ONE of the world's best equestrian riders was killed in Hampshire when she was thrown from her horse and the animal landed on top of her, an inquest heard.

Sherelle Duke, who was a close friend of the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips, was competing in a two-day eventing trial in Brockenhurst, New Forest, in August when the freak accident happened.

The inquest in Southampton heard the 28-year-old sustained fatal head injuries after her horse, Ballystockart, clipped the ninth jump, flinging her forward. The 12-year-old gelding then somersaulted, landing on her.

The inquest heard the cross country course at New Park, Brockenhurst, was designed by Olympic eventing gold medallist Captain Mark Phillips. It was a jump with two 1.17m fences where Miss Duke came off - she successfully jumped the first but fell at the second.

She suffered a fractured skull, severe brain damage, fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

Exactly what caused the accident remains unclear and would be down to "speculation", the inquest heard.

Robert McKenzie, regional director for event organisers British Eventing Ltd, said: "Competing at this kind of level, horses and riders have a very close affinity with each other.

"It was a most exceptional thing to have happened, particularly with this combination of horse and rider. It's pure speculation as to what happened. The only thing I can say is that animals or riders sometimes misjudge something."

Safety checks Peter Harcom, environmental health officer at New Forest District Council, led an investigation into the safety of the 27-jump course. He said the 200-rider event, one of the biggest in the annual eventing calendar attracting thousands of spectators, was properly organised and met all health and safety requirements.

Mr Harcom said British Eventing keep statistics on accidents. The previous year, there had only been 11 accidents out of more than 300,000 jumps of the type of fence Miss Duke was attempting when she died. Miss Duke had ridden Ballystockart 28 times in three years.

Miss Duke, who lived in Northern Ireland, was a former World Young Rider champion and was a member of the Irish team in the 2003 European Championships. She was in training for the next Olympics in Beijing.

Inquest verdict Recording a verdict of accidental death Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman said: "Miss Duke was clearly a very talented young lady. I am sure she will be missed by many.

"Statistically, this was an extremely unlikely event, but there was no chance of her surviving the injuries she sustained.

"The element of risk involved in a sport of this kind is something that those who compete take on willingly and acknowledge as part of the thrill of the event itself."