Equestrianism: Turi dies after bike crash

Joe Turi, who competed for the British Olympic show jumping team in 1988, died yesterday in a Hungarian hospital. Turi, 47, died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash over the Easter weekend.

The Hungarian-born Turi came to Britain in 1973 to perform with a troupe of Hungarian trick riders. On the return journey, he defected by jumping off the lorry that was taking the troupe home. Within two years he had the great good fortune to meet Michael Bullman, who was to provide the horses with which he made such an impact on the British circuit.

Turi's two proudest moments were achieved with the stallion, Vital, on which he won team gold at the 1989 European Championships and was victorious in the 1990 British Jumping Derby at Hickstead. He returned home to Hungary in 1996, but continued to ride Bullman's horses.