in Victoria and Gill was a great volunteer for many of these years. Melbourne International Horse Trials now holds the title of the oldest Horse Trials. A committee Gill has also volunteered extensively for, being an integral part of the cross country co-ordination role.

For many years, she was on the Melbourne International Horse Trials committee as a volunteer coordinator, which is a massive undertaking. It involved attracting enough volunteers to run, with the added requirement of not only manning Cross Country, but also Roads and Tracks Steeplechase and the 10-minute box, both events of the old format.

Freshwater Creek Riding Club was also fortunate enough to have Gill volunteer her expertise this time on cross country as coordinator. She was the ‘face’ of FWC RC, being the main driver, instructor & ‘go-to’ member of the club for over 30 years.

Gill, the equestrian event founder

Gill’s longest association with a horse trials or club must be Geelong Horse Trials.

The event that would become Geelong Horse Trials initially started in 1972 with a cross country course being built to host the PCAV State Championships, this course was held at Koombahla Park, Wallington.

Since 1972 with not many cross country courses around may people would ride old “buffers” at Koombahla Park throughout the 70’s. Old Buffers was essentially an opportunity to run your horse around a cross country course without the formalities of the competition.

The first Geelong Horse Trials was run in 1976 after Gert Donvig returned from Gawler three-day-event and decided that Geelong needed its own horse trials competition. He rounded up many of the local riders (many of whom are still familiar and volunteering at the event today!)

This initial group got the fundraising to turn the first event into a reality. This committee consisted of Gert and Mary Donvig, Nigel and Tanya Burnett, Gay Fenner, Justin and Amanda Hocking, Linda and Alister McCallum and the Lamperds. They kicked off their fundraising with a sold-out event and seminar held at the old Australian Equestrian Academy (AEA) then owned by Fred Hoevenaars. This event is fondly remembered for having standing room only. At the seminar, Lady Clarke and Michael Creber who presented on what to look for in a young eventer, Chris Smith demonstrated how to take green horses through some grids, Wendy Peel rode side saddle to music and Tony Uytendaal rode some Freestyle Dressage. This successful event raised enough capital to get the inaugural Geelong Horse Trials up and running.

After the seminar the initial committee was boosted by Gill Elwes, Trish Boyd and Michael Creber (it is worth noting all three of these people still volunteer in some capacity at Geelong Horse Trials).

Gill’s initial position on the committee was Course Designer and Builder. This required many hours writing letters and on the phone & even more hours building a brand new course from scratch. Entries were all done by letter with numbers and programs produced well ahead of time and mailed out. Gill also assisted in sponsorship and fundraising.

The event quickly moved from Koombahla Park to Rugby Park, which is remembered fondly by those who rode it, as a true cross country test. There was a massive hill, fondly referred to as the escarpment with ski ramps to be jumped off the hill to take you to the bottom part of the course. The horses needed to be truly fit and brave to successfully finish it. Gill had her work cut out building and creating a course with a hill in the middle of it that could only be accessed by horse or by foot! This also meant that stock horses had to be organised as they were the only reliable means of being able to collect the sheets at speed, as cars and motorbikes couldn’t manage the terrain. Many remembered the reward for the hard-working committee fondly, which was simply to have the opportunity to school their own horses over the challenging but expertly built & designed course at the end of the day!

Geelong Eventing Association became an official association in 1983 after running a successful event for several years.

Not only was Gill an active member of establishing Geelong Horse trials and the course in 1976/77, 25 years later she was again a key driver of the quest to find and relocate Geelong Horse Trials to its current venue, Barwonleigh. This was after Rugby Park was no longer available due to the venue changing hands. The search for Barwonleigh took a number of years and Geelong Horse Trials continues to run on Barwonleigh, which is owned by the Campbell family.

Thank you Gillian Elwes

On behalf of the Geelong Horse Trials and the greater Victorian Equestrian Community, we would like to thank the contributions that you have made and continue to make. You have been an absolute lynch pin for Equestrian not only in the Western Districts but all throughout Victoria. Gilly, you have helped countless aspiring riders to reach the top level of competition, in eventing, dressage & showjumping but also encouraged & nurtured many a nervous adult trail rider & Pony Club devotee alike. Your incredible guidance, sound & practical advice, ‘real’ feedback & amazing eye for all things riding & horses is nothing short of ‘brilliant’ (one of your favorite adjectives!)

Gilly’s ticklish sense of humour & remarkable, sometimes dry, wit was a trait that everybody is treated to & sets her apart from the crowd!!

A huge thanks to numerous people for sharing your stories and tales to enable us to put together this remarkable recount just scratching the surface of all that Gill has contributed to the Equestrian world.