In Memoriam: Bob Ellis (1947 – 2026)
At CHIO Rotterdam, we have learned with great sadness of the passing of British course designer Robert ‘Bob’ Ellis.
Bob Ellis was a true legend in the sport of show jumping. Although his career took him to more than 30 countries and he reached the pinnacle of his profession by designing the courses for the London 2012 Olympic Games, we in Rotterdam hold a very special memory of him.
It was in 2001 that Bob first held the ultimate responsibility for course design in the Kralingse Bos, and he subsequently built the very first Samsung Super League in Rotterdam in 2003. It was a memorable year in which he created a course that found the perfect balance between challenge and sportsmanship, ultimately leading to a victory for the Dutch team in our home event.
Known to many as ‘Bob the Builder’, for us, he was primarily the horseman who knew how to flawlessly combine technical expertise with a human touch. He understood his craft like no other, always possessing a deep empathy for both the horse and the rider.
That same balance defined him as a person. Colleagues such as Louis Konickx, who worked as Bob’s course assistant during his years in Rotterdam, remember him as a mentor. Bob was a man with a calm demeanor, a dry sense of humor, and a genuine love for the sport. He was always willing to share his vast knowledge with the next generation, making him a respected teacher for many in our sport.
With his creative and fair courses, Bob has left an indelible mark on the history of CHIO Rotterdam.
We are grateful for the years he was part of our CHIO family. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of working with this remarkable man.
Bob, thank you for everything. You will be missed in the Kralingse Bos.