Horse producer badly hurt at event

Showjumping Ireland is to investigate the serious injury of Deirdre Bourns, mother of international showjumper Andrew Bourns, after she was struck by a horse at Cavan Equestrian Centre Indoor Championships on Wednesday.

Ms Bourns, who was transferred to Dublin’s Mater Hospital with possible neck injuries, and another woman, Rose Mary Rice, were hit by a young horse in the warm-up arena.

“I’m fine, just banged and bruised. I was lucky,” said Ms Rice, a committee member of the SJI’s Leinster region, last night. “We were in the warm-up arena and a young horse ducked out of the fence and, unfortunately, Deirdre was badly hurt. She is a real force in show jumping and produces a lot of fine horses. I just pray that she has a full recovery.”

Ms Bourns and husband Richard are well-known horse producers, based at Lisbeg Farm, Ballinasloe, Co Galway. In 2007, their son Andrew moved to Florida and is a regular on the US circuit. He was on the Irish team that placed second a fortnight ago in the $300,000 Canadian Nations Cup in Calgary.

SJI chairman Christy Murphy yesterday said: “We were saddened to hear of this, and our thoughts are with Deirdre and Rosemary and their families. We will have to investigate the circumstances.”