Zebedee
Well-Known Member
It won't take a great deal to work out who this was but I have deleted the names (excepting the inquest officials) from the edited version of an article in a local paper below.
This was a good friend of mine, who was without doubt an experienced, balanced & strong rider. Had he heeded the advice, or even just indulged his friends who urged him to wear a hat he might be with us today.
A NATIONAL riding champion from Newquay, who refused to wear a helmet outside of competitions, died after falling off a horse, an inquest has heard.
****** *********, sustained an "unsurvivable" brain injury following the accident close to Bejowan Farm equestrian centre on June 5 last year.
The father of two had been helping out a friend and stable owner and was riding a gelding called Mr T when he inexplicably slid from his saddle.
Described as "fearless and tough", Mr ******* was National Point-to-Point Champion in 1988 and was widely regarded as one of the greatest horsemen of his era, as both a rider and a trainer.
He had ridden horses all his life. He was old school and would never wear protective clothing or a riding hat.
The owner of the horse he was riding at the time said "We asked him to because it was a good example for my grandchildren (but he didn't).
He only wore hats at competitions because he had to. On the day he died he was not wearing a hat or back protector."
The court heard there was no concrete evidence to suggest he had a medical episode before the accident.
Pathologist Juliane Stolte, who carried out the post-mortem examination, said she believed the brain injury occurred as a result of the fall, although it was possible a haemorrhage may have occurred beforehand.
Assistant coroner Barrie Van Den Berg recorded a verdict of accidental death. The cause of death was said to be a skull fracture and brain haemorrhage.
This was a good friend of mine, who was without doubt an experienced, balanced & strong rider. Had he heeded the advice, or even just indulged his friends who urged him to wear a hat he might be with us today.
A NATIONAL riding champion from Newquay, who refused to wear a helmet outside of competitions, died after falling off a horse, an inquest has heard.
****** *********, sustained an "unsurvivable" brain injury following the accident close to Bejowan Farm equestrian centre on June 5 last year.
The father of two had been helping out a friend and stable owner and was riding a gelding called Mr T when he inexplicably slid from his saddle.
Described as "fearless and tough", Mr ******* was National Point-to-Point Champion in 1988 and was widely regarded as one of the greatest horsemen of his era, as both a rider and a trainer.
He had ridden horses all his life. He was old school and would never wear protective clothing or a riding hat.
The owner of the horse he was riding at the time said "We asked him to because it was a good example for my grandchildren (but he didn't).
He only wore hats at competitions because he had to. On the day he died he was not wearing a hat or back protector."
The court heard there was no concrete evidence to suggest he had a medical episode before the accident.
Pathologist Juliane Stolte, who carried out the post-mortem examination, said she believed the brain injury occurred as a result of the fall, although it was possible a haemorrhage may have occurred beforehand.
Assistant coroner Barrie Van Den Berg recorded a verdict of accidental death. The cause of death was said to be a skull fracture and brain haemorrhage.
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