Top New Zealand event rider Andrew Nicholson is in hospital after suffering a neck injury at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe.
Andrew fell from nine-year-old Cillnabradden Evo during the CIC3* at the Gloucestershire event yesterday (Sunday 9 August).
A spokesman for the family told H&H today (Monday 10 August): “Andrew has a neck injury and is currently undergoing treatment at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.”
Andrew fell at the final fence on the cross-country course. The six-time Olympian was taken to hospital in Swindon immediately. He was then transferred to the John Radcliffe.
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Fans of “Mr Stickability” were greatly concerned on seeing the accident, with several contacting H&H.
Darryl Dawson from Connexion PR told H&H: “Three ambulances rushed in. It was very worrying. We’re all massive fans of Andrew so were very shocked and wish him all the best.”
Andrew has been competing Cillnabradden Evo, who is by Creeevagh Ferro Ex Siebe and out of Willow Garden since March 2014. The pair won the advanced at Weston Park in April and finished fifth in the open intermediate at Cholmondeley Castle.
The pair also won the Amlin Plus eventers’ challenge at Hickstead (pictured). The rider remarked that the gelding is “a horse that has come up through the grades very quickly, but will be a top horse”.
He took on the ride from Irish eventer Padraig McCarthy, who has recently been selected to represent his country at the FEI European Eventing Championships. The ride previously belonged to Padraig’s fiancee Lucy Wiegersma. The horse has 247 British Eventing points.
The horse was not injured in the fall.
The flagship class at Gatcombe, the British Open championship, went to Australia’s Christopher Burton and TS Jamaimo.
Nicola Wilson was best of the Brits in third, landing the national title with the popular coloured mare Beltane Queen.
Oliver Townend scored a notable double in Saturday’s intermediate and novice championships, taking the intermediate with Note Worthy and the novice on Sonic De Sermentol.
The new novice restricted championship, the Corinthian Cup, was won by Noah Brook riding Deo Volente III.
