Wife of NZ Olympian dies in riding fall
The equestrian world is mourning event rider Georgie Campbell, wife of Kiwi Olympian Jesse Campbell.
The equestrian world is “shocked to the core” by the death of event rider Georgie Campbell at the Bicton International Horse Trials in Devon.
Despite attempts to save her by medical responders, the vastly experienced and successful 36-year-old rider died at the scene after a fall on Sunday.
Her mount had tumbled at a fence that was the second part of a combination of a hedge and a hanging log with a dry landing before open water.
Laura Collett, the British Olympic team gold medallist from Tokyo who suffered a life-threatening fall herself in 2013 which left her blind in one eye, paid tribute to her friend.
She said: “Georgie was the most genuinely lovely girl you could ever meet. 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.”
Campbell was based at Lamberhurst,near Tunbridge Wells in Kent, with her husband Jesse and was riding in an event called CCI4*-S (short) at the popular West Country horse trials.
Taught to ride at the age of 2 by her mother, Campbell (née Strang) married fellow event rider Jesse Campbell – who competed for New Zealand at the Tokyo Olympics and is on the long list for Paris – in December 2020. They were previously based in Wiltshire before establishing Team Campbell Eventing in Kent.
Georgie Campbell had also ridden at Badminton and Burghley.
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 a doyenne of the sport, said: “Words seem shallow to describe a person as unique as Georgie. She was absolutely beautiful both inside and out. She was such a special member of the eventing community, loved by so many. It has shocked the equestrian community to the core.
“She was a much-loved family member and wife devoted to her husband Jesse. A very dear friend to many. It is so very tragic.
“My heart goes out to Jesse and all who loved her. The eventing family will all pull together to help and give each other support and comfort, particularly for those friends and loved ones that need it most.”
William Fox-Pitt, a two-time Badminton winner who announced his retirement after 40 years in the sport earlier this month, added: “The fence she fell at has been there five years and jumped hundreds of times, I should think almost without incident. It asks a horse a very fair question and it was unbelievably unlucky it didn’t work out but, for whatever reason, horses can occasionally misjudge the simplest of fences.”
After five riders were killed in British eventing in 1999, the sport has made huge strides in safety and horse welfare. Body protectors are now mandatory and previously “solid” fences are now held up with frangible pins, which means they collapse whenhithard.
Last year, Zazie Gardeau, then the reigning European champion young rider aged 21, was airlifted to hospital after a fall at a different fence at Bicton left her with head injuries. She eventually returned to France, where she is still in recovery. –
The decision by the Hurricanes’ Aidan Morgan to play for Irish club Ulster is proof that talented first five-eighths in New Zealand continue to be juicy targets for overseas clubs.
Morgan, 22, has announced he will join Ulster on a two-year deal once Super Rugby Pacific ends.
Although Morgan has made just three appearances in Super Rugby Pacific this season, because Brett Cameron has been a regular starter at No 10 for the Hurricanes, his exodus means another layer of experience has been mined from an increasingly shallow pool of experienced first-fives.
Morgan’s announcement comes as top-drawer No 10s are in short supply for NZ Rugby’s contracting staff.
“The Hurricanes has been my home since I left high school four years ago and although it was a difficult decision to leave, this opportunity with Ulster is one that aligns with my aspirations as a player,” Morgan said.
“I’m looking forward to contributing to the rest of the season with the Hurricanes.”
Morgan would qualify to play for Ireland through his grandfather, who was born in Belfast. The Irish squad already has a number of players with Kiwi passports, including James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park and Bundee Aki.
Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw wished Morgan well. “Although Aidan hasn’t got as many opportunities to start as he would have liked this season, his ability to contribute to our preparation each week has been relentless.
“He’s an amazing team man, and I’m sure he’ll succeed on his next adventure overseas, and we wish him all the best. We look forward to reconnecting in the future.”
News of Morgan’s imminent departure follows the declaration by Crusaders firstfive Fergus Burke that he has signed for English club Saracens as a replacement for England’s Owen Farrell. Burke would be eligible to play for Scotland.
After the World Cup in France last year, All Blacks No 10 Richie Mo’unga joined Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus on a three-year deal.
NZ Rugby has since confirmed it would like Mo’unga to return home, which would make him eligible for the All Blacks.
This is despite there not being an outclause in his contract.
Veteran All Black Beauden Barrett, who can play first-five and fullback, skipped Super Rugby Pacific this year to play in Japan but would be available for the All Blacks ahead of the tests against England and Fiji.
With Mo’unga and Barrett in Japan, the Chiefs’ Damian McKenzie has been the only first-five in Super Rugby Pacific to have played for the All Blacks at a World Cup.
Josh Ioane, who made a test appearance for the All Blacks in 2019, is on the Chiefs roster. Kaleb Trask has not been sighted for the franchise because of injury.
The Blues’ Stephen Perofeta can play No 10; he played three tests in 2022. Last weekend Perofeta made his first appearance since late March at fullback. The uncapped Harry Plummer has locked down the playmaker’s role at the Blues.
One-test All Black Brett Cameron, who spent a season in Japan in 2022 before linking up with the Hurricanes, has recently re-signed with NZ Rugby and the Hurricanes through to 2026.
While Cameron has been a regular starter at first-five for the Hurricanes this season, the Crusaders have had a revolving door in that position.
David Havili, Taha Kemara, Riley Hohepa and Rivez Reihana appeared at first-five for the Crusaders before Burke returned for the round-13 game against the Brumbies.
The Highlanders, meanwhile, recruited former Welsh international Rhys Patchell but have leaned towards their young Ajay Faleafaga and Cameron Millar to start at first-five in the latter part of the season.*