Vale - Elizabeth 'Liz' Boyle

The team at Equestrian Australia were saddened to learn this week of the passing of Liz Boyle at the Nagambie Hospital in Victoria.

As a teenager, Liz started her career in the show ring and had the top hacks Burma and Ranee.  She won and placed in many champion hacks and turnout classes at Royal Shows all over the country, including the prestigious Garryowen and Esquire Turnout classes at the Melbourne Royal Show.

Liz married David Boyle and together they hunted with Oaklands and Yarra Glen Hunt Clubs, often representing their clubs in hunter plates and teams events. From there, the couple started to take an interest in showjumping and over the years they teamed up with greats such as Jack Patten, Art Uytendaal and Guy Creighton who rode for their stable.

Liz and David established well-respected training and breeding farm, Trafalgar Lodge, in Toolern Vale, Victoria, just up the road from Cornwall Park Stud which was owned by the car sales entrepreneur Kevin Dennis, who took an active interest in all horse sports and his showjumpers were managed by the Boyle’s. In the late 1980’s Trafalgar Lodge and the riding school business was sold to EA Coach/Coach Educator Catherine Shelley and it became the Melton Equestrian Academy and continued the Boyle’s legacy of giving young enthusiasts a sound start with horses. 

Over the years, Liz and David owned a number of top horses, probably the best known was Mr Dennis who placed fifth at the Montreal Olympic Games with Guy Creighton aboard. There was also Trafalgar Square, Chatter, Leal, Gentleman, Darien Powers who, with Andrew Hoy at the helm, went on to win two Olympic Gold medals in the team competition at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and on home soil at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Liz leaves behind her husband David, daughter Sally (herself an excellent showjumper in Junior and Open classes), Michael, Rohan and their families. Her beloved border collie Meg will surely miss her as too will all of her friends.

Thank you for your contribution to equestrian sport Liz.

Following a memorial service that was held at Fowles Wine Avenel, Victoria on Wednesday the 6th December 2023, Mike Boyle spoke on behalf of the family and thanked everyone for their kind thoughts and great memories, and for "recognising mum's huge impact on the equine industry".