Rider fatality at Belton Horse Trials

By Justine Thompson

General news

27 April 2009 09:55

A rider has died at one of the first cross-country events of the season on Sunday, following a rotational fall.

Ian Olding, 47, of Cheshire, fell from his horse, Gran-Kiki at Belton Horse Trials in Lincolnshire.

The fall happened at a table fence at around 11am and the trials were suspended for two hours while an ambulance attended the scene.

Organisers then took the decision to proceed with the Grantham Cup - with the table fence combination removed.

Organiser Stuart Buntine said: "The decision to continue was made by the whole team here.

"As an ex-rider and from past experience, unfortunately, of incidents where there has been fatalities in the sport, none of us want to stop the sport.

"We have taken the jump away and nobody is taking the incident lightly.”

Alex Fox, chairman of British Eventing, said: "Our sympathies on this sad day are with Ian's family.

"Ian was a well-known and much respected rider who has been competing for many years. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

* Coroner calls for safety to be improved at British Eventing courses following young rider’s death. Click here for details