Eventer Georgie Campbell shall be remembered for her smile, kindness, and expertise by all those that knew her.
Georgie was born on 7 October 1987 and grew up on her dad and mom Ian and Debbie Strang’s Little Scotney Farm, in Kent, together with her older sister Jo and youthful sister Bertie. Debbie ran a livery yard and taught, and Georgie began using aged two.
Georgie’s aggressive equestrian profession started in displaying aged six, using for producers Chris Willett and Carol and Simone Gilbert-Scott at Horse of the 12 months Present and the Royal Worldwide Horse Present.
She was a much-loved member of the Romney Marsh department of the Pony Membership together with her 12.2hh pony Mountpleasant Western Star (Star). She represented her department on groups throughout the disciplines and competed on the Pony Membership championships six instances. In 2008 she received the Urky Newton bursary for the perfect cross-country spherical.
She attended Cranbrook Grammar College, then accomplished a sports activities science diploma at Nottingham Trent College. Throughout this time she primarily based her horse Simply A Thriller (Meggie) at Mark and Tanya Kyle’s yard, and she or he rode on the college’s equestrian staff. She was on the staff that received gold on the British Scholar Equestrian Championships in 2009, and in 2010 was a part of Staff GB on the World College Equestrian Championships in South Korea, the place they received staff silver in dressage.
After college Georgie moved again to Kent and arrange enterprise at Little Scotney Farm, the place she was quickly joined by her Patterdale terrier cross Twig. Georgie gained the experience on Grasp Monarch (Ben) in 2009, and in 2010 she made her five-star debut (then CCI4*) at Burghley. In 2014 Georgie was third at Boekelo with Cooley Enterprise Time (Rio), and the next 12 months the pair accomplished Burghley. She received the Osberton younger horse title with Monbeg Odyssey (Oddie) in 2016, and she accomplished Pau five-star in 2017 and Badminton in 2018 with Cooley Earl (Earl). Georgie’s largest victory got here in 2022 when she received the Lignieres CCI4*-L in France with International Quest (George).
Georgie met her husband, New Zealand eventer Jesse Campbell, via the game, and the couple had been primarily based in Wiltshire. They married on 12 December 2020 in an intimate ceremony attended by shut pals and later relocated to Little Scotney Farm, the place they arrange Staff Campbell Eventing.
Credit score: Sam and Yaz Wedding ceremony Photographers
Jesse described his marriage ceremony day as “the perfect day ever” and mentioned he was “so proud” to be Georgie’s husband.
“Individuals will discuss G’s smile, and it was unimaginable – it could make you’re feeling such as you had been the centre of the universe. However what I really like about this photograph is the way it captures her power. She was a powerful, stunning, phenomenal girl who simply cherished every little thing and everybody,” he mentioned.
“Working within the equestrian world is just not a simple life; there are loads of knocks and darkish days. However G would navigate this by throwing a lot pleasure and love at each scenario. She would get as a lot pleasure from having a Greggs tea on the way in which house from the gallops as she would instructing a consumer within the pouring rain or leaping and galloping across the largest programs on the earth. It was simply unimaginable to be at your facet and really feel this vitality.”
Georgie’s household added: “The best way to describe our darling Georgie?”
“Enjoyable, optimistic, type, bubbly, joyful, mischievous, and loving, with essentially the most beneficiant snigger and delightful vitality.
“The individual your sisters all the time most needed to sit down subsequent to at household meals as we knew we’d have such an excellent giggle. The kid your dad and mom will for ever be so happy with, not solely to your achievements however the way in which you lived your life and made everybody round you’re feeling.
“Seeing how comfortable you and Jesse made one another and also you being essentially the most good aunt and godmother to Jack introduced us all a lot pleasure.
“We don’t know the right way to do life with out you, however we are going to make it our life’s work to make you proud and hold your reminiscence alive. We love you for ever.”
