The German Equestrian Federation presented several honorary awards at their General Assembly in Fulda this week, and former FEI Jumping Director John Roche was among the recipients – receiving the German Reiterkreuz in silver for his contributions to equestrian sports and to the German national federation over the past 33 years. Roche joined the FEI in 1987, taking over the lead of the Jumping Department in 2007 where he worked until February 2020 when he retired. Prior to joining the FEI, Captain Roche served in the Irish Army Equitation School and had success as part of the Irish jumping team – among his triumphs was a win in the 1979 Nations Cup in Aachen. 

"I feel very honoured and I am very grateful to receive such a prestigious award from the German Federation which was presented to me by Breido Graf zu Rantzau, former President of the German Equestrian Federation," Roche commented to World of Showjumping.