Showjumping’s ‘greatest ambassador’ dies

British showjumping’s ‘greatest ambassador’ Ronnie Massarella OBE has died aged 92 (18 October).

Glory years

Ronnie wasteam manager and chef d’equipe for the British senior teams, during the sport’s glory years when the likes of Harvey Smith and David Broome were household names.

The Italian-bred Yorkshireman was much-loved by all those involved in British showjumping. During his three decades as chef d’equipe he took Britain to eight Olympic Games, winning silver at both Rotterdam in 1980 and Los Angeles in 1984.

Lifetime award

He also saw them win team gold at the World Championship in 1979 and the European Championships in 1985 and team silver in the 1983 Europeans.

Ronnie was appointed OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 1982 for his services to the sport.Ronnie retired from his role in December 2000, but became British Showjumping Honorary Vice President.

According to British Showjumping, whoawarded him a Lifetime Award in 2001, he is “widely acknowledged as one of the greatest ambassadors this sport has ever known”.

Family affair

Alongside his passion for horses, Ronnie was also passionate about his family’s company, Massarella Catering Group of which he was chairman. The company was started by his father Giovanni 150 years ago and became the biggest producer of ice-cream in Europe.

Ronnie took over the business, which he ran with his sons, and developed it into a multi-million pound retail catering company.

Ronnie’s wife Edna passed away in May 2012 aged 86 years. They leave behind four sons Michael, Mark, Stephen and Jeremy and twelve grandchildren.