Horse rider died of traumatic injuries at event

Sarah Yorke died after falling from a horse during the event in Northamptonshire (stock image)

A horse rider died from traumatic injuries after falling at a cross-country competition, an inquest has heard.

Sarah Yorke, 37, was competing at the Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials in Northamptonshire on 8 August when she struck the third fence and both she and her horse landed upside down.

On-site vets said her horse, MGH Hera, was uninjured.

At a short inquest hearing in Northampton, senior coroner Anne Pember said Ms Yorke suffered abdominal haemorrhaging and injuries to the chest and abdomen, consistent with death due to trauma.

British Eventing, the governing body for the sport, said medical professionals attended immediately but she could not be saved.

At the time of the incident, chief executive Rosie Williams said: "On behalf of everyone at British Eventing, I would like to express our deepest condolences to Sarah's family and friends."

Ms Pember added that several horses had successfully cleared the fence earlier in the competition.

Ms Yorke's body has since been released to her family.

She was also a teacher at two primary schools in Shropshire, and a third in Powys in Wales.

The Shropshire Hills Federation, which ran the two schools in Shropshire, said Ms Yorke was an "inspirational" teacher.

The inquest was adjourned until 11 February 2026.