Former Irish junior eventing gold medallist Alice Reeves-Smyth dies

Former Irish event rider Alice Reeves-Smyth, 50, was killed in a car crash last Sunday (6 December) night outside Naas, Co Kildare.

Alice, from Donadea, Co Kildare, was well known for her eventing achievements with the diminutive cross-country machine Millicent Bridge.

Known as Siobhan during her eventing days, she led the Irish to a team gold medal at the 1977 junior European Championships in Fontainebleau, France. She finished 10th individually at the championships.

She and Millicent Bridge also represented Ireland at the 1980 World Championships, also in Fontainebleau. Again, they finished best of the Irish, taking 19th place.

Alice completed Badminton on Millicent Bridge in 1981 and 1982.

Alice was also a racehorse owner and was involved in the Racegoers Consultative Forum, a group which provides a link between racegoers and racecourses and Horse Racing Ireland.

The funeral will be on Thursday, 10 December at 11.30am in St Michael’s Church, Millicent, Co Kildare and donations are requested to the Injured Jockeys Fund in lieu of flowers.

No other vehicles were involved in the incident.

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.