Wim Ernes, international 5* dressage judge and former Dutch team trainer and KWPN stallion licensing committee chair, has passed away on 1 November 2016. The 58-year old Dutchman lost his battle against brain cancer.
Only a few days before his sad passing, Ernes became the recipient of the KNHS Golden Pin bestowed upon him by the Dutch Equestrian Federation for his lifetime achievements and dedication to dressage sport in The Netherlands.
Based in Schimmert, The Netherlands, Wim was a 5* dressage judge whose career highlight was judging the 2012 London Olympic Games, amongst many others. He has been an I-judge since 1993 and received the O/5* status in 2007.
Ernes was Dutch team trainer in the early 1990s and his equipe achieved team silver at the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Hague and team bronze at the 1996 Olympic Gmes in Atlanta. He returned as team trainer in 2012 and led Holland to team silver at the 2013 European Championships in Herning, team bronze at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen and historic team gold at the 2015 European Championships in Aachen.
"Ernes' inspired dedication to increase the art of riding and judging was unsurpassed," said KNHS director Theo Ploegmakers. "His relevance to the develpping of the education of the KNHS and FEI judges is invaluable. Besides that, Ernes was many years a member of several assessment and licensing committees for the KWPN and contributed significantly to the develpment of the breeding of top Dutch sport horses."
Ernes was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in December 2015.
He is survived by his wife Marleen and daughter Maud.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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