Flood of sympathy for injured Nicholson

KIWI equestrian star Andrew Nicholson is in hospital in Britain after hitting the ground with a ‘‘dreadful thump’’, injuring his neck while competing.

The 54-year-old was competing at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe in Gloucestershire when he tumbled from his mount Cillnabradden Evo at the final fence of the cross-country course.

The six-time Olympian was taken to hospital by ambulance.

A family spokesman confirmed the injury, saying: ‘‘Andrew has a neck injury and is currently undergoing treatment at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.’’

Nicholson’s plight sparked huge sympathy on Twitter.

‘‘Wishing Andrew Nicholson a very speedy recovery from injuries sustained in a fall at Gatcombe’’ tweeted Equestrian Sport NZ.

‘‘Wishing Andrew Nicholson & his family very best wishes following his fall at@GatcombeHorse yesterday,’’ tweeted Barbury Castle, the equestrian stronghold near Nicholson’s British base in Marlborough, Wiltshire.

‘‘Sending jingles to Andrew Nicholson who was hospitalized following a fall at#GAT15 yesterday,’’ tweeted equestrian news centre Eventing Nation.

‘‘Speedy recovery to Andrew Nicholson after ‘‘Somersault’’ jump@GatcombeHorse,’’ said Horsetalk.co.nz.

‘‘Fingers crossed for Andrew Nicholson, who suffered a fall at@GatcombeHorse this weekend,’’ tweeted Chronicle of the Horse.

A witness said the accident appeared ‘‘worrying’’.

‘‘Three ambulances rushed in. It was very worrying. We’re all massive fans of Andrew so were very shocked and wish him all the best,’’ Darryl Dawson told Horse and Hound.

Barbara

Gale,

an

eventing Andrew Nicholson is in hospital in Britain with a neck injury after falling from his horse. journalist and friend of Nicholson, said he had completed the course when the horse apparently stumbled.

‘‘One of my listeners said to me that there was this dreadful thump as they hit the ground.’’

Gale said both the horse and rider recovered immediately but after that Nicholson felt unwell.

‘‘I can only say that knowing Andrew very well over the years, that it can’t just be a little knock to keep someone like Andrew Nicholson in hospital,’’ she said.

Nicholson has been in fine form in Europe this season, including winning the Barbury International Horse Trials for a fourth successive year. He has won a silver and two bronze medals in team eventing at the Olympics.

He has been at odds with Equestrian Sport NZ over special conditions being placed on him to be part of their high performance squad which put his place at next year’s Olympics in Brazil in jeopardy. However, his name is part of a ‘‘long list’’ of candidates forwarded for Rio 2016 consideration.