Equestrianism: Munro-Kerr dies after fall

MALCOLM MUNRO-KERR became the second rider to sustain fatal injuries this year while competing in horse trials. He fell and struck his head on the ground while riding at the Lowesby Horse Trials in Leicestershire on Saturday and died yesterday morning as the result of his injuries.

Munro-Kerr, 42, was an experienced horseman who hunted and evented regularly. He lived and worked in London, keeping his horses at livery in Leicestershire. He was riding his seven- year-old Grebe when the accident occurred at the third element of fence 19, a post-and- rails combination.

The previous weekend a 23- year-old rider, Richard Adams, died as the result of a fall at Windsor Three-Day Event.

In both cases medical help was on hand within minutes. Munro-Kerr was accompanied by a doctor when taken by ambulance to Leicester Royal Infirmary.

The fence where he fell has been part of the cross-country course since the Lowesby Horse Trials began four years ago. There have been no other serious accidents at the event; 176 horses cleared the fence without incident on Saturday.

This was the fourth human fatality in British eventing within three years. A working party has now been set up to report on whether any further advice regarding safety should be given to course builders.

It will be chaired by Hugh Thomas, the course designer for the Badminton Three-Day Event. Other members of the working party are Mike Tucker, the technical delegate at the 1992 Olympics, and Captains Mark Phillips and Jonathan Clark.