Grave Concerns For Kiwi Olympic Rider After Fall

Grave concerns for New Zealand's top event rider Andrew Nicholson.

He's in an Oxford hospital that specialises in trauma, after suffering a neck injury at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe yesterday.

The 53-year-old fell at the last fence on the cross-country course. The six-time Olympian was in the lead when his horse Cillnabradden Evo fell.

Eventing journalist and a friend of Nicholson's, Barbara Gale, says there's no clear information on exactly what's happened.

"I can only say that knowing Andrew very well over the years, that it can't just be a little knock to keep someone like Andrew Nicholson in hospital."

"Over here and especially here in Wiltshire, he's a star to us."

Another competitor who saw it said it was very worrying.

According to Horse and Hound magazine the Nicholson was taken to hospital in Swindon immediately.

He was then transferred to John Radcliffe Hospital.

"Three ambulances rushed in. It was very worrying," witness Darryl Dawson told horseandhound.co.uk.

Nicholson has won three Olympic medals (silver in 1992, bronze in 1996 and bronze in 2012) in six appearances. Nicholson and equestrian teammate Mark Todd were the first New Zealanders to compete in six Olympics.

Nicholson has won the Burghley horse trials five times.

- Newstalk ZB