George Ede

Ede was the twin brother of Edward Ede, Sr. The Ede brothers were both educated at Abingdon School, from 1845-1851.

Both George and Edward became cricketers, playing for Hampshire. George was Hampshire's captain from 1864 to 1869. His brother Edward played for the county side from 1861 to 1870. George was the first player to score a half century for the county club.

George Ede is recorded as scoring the first century at the Antelope Ground, Southampton in 1862, when he hit 122 for South Hampshire v East Hampshire.[1]

Coming from the age of the public school educated all round sportsman, George was also an accomplished horseman. He rode for several years as one of the top Victorian amateurs in steeplechasing, adopting the name Mr Edwards when riding and competed several times in the Grand National at Aintree. His greatest moment came in 1868 when he partnered The Lamb to victory in the event, a feat made the more remarkable by the fact he had been seriously injured in a fall just a few months earlier. It was at Aintree where Ede would suffer the injuries which ultimately cost him his life.

He was leaving the course, having just competed in the 1870 Grand National when he was approached by a trainer to ride a horse named Chippenham in the following day's Grand Sefton chase over the notorious big fences. Ede had not planned to ride the following day and it was widely believed that he would be announcing his retirement from the saddle but when presented with a mount at Aintree he accepted. His close friend and riding colleague Arthur Yates implored him not to take the ride, which had already been refused by many of the top professional riders, stating "Don't ride the brute George, he'll kill you!"

Yates' words were to prove prophetic. At the Monument fence, today known as The Chair, Ede and Chippenham parted company and although the initial fall did no damage it was when the horse tried to rise that Ede suffered his fatal injuries when Chippenham stumbled and crashed heavily onto his rider's body.

George was taken unconscious from the course, suffering crush injuries to his chest and died three days later at the home of racing trainer Ben Land without regaining consciousness. He was thirty-six years old and was survived by his mother, sister and twin brother.[2]

As well as his twin brother Edward Ede, Sr., Ede had a nephew, Edward Ede, Jr. who represented Hampshire from 1902 to 1906.

• List of Old Abingdonians