Emily King apologises after being caught drink driving *Updated*
Event rider Emily King has been caught drink driving by police near Burghley Horse Trials.
Lincolnshire police stopped the 19-year-old as she travelled from the event in the early hours of Sunday morning (6 September).
Emily, daughter of eventing legend Mary King, was arrested and charged with driving over the prescribed limit of alcohol before being released on unconditional bail.
“I am deeply ashamed and embarrassed by my actions, which showed such poor judgement,” Emily told H&H in a statement on Tuesday evening (8 September).
“I am truly sorry and apologise to my family and friends, to my sponsors and owners who have been such great supporters, and in particular to the young people for whom I aspire to be a role model. I will accept the consequences of my actions and seek to regain the faith and trust that has been shown in me by so many.”
Earlier on Tuesday she told H&H: “I was only so fractionally over the limit.
“My solicitors are quite positive that it will work out as it was only so marginal.
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“I was dropping friends off at the bottom of town in Stamford and as I was driving through the centre in a queue of traffic, police were doing random stop checks.
“One tapped on my window and I was asked to be breathalysed.”
Emily will appear at Grantham Magistrates Court next month (12 October).
Rising eventing star
The Devon-based rider has been carving out a successful career as a professional event rider since she left school, competing up to three-star level.
Emily was part of Britain’s young rider eventing squad, who picked up team gold at the European Championships in Strzegom, Poland, last month (27-30 August). Emily was placed 13th individually on Loxley.
“As a squad of six, the riders all gelled and thrived off each other,” said team coach Emma Fisher following the event. “They went out there with a plan, which we’d worked out before we left. They stuck to their plan and it all came together.”
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.