Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2014/03/08/memorial-trophy-late-nz-eventer-tom-gadsby/#ixzz2vV56hiQ4 Reuse: You may use up to 20 words and link back to this page. Other reuse not permitted Follow us: @HorsetalkNZ on Twitter | Horsetalk on Facebook A new trophy is to be presented at New Zealand’s Horse of the Year show in honor of late eventer Tom Gadsby. The inaugural Tom Gadsby Memorial Trophy will be presented to the winner of the Premier Stakes on March 22. The trophy has been donated by the Gadsby family in memory of the 26-year-old, who was fatally injured in a cross-country fall at the Somerford Park International Horse Trials in Cheshire, Britain, in August 2013. Equestrian Sports New Zealand chief executive Jim Ellis said the Premier Stakes were a fittingly prestigious class to honour Gadsby, given he had established himself in New Zealand as a showjumper. Gadsby, whose home town is Kerikeri in Northland, competed up to intermediate level in eventing in New Zealand before concentrating on showjumping. But after several years competing at grand prix level showjumping, including two successful years in Germany, he decided to make the change back to eventing in 2012. In early 2013 he gained the ride on Tiny Clapham’s young eventing horses near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, with considerable success at the lower level. He had high hopes of representing New Zealand at the top level of the sport. His mother, Louise, said Tom loved the Horse of the Year Show, and his first result there was in 2002 when he and his pony Magenta placed fifth in a 90cm class. Tom Gadsby is survived by his parents, Louise and dad Ian, sisters Fiona and Shivon and brother Ben. © Horsetalk/ photo: Fave Murray
