The tragic and untimely death on Monday of David Foster, one of the most popular and talented riders on the international three-day event circuit, has devastated all branches of the equestrian world and tributes poured in yesterday from fellow competitors and friends from all corners of the globe.

With his ready smile and laid-back wit, 43-year-old Foster was enormously popular and was always guaranteed to be in the thick of the action, both competitively and in the bar afterwards, when he would be surrounded by friends keen to share his company.

Foster had been the backbone of the Irish team for over 20 years and riders from Olympic level down to lowest ranks of the Pony Club would seek him out for advice that was always given easily and unstintingly.

A veteran of three Olympic Games and championships too numerous to detail, Foster had every reason to rate himself as one of the best in his sport. One of his career highlights was helping to net team gold medal at the 1979 Europeans in Germany, but he remained the most modest and unassuming person in the world, one of nature's true gentlemen who was never too busy to stop for a chat.

He suffered a number of injuries as a result of falls during his years on the circuit. As well as fracturing his sternum at Badminton, David had broken his leg at Necarne Castle in 1995 and missed his chance of a place on the European championship team. But when Lucy Thompson, the latest recruit to the Irish squad, claimed the individual gold and team bronze out in Italy, Foster was one of the first to phone through his congratulations.

The two subsequently became firm friends and there was nearly always a Foster horse in the Thompson yard or vice versa. In keeping with his gradual transition into the racing world, David had been training Lucy's point-to-pointer Stone Bramble, which won at last month's Limerick fixture for new owner Ann Smurfitt, one of David's most loyal owners and supporters.

Having ridden in over 100 three-day events and been leading Irish rider on 10 occasions, Foster had also ridden seven winners in hunter chases and, with the lure of the racecourse proving too strong to resist, made the decision to scale down his eventing interests and move towards a greater involvement in the racing world.

Friend and fellow team-mate Alfie Buller had introduced David and his wife Denise (Sneezy to their many friends) to English owner Andrew Cohen and it was agreed that his young horses would come to David's Enfield yard for their early schooling before going back to England to go into training with Charlie Brooks.

On the night before his death, David sat up with Alfie until the small hours discussing future plans and it seemed that fate had finally given David the breakthrough he so badly wanted.

David acted as anchorman for the Irish team on so many occasions that it was easy to forget the importance of his trailblazing clears across championship cross-country courses. Dressage was never his forte, but ironically, for the first time, he had held the top three places after the dressage at Monday's event in Ashmount.

Tragically he was never able to capitalise on that success nor realise all his dreams for the future in the racing world. His death leaves a void in all branches of the horse world that can never be filled. He was a unique and special person who brightened the lives of everyone he came into contact with.

His loss will be felt everywhere, but most particularly by his constant companion Sneezy, his daughters Jessie and Lucy and son Nick, parents Barney and Mona, sisters Linda and Helen and brother Gordon. In their lives David is irreplaceable. G.W.