Inquest carried out on Irish horse
rider
A world-class equestrian rider from the North of Ireland died from massive
head injuries when the horse she was riding fell on top of her while the
pair negotiated a fence, an inquest has heard.
Sherelle Duke, 28, from Portadown, Co. Armagh, was taking part in a two-day
event at Brockenhurst, Hampshire, on August 20 this year when the accident
happened.
The hearing at Southampton Coroners Court was told Miss Duke was riding
her 12-year-old gelding Ballystockart on the advanced cross-country course
designed by Captain Mark Phillips when rider and horse approached fence
number nine.
Safety expert Peter Harcom said Miss Duke successfully negotiated the
first part of the 1.17 metre fence but then went over the top of the horse
as they approached the second part.
Ballystockart then also went over and landed on top of Miss Duke who suffered
a fractured skull, severe brain damage, fractured ribs and a punctured
lung.
Horse riding expert Jane Goldsmith, who was commissioned by Mr Harcom
to look into the jump, said in a letter that the fence design was considered
relatively easy and she said although it could never be known why the
accident happened it could have been that the horse tripped and stumbledbut
still tried to continue to get over the fence.
Miss Duke was described as a world-class competitor. She had been the
world young rider champion in 1999 was in the Irish equestrian team for
the 2003 European Championships and was in training for the next Olympics
in Beijing.
She was also a close friend of Zara Phillips and the Royal dedicated her
eventing win at the World Equestrian Games to Miss Duke.
The rider and her horse had competed together 28 times during the last
three years and only one other rider had fallen at the fence during the
event, the hearing was told.
Mr Harcom said his investigation had found that the 200-rider event, organised
by British Eventing, was well organised and professionally run with immediate
medical assistance given to Miss Duke. All aspects of the event had complied
with health and safety law.
“This is a traditional sporting activity that is inherently dangerous,”
said Mr Harcom.
He added that British Eventing kept statistics on the type of fence that
Miss Duke was jumping when she died and over the previous year it found
there had only been a problem on 0.03 per cent of jumps or 11 out of more
than 300,000.
Recording a verdict of accidental death Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman
said: “This statistically was an extremely unlikely event. This
was a pure accident. There is no indication of fault leading to it.
“Miss Duke was clearly a very talented young lady and I am sure
she will be missed already. The family have found it difficult to attend
today which I can understand.”
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