THE log jump where a world-class horse rider died last summer will not feature in this year's Brockenhurst Park Horse Trials.

Sherelle Duke, who was a close friend of the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips, died when she was thrown from her horse and the animal landed on top of her last August.

The freak accident happened as the 28-year-old's gelding Ballystockart clipped the ninth jump on the cross-country course.

Miss Duke, who lived in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, was a former World Young Rider champion and was in training for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She suffered serious head injuries and died in Southampton General Hospital.

The jump, which had two parallel 1.17m fences, was removed from the course last year so riders competing at this year's event on August 18 and 19 will not be tackling it.

Robert McKenzie, regional director for British Eventing Ltd, said: "The jump was removed as soon as it could be. That was for no other reason than it was right next to the landowner's drive into and out of her house. It was a very unpleasant reminder for her.

"The jump has not been replaced - simply removed. Everything was thoroughly checked before and after the event last year and everything was within the competition rules and found to be safe.

"That happens at every single British Eventing event and will be done as a matter of course at this year's event too."

Olympic eventing gold medallist Captain Mark Phillips designed the 4km course at Brockenhurst, which had 27 jumps up to 3ft 11in high. The annual event attracts 200 riders and thousands of spectators and is one of the biggest gatherings in the eventing calendar.