Vale Brian Lavery - Show Jumping Course Designer

7 November 1928 – 12 November 2022

We sadly record the death of Brian Lavery, a man who gave many decades of service to show jumping in South Africa and Australia.

Brian’s course designing career commenced in South Africa in 1973 and he was appointed to the FEI International Course Designers Level 3 Panel in 1986.  He course designed at many major shows including the South African National Show Jumping Championship on six occasions and numerous World Cup Qualifiers both in South Africa and Australia. Brian represented South Africa at four F.E.I. International Course Designing Seminars.

Gavin Chester was instrumental in introducing Brian to Australian show jumping circa 2001, which resulted in Brian officiating at the Melbourne Royal Show and FEI International events in Sale on multiple occasions, amongst many other Australian shows, which activities he continued until just a few years ago, having migrated to Australia permanently in 2008. 

Brian had vast experience in, and passion for, sharing his course designing knowledge. In Australia he conducted many seminars for course designers at all levels and devoted much time to one-on-one mentorship of course designers preparing for shows, including the critique of their draft course plans.  His training materials continue to be available to this day to anyone who might benefit from them.

Brian was also a senior show jumping judge and he also served on many equestrian committees over the years.

An affable, helpful and generous man, and a true gentleman who gave much of himself for our sport.

Equestrian Australia thanks Brian for his contribution to the sport of Equestrian and send our deepest condolences to his family.