From left: Jesse and Georgie with their canine Fern, Jo Williams (Georgie’s sister) with Georgie’s canine Twig, Jack (Jo’s son and Georgie’s godson), Mike Williams (Jo’s husband) and canine Roo. Standing: Debbie and Ian (Georgie’s dad and mom) and Bertie (Georgie’s sister). Credit score: Mel Smith Pictures.
Pals of Georgie have paid tribute to her, describing her as humble, devoted, enjoyable, and delightful inside and outside.
Abbie Fernandes met Georgie at Dulwich Prep College in Cranbrook, Kent, aged 10 and the pair had been “companions in crime ever since”. They had been bridesmaids for each other, and Georgie is godmother to Abbie’s daughter Maisie. Georgie can also be godmother to her sister Jo’s son Jack.
“She was the consummate sportswoman, it was in her blood. She might flip her hand to every little thing – aside from the actual fact she couldn’t swim in order that’s the place I might catch her in tetrathlon,” Abbie advised H&H.
“She was our hockey staff captain at college, then performed first staff hockey at college and at county degree. She was on the lacrosse first staff and performed at county degree. She was unimaginable at netball, and lengthy distance operating. In school she would run with the boys as a result of there was no competitors for her.
“She was that lady on the staff; after we went to different colleges they’d know who she was. You didn’t need to get in her method when she was headed to the aim – and I used to be grateful to be on her staff relatively than in opposition to her! She was terrifyingly aggressive on a hockey or lacrosse pitch, however the softest, kindest and most non-confrontational individual off it.”
Abbie mentioned Georgie was “so devoted, and horses had been her dream”.
“She was laser-focused on making it occur and believed in herself. Even from after we had been 11 or 12 we’d end operating observe and Georgie’s mum Debbie can be ready within the automotive park with the lorry able to drive to a present. She had a lot dedication, it was simply unimaginable. She was an inspiration to me, and in some ways I idolised her,” she mentioned.
“Part of her appeal was that she was completely unaware of the impact she had on individuals. She was so humble and she or he had a lot extra to present. She was so enthusiastic about International Quest and Speedwell and felt that she actually had two horses that would actually make it together with her.
“It sounds so cliché to say that somebody was stunning inside and outside, however with Georgie it was genuinely true. Individuals who got here throughout Georgie at grassroots occasions have mentioned she would converse to them and assist them, she by no means had any airs or graces – she needed to assist individuals do their greatest. She barely mentioned an unkind phrase about anybody, the truth is more often than not she was telling me off for being judgemental. Between us we made the entire individual, until you tried to present us a maths equation, as a result of neither of us might rely!
“She’s been a part of my life ever since I can bear in mind, and I really feel very privileged to have been her greatest buddy.”
Hattie Cripps, former DC of the Romney Marsh department of the Pony Membership, advised H&H Georgie was “essentially the most great lady”.
“I first noticed Georgie when she was round six. I bear in mind the precise second, we had been at a mini occasion at Eridge Park and she or he was using a pony referred to as Weston Star. I bear in mind taking a look at her and pondering ‘Oh my god, that youngster is wonderful!’. She was method above all the opposite youngsters at that age, and she or he simply went on displaying this expertise. It was extraordinary,” mentioned Hattie.
“She had essentially the most wonderful smile, and I don’t suppose I ever heard her say a nasty factor about anyone. We used to have Pony Membership at their farm and as a young person she was all the time there serving to the youthful youngsters, everyone cherished her.
“She was on all of the Pony Membership groups; showjumping, dressage, eventing, tetrathlon, Prince Phillip Cup. There was nothing she couldn’t do, and she or he was so devoted the entire method via life – she was essentially the most wonderful all-rounder, and such enjoyable. We did loads of dressing up and enjoying video games at camp and she or he was all the time within the forefront of all of it and making us snigger.”
Georgie Campbell and Darcy De La Rose
Pippa Funnell advised H&H it’s “so very powerful to provide you with a tribute to somebody so particular as Georgie”.
