Dutch equestrian leader Martien van den Heuvel dies

Martien van den Heuvel

Former Dutch Equestrian Federation president Martien van den Heuvel has died at the historic menstruum of 73.

Martien van den Heuvel, who died on Thursday, was also a former fellow member of the FEI Finance as well as Nominations Committees. He was awarded the Golden Pin as well as also made an honorary fellow member of the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) in recognition of his many services to equestrian sports inwards the Netherlands.

As a farmer’s son, he had a natural passion for horses, simply his career took him inwards a unlike direction. Blessed with a sharply analytical heed as well as fantabulous fiscal insight, he became a successful human being of affairs as well as managing managing director of the international companionship Bosch Rexroth, manufacturer of hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical as well as mechanical crusade systems, as well as then known every bit the Hydraudyne Group.

He offset came to populace attending inwards the equestrian footing inwards 1984, when he became treasurer of the international Equus caballus present Indoor Brabant. He was appointed President of the present inwards 1997, as well as nether his leadership Indoor Brabant developed into 1 of the world’s premier equestrian events.

In Jan 2002, he was elected President of the Board of the KNHS as well as made the determination to resign every bit President of Indoor Brabant so that he could focus on developing the KNHS, which was formed at that fourth dimension every bit the number of a merger of xvi real unlike equestrian organisations, of varying sizes as well as each with its ain history as well as culture. He led the novel organisation with non bad vision as well as drive, tackling caput on the enormous chore of making the KNHS a successful as well as financially salubrious sports federation.

With typical unloosen energy as well as enthusiasm, Martien van den Heuvel worked tirelessly to plow the KNHS into the organisation he envisaged. By the fourth dimension he retired every bit President inwards Jan 2011 at the halt of his maximum term of office, the KNHS had grown into 1 of the leading sports federations inwards the Netherlands every bit a tight-knit, financially audio estabslishment, well-regulated as well as highly successful inwards delivering world-class performances. Under his chairmanship, a stimulate down was also made on restructuring the KNHS, including the successful cooperation with the Royal Warmblood Studbook of the Netherlands (KWPN), which has latterly been completed. The number of this restructuring, the national equestrian middle inwards Ermelo, is straightaway nearing completion.

His passion for equestrian sports also manifested itself inwards other ways. He was acquaint at many international championships, as well as was highly involved inwards the careers of the top Dutch riders. But he did non larn out it at that. From his abode inwards Den Dungen (near ’s-Hertogenbosch), he ofttimes travelled the length as well as breadth of the the world to acquaint prizes to champions – from harness horses inwards the N to jumping as well as dressage ponies inwards the south.

At his cheerio reception, he received a ‘Liber Amicorum’, inwards which sixty people closely involved inwards equestrian sports reminisced close the many facets of his incredible appointment with the sport. The mass was aptly entitled Met hart en ziel (‘With pump as well as soul’).

During his chairmanship, Martien van den Heuvel often demonstrated unswerving determination as well as perseverance. He was a keen advocate of reforms inside the FEI, every bit good every bit inside the NOC*NSF, the Dutch National Olympic Committee, as well as he actively contributed to these reforms. He was firmly convinced that the equestrian sector inwards the Netherlands needed a unified vocalism inwards the Sectorraad Paarden (Joint Equine Sectoral Committee). He non entirely expressed his opinion, simply also gear upwardly to piece of job himself to farther the interests of both equestrian sports as well as the equine industry.

His refer volition ever endure inextricably linked to the evolution of the KNHS into an equestrian sports federation that is respected both nationally as well as internationally, as well as he made an invaluable contribution to the evolution as well as professionalisation of Indoor Brabant as well as the Sectorraad Paarden.

FEI President Princess Haya said she was shocked to remove heed of van den Heuvel’s passing. “He was a actually wonderful human being as well as a truthful visionary, who ever had the best interests of the equestrian world, inwards all its guises, at heart.

“He understood the importance of right governance inwards sport at all levels, as well as was unstinting with his fourth dimension as well as expertise. He played a vital operate inwards developing the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation into the potent as well as successful organisation it is today, as well as alongside his many other roles, was also an invaluable fellow member of the FEI’s Finance as well as Nominations Committees. With his passing, the equestrian footing has lost a loyal as well as truthful friend. He volition endure much missed,” she said.

Martien van den Heuvel’s funeral takes house on Tuesday, seven Jan 2014, at 11am inwards the Sint-Jacobus de Meerdere Church, H. Hartplein 1, 5275 BM Den Dungen, The Netherlands. 

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