Death of Benny Kuehnle

[wishfulthinking]

Link to Horse Sport Ireland press release.

http://www.horsesportireland.ie/news


What a tragic loss, my thoughts are with his friends and family.

[wishfulthinking]

Hope it's ok to post acopy of the release here.

07/11/2008 IT WAS with great sadness that Horse Sport Ireland learned today of the untimely death of 20 year-old Irish international Show Jumper Benny Kuehnle at Cavan.

Benny was one of the most promising show jumping riders of his generation. He was part of Ireland's Young Rider team that competed at this year's European championships in Prague, where he led the team to sixth place and finished in an outstanding 11th place in the individual competition from 65 of Europe's top young riders.

As a senior rider he was really making his mark on the National Circuit and had been competing internationally. Only last month he was victorious at the Northern Ireland International Horse Show in Belfast riding Looping Star.

Ireland's Young Rider Chef d'Equipe Comdt John Ledingham said that Benny was one of the most gifted young riders in Europe.

"Benny was prodigiously talented. His performance at this year's European championships was outstanding, and while he finished 11th he was very unlucky not to finish even higher up the ranks. Words cannot express the shock all of us in the sport are feeling at this news."

On behalf of the entire equestrian community Horse Sport Ireland and ShowjumpingIreland wish to extend to his family and friends our deepest and most heartfelt sympathy.

[dannydunne]

i had a call at about 11 this morning from a mate who used to work at cavan and he told me about it, i was shocked and didn't know what to say or think. i couldn't make sense of it.

such a same, he was such a talented and gifted rider but above all a great guy. i knew him on ponies then didn't see him for about 4 years until the young riders show at wales and the west this year but i didn't get a chance to speak to him. i saw him jumping at cavan in september and he was class, i managed to catch up with him one evening. i doubt many people on here know him or have heard about him but he was destined for great things, a future star.

a tragic loss

[FRESHMAN]

What a terribly sad situation. My son Andy is out at Cavan & was with Benny till just before midnight Thursday. My heart goes out to his family. God knows how they will cope with this sad loss.
Words fail me.

[lucretia]

lord thats terrible. i am supposing he had a fall, and obviously that can happen to any rider anytime but you just dont expect it. thoughts to the family.

[Skhosu]

oh no how awful

[beckster]

rip m8 what a tragic waste, thoughts are with u and your family at this time xx

[only_me]

awful

[druid]

Such a bloody waste - horrid news

[flashlytashly]

So horrible, He used to ride in ponies and juniors in eventing ireland at the same time as I was and he was a lovely guy - RIP Benny