Frank Weldon
(1913 -1993)
(1913 -1993)
Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Weldon was a top-class equestrian and three-day event rider. He was a member of the winning team in three successive European Championships and at the 1956 Olympic Games in Stockholm, and was team captain for many years. He also won the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown two years running.
Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Weldon was a top-class equestrian and three-day event rider. He was a member of the winning team in three successive European Championships and at the 1956 Olympic Games in Stockholm, and was team captain for many years. He also won the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown two years running.
Francis William Charles Weldon, MVO, MBE, MC was born on August 2, 1913. He was educated at Wellington and the Royal Military College and won his colours in the rugby XV both at school and at Sandhurst. He joined the Royal Horse Artillery, attaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and was Officer Commanding the King’s Troop.
Francis William Charles Weldon, MVO, MBE, MC was born on August 2, 1913. He was educated at Wellington and the Royal Military College and won his colours in the rugby XV both at school and at Sandhurst. He joined the Royal Horse Artillery, attaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and was Officer Commanding the King’s Troop.
As an event rider, he twice won Badminton, despite an inauspicious start on his first attempt there in 1952, when he ended up in Tetbury hospital with concussion and cracked ribs after a crashing fall from his horse Liza Mandy.
As an event rider, he twice won Badminton, despite an inauspicious start on his first attempt there in 1952, when he ended up in Tetbury hospital with concussion and cracked ribs after a crashing fall from his horse Liza Mandy.
He fared far better thereafter, finishing second in 1953 and 1954 and winning in 1955 (when the event was the European Championships and held at Windsor at the invitation of the Queen) and again in 1956.
He fared far better thereafter, finishing second in 1953 and 1954 and winning in 1955 (when the event was the European Championships and held at Windsor at the invitation of the Queen) and again in 1956.
Lieutenant-Colonel Weldon had an outstanding record in the European Championships. He was a member of the winning three-day event team in 1953, 1954 and 1955.
Lieutenant-Colonel Weldon had an outstanding record in the European Championships. He was a member of the winning three-day event team in 1953, 1954 and 1955.
At the 1956 Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the individual three-day event and a gold medal in the team competition. He would almost certainly have won the individual gold medal had he not insisted, as team captain, on a policy of strict caution in the cross-country section.
At the 1956 Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the individual three-day event and a gold medal in the team competition. He would almost certainly have won the individual gold medal had he not insisted, as team captain, on a policy of strict caution in the cross-country section.
His mount at the 1955 European Championships and at the 1956 Olympics was his own horse Kilbarry which he had ridden earlier in the Queen’s Coronation procession when commanding the King’s Troop. An Irish-bred, grey gelding, Kilbarry was almost certainly the only horse to have won international fame while still performing full daily duty as an officer’s charger in a Cavalry regiment.
His mount at the 1955 European Championships and at the 1956 Olympics was his own horse Kilbarry which he had ridden earlier in the Queen’s Coronation procession when commanding the King’s Troop. An Irish-bred, grey gelding, Kilbarry was almost certainly the only horse to have won international fame while still performing full daily duty as an officer’s charger in a Cavalry regiment.
Lieutenant-Colonel Weldon had bought Kilbarry as a five-year-old for £750. His ambition was to win the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown on him. Kilbarry won his first point-to-point but had to be hobdayed after suffering equine flu, which effectively ended the horse’s racing career and resulted in his owner switching him to events, with fantastic results.
Lieutenant-Colonel Weldon had bought Kilbarry as a five-year-old for £750. His ambition was to win the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown on him. Kilbarry won his first point-to-point but had to be hobdayed after suffering equine flu, which effectively ended the horse’s racing career and resulted in his owner switching him to events, with fantastic results.
He did, though, have a decent substitute with which to aim for the Royal Artillery Gold Cup in his hunter chaser Snowshill Jim. Having fallen on his first two attempts, on Happy Easter in 1952 and Owenmore in 1954, he had finished third on Burn-Trout in 1955. He then rode Snowshill Jim to victory in 1956, winning by two lengths, and again in 1957, registering a convincing 12 lengths victory as the 15/8 favourite.
He did, though, have a decent substitute with which to aim for the Royal Artillery Gold Cup in his hunter chaser Snowshill Jim. Having fallen on his first two attempts, on Happy Easter in 1952 and Owenmore in 1954, he had finished third on Burn-Trout in 1955. He then rode Snowshill Jim to victory in 1956, winning by two lengths, and again in 1957, registering a convincing 12 lengths victory as the 15/8 favourite.
Tragically, Kilbarry broke his neck in the Cottesbrook Horse Trials in 1957 when he was only ten years old. The seemingly straightforward fence at which Kilbarry had his fatal fall had an unseen solid rail behind the brush. His owner was devastated and the incident was to have a bearing on his later work as a course designer when he resolved always to make fences fair to horses.
Tragically, Kilbarry broke his neck in the Cottesbrook Horse Trials in 1957 when he was only ten years old. The seemingly straightforward fence at which Kilbarry had his fatal fall had an unseen solid rail behind the brush. His owner was devastated and the incident was to have a bearing on his later work as a course designer when he resolved always to make fences fair to horses.
Lieutenant-Colonel Weldon finished second in the 1959 European Championships on his horse Samuel Johnson. He took part in the Rome Olympics in 1960, finishing 25th individually and fourth in the team event.
Lieutenant-Colonel Weldon finished second in the 1959 European Championships on his horse Samuel Johnson. He took part in the Rome Olympics in 1960, finishing 25th individually and fourth in the team event.
After retiring from the army, he then retired from competitive eventing in 1962, having won nine European medals in all, plus team gold and individual bronze in the 1956 Olympics. However, he continued to make a major contribution to the sport. In 1964 he was asked by the Duke of Beaufort to design the cross-country course for the following year’s Badminton. He served as Director of Badminton Horse Trials from 1966 to 1988 and his innovations including roping fences so they could be quickly dismantled if a horse became stuck. He also made the sport more commercial and attractive to spectators and sponsors alike.
After retiring from the army, he then retired from competitive eventing in 1962, having won nine European medals in all, plus team gold and individual bronze in the 1956 Olympics. However, he continued to make a major contribution to the sport. In 1964 he was asked by the Duke of Beaufort to design the cross-country course for the following year’s Badminton. He served as Director of Badminton Horse Trials from 1966 to 1988 and his innovations including roping fences so they could be quickly dismantled if a horse became stuck. He also made the sport more commercial and attractive to spectators and sponsors alike.
He was a council member of the British Horse Society and was also the equestrian correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph for many years. Regarded as “a legend in his own lifetime”, Lieutenant-Colonel Weldon did much to make eventing the success it is today.
He was a council member of the British Horse Society and was also the equestrian correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph for many years. Regarded as “a legend in his own lifetime”, Lieutenant-Colonel Weldon did much to make eventing the success it is today.
He died on September 21, 1993, aged 80. The Frank Weldon Memorial Challenge Trophy is awarded annually at the Badminton Horse Trials to the rider of the youngest British-owned and ridden horse placed in the top twelve. Having had a keen interest in bringing on young horses throughout his life, the nature of the trophy is an appropriate and fitting memorial to him.
He died on September 21, 1993, aged 80. The Frank Weldon Memorial Challenge Trophy is awarded annually at the Badminton Horse Trials to the rider of the youngest British-owned and ridden horse placed in the top twelve. Having had a keen interest in bringing on young horses throughout his life, the nature of the trophy is an appropriate and fitting memorial to him.