Press release from the FEI

The FEI’s Jumping Director John Roche, who has played a key role in equestrian sport’s global governing body since first joining the Federation in May 1987, will retire at the end of February.

Captain Roche served in the Irish Army Equitation School and represented his country at top level on the international Jumping circuit. 

John Roche’s FEI career started in the Sport Department under then FEI President HRH The Princess Royal, who took over the role from her father, HRH Prince Philip, the FEI’s longest serving President (1964-1986) and the man who put carriage driving on the international map. Captain Roche’s initial responsibilities covered Jumping, Driving and the FEI Calendar, and he was also Secretary to the Jumping and Driving Committee.

He was promoted to the position of FEI Jumping Director when it was created in 2007, and also held the titles of FEI Jumping World Cup™ and FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Director and Director General Stewarding. During his long years at the helm with responsibility for all aspects of the discipline, he has contributed to the growth of Jumping from 340 international events to almost 1,800.

Captain Roche will be an FEI guest at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and a special presentation will be made to him at the FEI Awards gala dinner during the FEI General Assembly in Johannesburg (RSA) in November 2020.