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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Helen Preece Chipchase Smith (1897 - 1990) was a British equestrian who also rode in America.[1] She was the only woman briefly entered in the 1912 Summer Olympics.
Personal information | |
---|---|
Nationality | British |
Born | November 11, 1895 |
Died | July 2, 1990 |
Sport | |
Sport | Equestrian |
Achievements and titles | |
Olympic finals | 1912 (Rejected) |
She was the daughter of Ambrose Preese, of Fulham road, London.[2] Her mother was considered a "noted horsewoman" in England.[3] In June 1910, she did well in the Olympia Horse Show.[4] In the next Olympia Horse Show, in June 1911, she was considered a "favorite" and was personally congratulated by Queen Alexandra afterward.[5][6] In November 1911, she won the gold cup at the Madison Square National Horse Show in New York City.[7][8] At the show, she rode the horses, Sapelio, owned by George Chipchase and the winning Sceptre, owned by James Dunn.[8]
In 1912, while still in school, she attempted to enter the modern pentathlon in the 1912 Summer Olympic Games.[9] For a short time, she was the only woman slated to compete at the games.[10][11] She was ultimately not allowed to compete because she was a female.[9] The response from the Olympic committee to her request to enter was "hostile."[12]
In 1914, she placed second in Ladies' saddle horse riding and first in Park and road hacks, riding on Sceptre.[13]
On March 20, 1915, she married George H. Chipchase in New York.[14] A few months later, his former wife sued Preese in a Massachusetts court for using the Chipchase name and also claiming that there had been no divorce.[14]
In December 1934, she was married again in Boston to John Leslie Smith, a riding instructor.[15]
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