Captain Christopher Coldrey (1928-2018)
An instrumental figure in equestrian sport across the world, Captain Coldrey died on 9 December, aged 90.
Educated at Sherborne, he then joined Kings College Cambridge as a choral scholar, where he read history.
On leaving university, Captain Coldrey signed up to join the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars and fought in the Korean War, serving at the 1951 battle of Imjin River in a centurion tank.
It was during his time in the Army that Captain Coldrey took up riding seriously. When he settled in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) he show jumped at the top level. His jacket was made in the Rhodesian colours and was worn at Captain Coldrey’s funeral by eventer Gavin Connell, who rides for the Coldreys.
In 1961, he started the Chinhoyi Derby, based on the Hamburg Derby — which is also the inspiration for its Hickstead counterpart. The event was restarted last year, using Captain Coldrey’s original course plans.
He later moved to South Africa, where he started the major indoor show jumping show in Johannesburg and also spent time working as a course-designer, commentator and in the media.
He met his wife Victoria in 1971 and the couple moved to the UK, first settling in Lancashire where Captain Coldrey was a driving force behind the formation of Arena North. The show, popular for its parties as well as the competition, ran during the 1970s and held the “grand national of show jumping” among other major classes.
The family moved to Suffolk and founded the pre-training yard Herringswell Bloodstock Centre in 1979, where they started a number of listed group and Classic winners for the likes of Sir Henry Cecil and Sir Mark Prescott.
Captain Coldrey also wrote a number of books on training horses, was a director of the British Horse Society and an expert witness in equestrian legal matters.
His funeral took place on 11 January at St Margaret’s, Chippenham, and his most recent event horse, Captain Nolan, and his Doberman were led behind the coffin in the procession, wearing the regimental colours of the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars.
He leaves his wife Victoria, children Charles, Mark and Kate, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
© Horse and Hound, 1 January 2019.
Christopher Arthur Coldrey (1928-2018).
Born 22 May 1928.
Prep School: Upcott House, Okehampton, Devon.
Exhibitioner, Sherborne School (Abbey House) July 1941-September 1945, Medical VIth, Gym Squad (1945), 1st Class Gym badge, Barnes Elocution Prize (1944), Kitson Prize for Vocal Music (1942)
Choral Scholar, King’s College, Cambridge.
Died 9 December 2018.
