( EQUESTRIAN CHARACTERS remembered )
Martin aſter he lost the ride on his own horse at one of the Olympics.” Duggie, riding Ruby Holland-Martin’s mount Aherlow, went on to finish a respectable 12th in Helsinki, a score that contributed to the overall team gold. “Britain hadn’t won a single gold medal in anything at that point”, says Clare. Indeed, it was these Olympic Games that put Duggie and Aherlow and his fellow team mates, Sir Harry Llewellyn and Foxhunter and Wilf White on Nizefela names down in the history books. “The morning, with the dew still on the grass, brought both startling falls and spirited jumps”, stated the official report. “The aſternoon session began in an atmosphere of ‘breath taking excitement!” the report continued. Aſter Helsinki Duggie, now having leſt the army, went on to captain the winning British team for the Aga Khan Cup at the Dublin International Horse Show. “It was next won by the Brits a week aſter Daddy died in 1991”, recalls Clare. By now a full- time farmer near Banbury, Duggie’s days were mainly taken up on the land but he continued to show jump at
County level riding horses for Robert Hanson and Ronnie Masserella amongst others. “Daddy had a talent for getting the best out of any horse”, concludes Clare. “He had total empathy; he never lost his temper or bullied; he was small, light and elegant and he just became part of the horse.” He took up flying in 1960 and James can only remember him sitting on a horse once more before his death in 1991.
Contributor’s Note:
I can’t help but think that it was the 1952 Helsinki Olympics that must have triggered the British people’s love and recognition of showjumping. If you look back to the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and the coverage of the sport, where riders and their horses became pinups and showjumping became glamorous. Y
, what an amazing feat and
ou only need pick up a copy of
Jilly Coopers Riders or look back at the BBC coverage of the time to realise what a loved household sport this once was. Duggie and his fellow team mates brought back hope and excitement to the British people when morale was low legacy to leave behind.
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MAY/JUNE 2019
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