“I’ve learn so lots of the wonderful messages despatched to Jesse after the unimaginable put up he put out concerning the tragic lack of his deeply cherished spouse. I pray that Jesse, Georgie’s household and pals can draw power from all the love being proven,” she mentioned.
“If there was ever a definition of gathered love and assist this case can be it. We collectively grieve collectively over Georgie, she was not simply stunningly stunning with such a radiant smile however an incredible instance of an exemplary member of the human race. She clearly had very excessive morals. It was so apparent that she was dedicated to Jesse and her household, she was all the time gracious, grateful and naturally nice enjoyable. Individuals say ‘If you’re fortunate you possibly can solely rely your good pals on one hand’ however due to the individual Georgie was she would have wanted many palms.”
Pippa added that Georgie was an “out-and-out competitor, utterly devoted to the horses she so adored.”
“It was great to get the chance to work together with her over latest weeks. I cherished her perspective at seeking to enhance herself to assist her horses. She was an absolute pleasure to show, open minded and extremely proficient,” she mentioned.
“She was impressed and enthusiastic about what the longer term held for her and her pretty staff of horses. I felt between them that they had all of the attributes to succeed on the very high of the game she so cherished.
“Dearest Georgie. All of us within the eventing household will miss you terribly however we promise to take care of and assist those who you so cherished. We’ll all the time bear in mind you fondly with that great great infectious smile. Thanks. Xxx’”
Tom McEwen advised H&H: “I really feel so lucky to have the ability to name Georgie my buddy.”
“Jesse mentioned to me the opposite day, ‘I might write a e-book about how unimaginable Georgie was’ so to attempt to boil it down to some paragraphs feels not possible.
“And the way true that is, I might truthfully write pages and on the similar time not must say something in any respect to clarify how nice Georgie is. The reminiscences I’ve of Georgie are full of kindness, happiness and an unwavering positivity that she threw at every little thing and everybody. Georgie all the time made you’re feeling that she had on a regular basis on the earth for you. As a result of she genuinely did.
“From Jesse and Georgie’s marriage ceremony throughout Covid with solely a small variety of us, to extra just lately looking in Eire this 12 months, any time spent in Georgie’s firm was particular and comfortable. The one time I used to be barely frightened of her was throughout a very aggressive sport of rounders.”
Tom mentioned that in eventing Georgie has “all the time been one of the vital devoted and self-motivated individuals I do know”.
“Her pure expertise and keenness had been enviable. Georgie cherished what she did. She cherished her household and pals much more and she or he cherished Jesse unconditionally. Jesse and Georgie’s relationship actually confirmed everybody else the way it needs to be performed, all the time being by each other’s facet with a happiness I’ll all the time bear in mind,” he mentioned.
“We must always all lead our lives by Georgie’s instance. How fortunate we’re to have had her in our lives.”
Georgie and Cooley Earl at Badminton 2018. Credit score: Tim Wilkinson Pictures.
Lisa White was Georgie’s dressage coach of six years, having met Georgie via Jesse.
“The large factor about Georgie was that she was peerless, in her class and together with her pure concord on a horse,” Lisa advised H&H. “You would look throughout the warm-up and spot Georgie a mile away, the horses had been all the time so comfortable and together with her. Every time I’d come again and see Georgie she had taken what we’d labored on and developed it to someplace so stunning and wonderful.
“She was so proficient however humble, and so brave and aggressive however type – and that’s a extremely uncommon stability to search out. She was steely in her competitiveness and in a pressurised business, Georgie all the time had her horses as a primary precedence, she by no means compromised.”
Lisa added that Georgie “astounded me in her skill to work together with her horses and make the perfect out of each one in all them”.
“All of them cherished her, and she or he cherished all of them. She celebrated her victories by making them concerning the horse, and when issues didn’t go proper she shouldered them utterly on her personal,” mentioned Lisa.
“I used to be very fortunate to have labored with such an exquisite individual and an exquisite rider. She was only a very particular human being.”
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