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| Anglesey rider dies at jump event | Anglesey rider dies at jump event |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An Anglesey horsewoman has died while riding in a competition, just days before she was due to represent Great Britain at a major trials event. | An Anglesey horsewoman has died while riding in a competition, just days before she was due to represent Great Britain at a major trials event. |
| Married Jo-anne Williams, 34, from Llanfaethlu, died after being airlifted to Birmingham's Selly Oak hospital. | Married Jo-anne Williams, 34, from Llanfaethlu, died after being airlifted to Birmingham's Selly Oak hospital. |
| British Eventing (BE) - the UK's governing body for the sport - said the accident happened at the eighth fence at Sapey in Worcestershire. | British Eventing (BE) - the UK's governing body for the sport - said the accident happened at the eighth fence at Sapey in Worcestershire. |
| BE's chairman, Alex Fox, extended his sympathy to Mrs Williams' family. | BE's chairman, Alex Fox, extended his sympathy to Mrs Williams' family. |
| He added: "The thoughts and prayers of eventing people all over the country are with them at this sad time." | He added: "The thoughts and prayers of eventing people all over the country are with them at this sad time." |
| Mrs Williams was competing at the Sapey One Day Event and was at the eighth fence on the novice course when tragedy struck. Her horse, Shenandoah - known to her as Seamus - was uninjured in the incident. | Mrs Williams was competing at the Sapey One Day Event and was at the eighth fence on the novice course when tragedy struck. Her horse, Shenandoah - known to her as Seamus - was uninjured in the incident. |
| Mrs Williams, ran a beauty salon at Valley on Anglesey, had been chosen to ride at the Ballygraffan horse trials in Ireland later this month. | |
| She was one of just eight riders representing Great Britain, and the only one from Wales. | She was one of just eight riders representing Great Britain, and the only one from Wales. |
| Days before her death she told the Bangor and Anglesey newspaper of her excitement at being chosen. | Days before her death she told the Bangor and Anglesey newspaper of her excitement at being chosen. |
| She said: "It's a massive commitment to get the horse and me fit and also to practise all the elements. It's also quite expensive to take part. | She said: "It's a massive commitment to get the horse and me fit and also to practise all the elements. It's also quite expensive to take part. |
| "I started riding when my mum and dad moved here from Cheshire and I started riding a pony at the age of six. | "I started riding when my mum and dad moved here from Cheshire and I started riding a pony at the age of six. |
| "I couldn't do this without the help and support of my mum Mary Symcox who looks after Seamus, or my husband Richard who helps with transport." | "I couldn't do this without the help and support of my mum Mary Symcox who looks after Seamus, or my husband Richard who helps with transport." |
| Anglesey's Drag Hunt master Tony Beardsley, who had known Mrs Williams since she was a little girl, said everyone was "devastated" by news of the accident. | |
| "Jo was capable of doing anything, she made a great success of everything she did," he said. | |
| "There was an air of control about her. She was just a lovely person to know." | |
| He added Mrs Williams was mother to a young daughter, and had "worked very hard" to get to the high level of competition riding she had achieved over the last few years."She will be sorely missed by the Anglesey drag hunt too," he added. |