SHOW jumping in Ireland has lost one of its stalwarts with the recent death in her 88th year of Vera Frazer from Aghalee, Co Antrim.

Vera dedicated and devoted her life to show jumping from a very early age. She was both a course designer and judge for over 40 years and was instrumental in the training and mentoring of many others in both disciplines. She had a love for all facets of equestrianism and, in her early years, hunted regularly with the Killultagh, Old Rock and Chichester Hunt.

Her husband, Fred, died at a relatively young age and Vera brought up their five children – Billy (deceased), Christine, Alan, Harold and Penny – while continuing to fulfil her official duties at shows all over the island of Ireland. She was highly-respected and well-known for her horsemanship and production of both ponies and horses whose progress and development she followed with great pride.

She was custodian of the Ulster Region’s show jumps which she maintained regularly and transported to the various shows where she built the courses, judged the classes, packed up the fences and returned them to her storage – only to repeat the exercise the following week, always with her young family in tow.

Catering was included in Vera’s long list of many talents and for years she was responsible for galvanizing her team of helpers and providing, free of charge, the five-star lunches served to all the officials and sponsors at the National Balmoral Championships at the RUAS showgrounds. Her best-known catering ‘secret’ was, undoubtedly, her method of cooking salmon in the dishwasher. She was extremely meticulous in the preparation and presentation of her food which won many accolades and praise over the years.

Vera was a lady recognized far and wide for her wise counsel and encouragement to riders of all ages and abilities. She loved working with the Pony Club and spent many years of Sundays building and judging at Danescroft where her friendship with George Stewart and Breda Finn went back many years and where so many of our top riders of today actually started their education. Latterly, she was the resident course designer at Portmore Equestrian Centre where she built the first ever course in their original arena as well as building the first course in the new main indoor arena.

She was a great family woman and took enormous pride in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was especially delighted to follow the show jumping pursuits of her grandsons, Christopher Frazer, who is based in Germany, and Luke Campbell who competes throughout Ireland and with whom she frequented shows until fairly recently.

Vera could turn her hand to anything and was always generous with her time and knowledge in helping others. She will be fondly remembered for her lovely welcoming smile and quirky little laugh as well as her honesty, companionship and wealth of wisdom and knowledge.

The thoughts and prayers of the equestrian fraternity are extended to her immediate family, Alan, Christine, Harold and Penny, together with their families and the wider family circle.

DB.