 Helen Preece circa 1913 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Born | November 11, 1895 |
| Died | July 2, 1990 |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Equestrian |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Olympic finals | 1912 (Rejected) |
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.
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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She is Helen Preece, a daughter of Mr. Ambrose Preese, of Fulham road, London.
Among the passengers in the Minnewaska, which sailed to-day, is Helen Preece, a 14 year-old girl who as an equestrienne has no equal in this country. ...