Richard Meade, the Badminton “greatest event rider” has died at the age of 76.


The Olympic equestrian gold-medalist and legend in equestrian circles died on Thursday, January 8 after being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing six weeks of treatment.


The former British Olympian was admitted to hospital on Friday, December 26 and passed away two weeks later. He had been receiving treatment since his diagnosis in October.


Mr Meade competed at the Badminton Horse Trials and won for the first time in 1970, competing and triumphing again 12 years later.


Badminton press officer Julian Seaman: "Richard Meade was the greatest event rider during one of the golden ages of the sport. Not only was he a consummate individual rider, with the medals to prove it, he was effectively the unnamed team captain through a period when Britain reigned supreme."


Mr Meade was born into an equestrian family just over the border in Chepstow but lived in West Littleton, Chippenham and started riding at the age of seven.


He won his first Olympic gold medal at the 1968 Mexico Games where, with he rode Cornishman V and teamed up with Londoner Derek Allhusen on Lochinvar and Newport, Shropshire's Ruben Jones, on The Poacher, to beat the United States to first place.


He went on to win the Badminton Horse Trials as an individual for the first time in 1970 before securing another Olympic team gold in the 1972 Munich Games.


His three golds made him the most successful British Olympic three-day eventer of all-time, and place him second in the list of Welsh gold medal winners.


Mr Meade returned to Badminton in 1982 to triumph for a second time on Speculator III before his post-riding career after retirement in 1993.


He served on the British Horse Society's council for a decade, was president of the British Equestrian Federation, a member of the International Equestrian Federation and chairman  of the British Horse Foundation.


Hugh Thomas, chairman of British Eventing and long term colleague of Mr Meade, said: “Richard at the height of his powers towered over the eventing world, his results far exceeded the innate ability of many of the horses he rode and he was at his very best when riding at the major events and Championships.

"Then he gave countless time and effort to supporting the sport he loved. His passing really does feel like the end of an era.”


Andrew Finding, chief executive of the British Equestrian Federation, said: “Richard’s medal record speaks for itself. He was one of our country’s greatest ever Olympians and continued throughout his life to be an outstanding ambassador and sportsman – he cared deeply about the sport and we will miss him dearly.”


Mr Meade’s incredible career was recognised by HM The Queen in with an OBE when he was named BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year in 1972, came third in the individual BBC Sports Personality of the Year and was a member of the Team of the Year in 1972.

 

One of the region’s top eventers, Olympic medal winner Daisy Berkeley, said: "He will be sorely missed, he was a legend and was heavily involved through judging and many other roles in eventing.

 

“It must be some comfort that he was able to see his son Harry succeed so well, especially after going through a difficult time with terrible injuries but pulling through, and now on the path and heading in the same direction as he was.”


Mr Meade is survived by his wife, Angela, and their three children, James, Lucy and Harry, a British team member who won a World Championship team silver medal in 2014 who lives in Luckington.


The Meade family, who thanked everyone for messages of support on Sunday, January 4, said: “We wanted to thank so many people for their kind messages and concern about Richard. He was diagnosed with cancer in October.


“Having had six weeks of treatment, he was taken into hospital on Boxing Day after a lovely Christmas at home with all his family. Sadly he has deteriorated very quickly and his body is unable to withstand further treatment.


“He is being a tower of strength for his family who are all with him, despite the prognosis he is being typically calm and positive and remains an example to us all.”