THERE was very much a void in the equestrian section of last September’s re-scheduled Balmoral Show following the unexpected death in early May of Maddybenny’s Philip White.

Next week, another well-known face will be missing from the ranks as Philip’s good friend, Billy Roulston MBE, died in mid-March at the age of 89 at the Ratheane Private Nursing Home in his adopted town of Coleraine. Ever dapper, ever-smiling and ever-positive, Billy had a word of encouragement for everyone, old and young.

Originally from Co Donegal, Billy joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the early 1950s. After his training, he was posted to Downpatrick and there he met his wife Norrie who predeceased him in 2011. After 31 years in the service, he retired as a Detective Sergeant in 1983.

Billy, who was once a keen golfer, was a past captain of Rathmore Golf Club, which, for many years, he represented in the Irish Senior Cup, and a member of Royal Portrush Golf Club. He was also an International clay pigeon shooter. As a past pupil and captain, he rarely missed supporting the Prior School, Raphoe hockey and soccer teams and played senior hockey himself for Down and Portrush.

For the past 30 years, Billy devoted all of his leisure time to promoting equestrian sports, in particular show jumping, across the province. In 2010, he was awarded an MBE in Queen Elizabeth’s New Year Honours for his outstanding service to equestrian sport in Northern Ireland. He was instrumental in the running of many shows at the Bowl in Portrush having been a founder member, and joint-show director, of the Portrush-based Causeway Coast Charity Showjumpers.

“I looked around and found the ‘Bowl arena’, just across from the Dunluce Centre, in a sheltered area with links footing. We leased the land from Coleraine Borough Council with the aim of getting equipment and setting up shows. Alec Creith from Bushmills, who had horses with Brian Henry, was a great help. I’ve loved to see young people progress from our shows and go on to international success.”

Among those who paid tribute to Billy on learning of his death were the committee of ShowJumping Ireland’s Ulster Region, of which he was a committee member for many years, the Coleraine Unit of St John Ambulance, of which he was president, and the Causeway Coast and Glens Riding for the Disabled Association of which he was an ardent supporter.

Many individuals recalled Billy as a friend and a gentleman and one of show jumping’s great characters. These sentiments were reflected among those he met as an attendee at the many affiliated and unaffiliated one-day events at Maddybenny, at the Route Hunt point-to-point and, of course, the many show jumping events he enjoyed so much.

J.C.