British Eventing has confirmed the deaths of riders Sophie Fouracre and Kerry Donoghue following separate cross-country accidents on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Fouracre, 34, was fatally injured while riding Rhubarbsfox Brittania at Swalcliffe Park in Oxfordshire. Donoghue, 42, died hours later while riding Carneyhaugh Rua at Frenchfield Farm near Penrith, Cumbria.
Emergency Response
Medical teams at both venues provided immediate emergency treatment, but neither rider could be saved. The Great North Air Ambulance was dispatched to the incident involving Donoghue, with its critical care team activated at 3.21pm. A paramedic and doctor arrived at the scene at 3.26pm. Both horses were examined by veterinary teams and found to be uninjured.
British Eventing Statement
British Eventing initially announced “serious incidents” at both competitions, which were subsequently abandoned for the weekend. Chief executive Rosie Williams said: “The British Eventing community is heartbroken. On behalf of everyone at British Eventing, I want to extend our deepest condolences to Kerry and Sophie’s families, friends and loved ones at this devastating time. Our thoughts are also with their fellow competitors, organisers, officials, volunteers and everyone who has been affected by these tragic events. We are immensely grateful to the organisers, doctors, paramedics, veterinary teams, officials and emergency services at both events for the professionalism, compassion and care they showed in the most difficult of circumstances. The loss of two members of our eventing family on the same day is almost beyond words, and we know the sadness of these events will be felt profoundly across the sport for some time to come.”
Safety Reviews and Support
In accordance with British Eventing’s safety and incident review procedures, comprehensive reviews of both accidents will be undertaken. Mental health charity Riders Minds has offered “immediate support” to members of the eventing community following what it described as “desperately sad news.”
Context: Recent Fatalities in Eventing
Eventing consists of three disciplines – dressage, showjumping and cross-country – with both fatal accidents occurring during the cross-country phases. Rider fatalities are rare in eventing, though the sport has experienced several tragic accidents in recent years. Professional eventer Georgie Campbell died in May 2024 after her horse fell and landed on her at Bicton International Horse Trials in Devon. British rider Sarah Yorke, 37, also died following an accident during the cross-country phase of the Aston-le-Walls horse trials in August 2025.
