Sad death of Upton Adventure’s rider Emma James

Point-to-pointing in the West Mercian region has been shocked by the death of former rider Emma James in a road traffic accident.

James, 53, who will forever be associated with the 2004 Connolly’s RED MILLS champion horse Upton Adventure (the pair pictured above), died when the motorcycle she was riding was involved in a collision which also involved two cars on the A449 in Herefordshire. A male teenager was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and later released on bail.

In a statement her family said: “Her warmth, kindness and vibrant spirit touched the lives of everyone who knew her. Emma had a heart full of compassion and a smile that could light up any room. Her loss leaves a void that can never truly be filled.”

James’s partnership with the brilliant mare Upton Adventure was a highlight within point-to-pointing in the early years of this millennium. Trained by Nicki Sheppard for owner/breeder Peter Corbett, Upton Adventure ran in 51 point-to-points, winning 26 and being placed in 19. When completing the course she was only unplaced once, in her final season as a 13-year-old.”

Sheppard said: “Upton Adventure wasn’t very big, but nor was Emma and they struck up a good partnership. They would switch off at the back, then come with a late run like lightning, but the problem with going that quick was that the mare could make a mistake.

Nicki Sheppard with the Connolly’s RED MILLS leading horse Upton Adventure in 2004 (Ce)

“Emma had come from a showjumping background, and so got a real kick out of riding a horse that could go into overdrive. She got a good tune out of the mare.

“She had known challenges in her personal life, but was always bubbly and chatty when you met her. It could be in Tesco or at a pop concert and you just pick up where you’d left off when you last saw her.”

In 2004, as an 11-year-old, Upton Adventure won nine races and became Britain’s leading horse, at the same time helping James to a personal best season’s tally of 13 wins and fourth place in the national women’s title race.

At the conclusion of the following season, after the mare and her rider had clocked up another four wins, Mackenzie & Harris’s Hunter Chasers and Point-to-Pointers annual said of the mare: “Always guaranteed excellent assistance from Emma James, who is riding better than ever, and who would surely have had a chance of a national title had she been backed by a major yard.”

Both Upton Adventure and her rider retired from the sport in 2006, James bringing her career to a premature end after a fall at Brampton Bryan in March of that year, although she continued training a couple of pointers until the end of that season.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

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