Rider killed at the Belton Horse trials

Ian Olding, 47, who was based in Sandbach but originally from Ireland, was a victim of a “rotational” fall on Gran-Kiki which British Eventing has worked hard to eliminate in recent years with the use of “frangible pins” that release fixed poles under pressure.

The fence at which the accident occurred, during one of the principal advanced competitions, was a table, which does not usually benefit from this device and was in the middle of a combination where the riding line was dictated by some deliberately situated carved figures.

After a hold-up of two hours, the organising committee took the “difficult decision’’ to resume the competition, ‘‘in the interests of the sport”, said organiser Stuart Buntine.

Alex Fox, chairman of British Eventing, said: “Ian was a well-known and much respected rider who has been competing for many years.”

The main CIC three-star was won by Emily Baldwin and Drivetime with a five-penalty margin.

Zara Phillips was among riders who elected to run with their Badminton-bound horses. New Zealand veterans Mark Todd (Grass Valley) and Andrew Nicholson (Oplitss and Nereo) won the three advanced classes between them.