John Roche
The 1914 autumn meeting at Fermoy (Tuesday September 22) enjoyed an excellent attendance: some five thousand recruits, dressed in their new khaki uniforms, and stationed locally in garrison, helped swell the crowd out on the course. Most racegoers got off to a good start when the odds-on Pressman won the first race in a canter.
The 1914 autumn meeting at Fermoy (Tuesday September 22) enjoyed an excellent attendance: some five thousand recruits, dressed in their new khaki uniforms, and stationed locally in garrison, helped swell the crowd out on the course. Most racegoers got off to a good start when the odds-on Pressman won the first race in a canter.
The next race on the card - The Town Handicap Steeplechase - was to prove memorable for all the wrong reasons, providing, as it did, a chapter of accidents. One jockey lost his life, two others were seriously injured, a horse was killed and another required veterinary aid - and all this from just six runners.
The next race on the card - The Town Handicap Steeplechase - was to prove memorable for all the wrong reasons, providing, as it did, a chapter of accidents. One jockey lost his life, two others were seriously injured, a horse was killed and another required veterinary aid - and all this from just six runners.
The favourite, Batterjohn, fell at the second fence, bringing down The Gael and Little Imp. So badly was The Gael injured - it broke a leg - that it was subsequently shot. Batterjohn sustained a badly torn shoulder, while its jockey, Mr John Roche, was brought back in an ambulance and taken to hospital, suffering from concussion. He was accompanied by jockey J. Campbell, rider of Hill of Camas, which had looked the likely winner until falling at the last, giving Campbell the most dreadful fall. Harry Harty sustained a badly sprained ankle when being brought down on Little Imp.
The favourite, Batterjohn, fell at the second fence, bringing down The Gael and Little Imp. So badly was The Gael injured - it broke a leg - that it was subsequently shot. Batterjohn sustained a badly torn shoulder, while its jockey, Mr John Roche, was brought back in an ambulance and taken to hospital, suffering from concussion. He was accompanied by jockey J. Campbell, rider of Hill of Camas, which had looked the likely winner until falling at the last, giving Campbell the most dreadful fall. Harry Harty sustained a badly sprained ankle when being brought down on Little Imp.
John Roche died from concussion of the brain at 12.45 a.m. on Wednesday.
John Roche died from concussion of the brain at 12.45 a.m. on Wednesday.
That evening, an inquest chaired by Mr Coroner Rice heard evidence from Mr Edward Walsh, the owner of Batterjohn. He stated that John Roche was 30 years of age and a gentleman rider who lived at Corrigan. He said that Roche had ridden the horse before on a number of occasions and that the horse had fallen three or four times previously. He admitted that the horse was a bad jumper, but was all right otherwise. Roche had hunted with the horse and knew him well.
That evening, an inquest chaired by Mr Coroner Rice heard evidence from Mr Edward Walsh, the owner of Batterjohn. He stated that John Roche was 30 years of age and a gentleman rider who lived at Corrigan. He said that Roche had ridden the horse before on a number of occasions and that the horse had fallen three or four times previously. He admitted that the horse was a bad jumper, but was all right otherwise. Roche had hunted with the horse and knew him well.