British Dressage Riders Mark Ruddock and Paul Turner Held At Gunpoint

Two British Dressage riders are lucky to be alive after being held hostage at gunpoint while competing for Britain in South Africa. Mark Ruddock and Paul Turner were selected to represent Great Britain at the African Team Dressage Championships at the Expo Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa on April 5th-7th.

Returning to lodgings on Tuesday evening, Mark and Paul were greeted by three armed men who held them as hostages until the owner of the house returned at which point the safe was emptied and the gunmen fled. Escaping serious injury, Mark and Paul still suffered shock and bruising after being hit with a gun.

Despite this setback, riding loaned horses, Mark went on to take 3rd place individually at this International Friendly on the wednesday and Britain as a team came 4th out of nine teams behind Australia in first, South Africa in second and Swaziland in third.



Blue Chip Show Jumping Championships - Stableexpress Lugano competed by Geoff Glazzard