In that has shocked the eventing world, British rider Georgie Campbell has tragically died at the age of 37 after an accident at the Bicton International Horse Trials in on Sunday. Campbell – who competed in more than 200 events, including Badminton and Burghley – was riding horse Global Quest when the accident took place on the cross-country course. She fell at a fence, known as the Symonds & Sampson Splash, where she was immediately attended by a team of medical professionals, but sadly died at the scene.
Her horse was assessed by onsite vets, before being taken back to the stables, uninjured. Fellow equestrians have expressed their shock and sadness at the news, including Laura Collett, the British Olympic team gold medallist, who suffered a life-threatening fall herself in 2013, which left her blind in one eye. ‘Georgie was the most genuinely lovely girl you could ever meet,’ she said.
‘She would light up any room with her smile and always made time to chat. She was a fantastic rider who produced many horses up through the levels. It’s hard to comprehend what has happened, a beautiful soul has been taken far too soon.
’ Pippa Funnell, one of only two riders to have ever won eventing’s grand slam of Kentucky, Burghley and Badminton in the same year (and who was made an MBE in 2005 for services to equestrian sport) made her own statement. ‘Words seem shallow to describe a person as unique as Georgie. She was absolutely beautiful both inside and out.
She was.