PAMELA CARRUTHERS
Wednesday 30 September 2009
Pamela Carruthers, one of the world’s prominent international course designers, has died at the age of 93.
Although she was best known for her design work overseas, Pamela was also involved with Hickstead for thirty years, where she was responsible for the movable fences used for Nations Cup, Grand Prix and the Queen Elizabeth Cup.
During a career that spanned almost half a century Pamela was assistant course builder at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, and technical delegate at the Seoul Games in 1988; she was also technical delegate for the 1982 World Championships in Ireland. She was responsible for the development of Spruce Meadows in Canada, and successfully developed courses throughout Europe as well as in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Venezuela, Brazil, Ireland and the United States.
Pamela was a show jumper and showing exhibitor in England in her younger days and for a number of years she flew all over the world from her home near Chippenham, to create challenging Grand Prix courses at the most prestigious international events as well as in countries with limited international experience.
She served two terms on the jumping committees of the FEI (International Equestrian Federation), which awarded her a medal for her work. In 1996 she became the first person who was not resident in the United States to be elected to the American Show Jumping Hall of Fame.
Pamela is survived by two sons.