Tragedy as British rider Sarah Yorke, 37, dies after competition fall

Tragedy has struck at a horse trials event after British rider Sarah Yorke, 37, died following a fall during the competition. 

The heartbreaking accident happened yesterday at Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials in the village of the same name in Northamptonshire. 

The athlete fell at the third fence in the cross-country part of the eventing contest, a multi-stage equestrian sport which also has showjumping and dressage elements. 

British Eventing (BE) said medical professionals ‘immediately’ attended after the primary school teacher and mother to a seven-year-old girl fell. 

But they said: ‘Tragically, she could not be saved. 

‘Her horse, MGH HERA, was assessed by the on-site vets, walked back to the stable, and is uninjured.’  

Ms Yorke and her horse were competing at the BE100 level of the British Eventing (BE) competition for their first time together – a division designed for grassroots riders and horses to gain experience. 

She was fresh off a win last month with her seven-year-old horse, in the BE90 class at trials at the Swalcliffe Park equestrian centre, near Banbury, Oxfordshire.

The three-day horse trials at Aston-le-Walls, which were due to enter their final day today, have now been abandoned after the accident. 

The equestrian centre had planned to host an unrelated showjumping and cross-country schooling day tomorrow which will go ahead. 

BE chief executive Rosie Williams said: ‘On behalf of everyone at British Eventing, I would like to express our deepest condolences to Sarah’s family and friends. 

‘The thoughts of the entire eventing community are with them at this incredibly difficult time.’ 

The equestrian sporting body, announcing her death in ‘deepest sadness’, has said it will conduct a full formal review of the accident. 

It also encouraged eventers to support each other after the fatality: ‘This is a deeply difficult moment for the eventing community.’

The statement finished: ‘To respect the family’s privacy during this very sad time, no further details will be shared.’

Ms Yorke’s mare, Irish-bred from showjumping sire Herald III, had previously competed at BE100 with two other riders. 

The athlete had ridden in this division with another horse named Ringfort L’Allegro, who she evented with in 2021, 2022 and 2023.  

The BE Support Trust helpline, which is staffed by trained professionals, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 07780 008877.