Wall Of Fame

Elizabeth Ashton

MEMBER OF BRANCH OR BRANCHES: Toronto & North York

REGION: Central Ontario

APPROXIMATE DATES OF MEMBERSHIP: from 1959-1971

HIGHEST TESTING LEVEL ACHIEVED: A

IN WHAT DISCIPLINES DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN PONY CLUB:

C Rally, A/B Rally, Quiz

ACHIEVEMENTS IN PONY CLUB IN ADULTHOOD:

I have conducted a number of lectures and clinics for the Pony Club and have been a keynote speaker at the Pony Club Leadership symposium back in the early 90's.

ACHIEVEMENTS AS A RIDER:

• I competed on the Canadian Show Jumping Team on the Fall international circuit in 1969 (on Darwen, Lancaster); in 1970 (on Regardez) and in 1972 (on Scotch Valley, Hombre).
• 1975 Pan Am Eventing Team _ team silver (on Abracadabra)
• 1976 Olympic Eventing Team _ horse injured prior to competition (on Malmud)
• Captain of t he 1978 World Championships Eventing Team gold (on Sunrise; my second horse, Abracadabra, was also on the team and was ridden by Cathy Wedge)
• 1980 Alternate Olympic Eventing Team : alternate Olympics _ 6th place individually (on Sunrise)
• 1984 Olympic Eventing Team (on Osian)

ACHIEVEMENTS AS AN ACCREDITED OFFICIAL

• 1977-1990 Member National Coaching Committee
• NCCP Level 3 Eventing Coach
• 1981-1986 Canadian Olympic Committee Director and member of the Athlete Advisory Council
• 1984-1986 CBC Sports Weekend Colour Commentator for Show Jumping
• 1980-1994 NCCP National Examiner, Coach and Course Conductor for Equine Canada
• 1988-1993 Chairperson Canadian Equestrian Team ? Eventing
• Director of the Canadian Combined Training Assoc.
• Canadian Equestrian Team Board of Directors
• 1990 Chef d,Equipe: Eventing Team World Equestrian Games
• 1988-1994 Chair High Performance Committee for Eventing
• 1988-1992 Chair of the Eventing Selection Committee

ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE MAINSTREAM

• Academic Degrees achieved:
  • Bachelor of Physical and Health Education
  • MA in Community College Teaching
  • MEd in Higher Education
  • PhD in Education Administration
  • Doctor of Laws - honoris causa
• Career Highlights:
  • 1973-1982 Director of Equine Studies at Humber College in Toronto
  • 1982-1985 Chair / Associate Dean Applied and Creative Arts , Humber College
  • 1986-1990 Dean of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Management, Humber College
  • 1990-1994 VP Education, Sir Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough Ontario
  • 1994-present President of Camosun College in Victoria BC
• Awards:
  • 1992 Governor General's Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada awarded in recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, community and to Canada.
  • 2002 The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for contribution to Canada, Community and fellow Canadians.

How Pony Club contributed to my success:

The Pony Club is where my dream to represent Canada at the Olympics all began. I was fortunate to have Jim Elder as my Pony Club instructor when I was a B and A pony-clubber. He was an incredible role model and mentor. When the Canadian Jumping Team led by Jim Elder and "The Immigrant" won gold at the Olympics in 1968, my dream was born.

My time in the Pony Club provided me with my foundation in horsemanship, leadership, teaching and coaching skills. In many ways these skills, as much as my academic credentials, were responsible for me getting my first job in post-secondary education after graduating from university. As you can see from my career highlights, my first position as Director of Equine Studies at Humber College was the start of a lifetime career in post-secondary education that now sees me as the President of an outstanding College in Victoria BC.

Pony Club was also the start of my lifetime involvement in competitive sport, as an athlete, coach and volunteer administrator. In 2008 "The Pacific Sport Institute", a National Training Centre for high performance athletes and a Centre for Sport and Exercise Education will open at Camosun College in Victoria BC. This is the outcome of five years of working in partnership with Pacific Sport BC to lobby government and the private sector to raise the $27.75 million required to build the Institute and to recruit the "intellectual capital" required to realize its vision. The Pacific Sport Institute is destined to become a driving force in Canadian Sport.

FAVOURITE MEMORIES YOU HAVE OF OF PONY CLUB

The wonderful riding sessions we used to have every Saturday morning with Jim Elder at his Elderberry Hill Farm in Aurora. The dressage lessons with Christilot Boylen, the Toronto and North York Hunts we were invited to twice a year and the wonderful Sunday night lectures we had during the winter months. The memories are fantastic.

Sitting watching TV with fellow pony clubbers when the Canadian Show Jumping Team led by Jim Elder won team gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

Memories of my fellow Pony Clubbers ; Jim Day, Christilot Boylen (Hanson), Cindy Ishoy (Neal), Lorraine Stubbs, David Ballard, Libby McMullen all of whom have gone on to successful careers in various aspects of the horse industry.