FRIENDS and family of a grandmother-of-one who had a passion for horses have presented two trophies in her memory.

About 45 people clubbed together to raise cash for the trophies in honour of mum-of-two Dawn Waters, who died suddenly of a rare heart condition in 2010 aged just 45.

The trophies, both bronzes of Dawn’s horse Dundee on wooden plinths, were presented in the horse riding class at The Oxfordshire County and Thame Show on Saturday, July 13 and at the Wheatley and District Horse Show on Sunday, July 21.

The Wheatley Show trophy was named the Dundee Trophy, after the horse.

Friend Jane Stevens, 57, organised the collection in memory of the former committee member of South Oxfordshire Riding Club who grew up in Wolvercote and rode in Port Meadow.

Ms Stevens said: “The collection started off being for the Wheatley Show but because we raised enough we got another trophy for the Thame Show.

“Hopefully in years to come not only will we have the trophies but we will also have money to go towards sponsorship of the class.”

Dawn’s daughter Hannah, 18, presented the trophies to the winner at the Thame Show, Tara Glen, and to the winner at the Wheatley Show, Cassy Room.

Dawn, who was divorced, also left a son, Jason Light, 29, and grandson Kane Light, three.

She lived and worked on her farm between Milton Common and Thame.

Ms Stevens added: “Dawn loved her horses. She was a bubbly, friendly character.

“She was a friend to everyone and everyone loved her. She had a lot of friends in the horse world.”

Dawn’s father Roger Ayres, 74, from Stanford in the Vale, said: “It is a lovely touch.

“Dawn had some very nice friends and it was nice for Hannah to present the trophy. Dawn would have been very pleased.”

Dawn’s aunt, the poet Pam Ayres, said: “Dawn was my lovely niece. She was beautiful and full of life.

“She was wonderful with horses and it is lovely that her friends and family have created these trophies.”