BUSTER Parnell, Ireland's champion flat jockey in 1969, has died in Copenhagen. He was 83.

Born in Fulham, Ryan Farnham Parnell was apprenticed to Willie Stephenson and rode his first winner in 1950. A stint with the Royal Air Force interruped his riding career and he moved to Denmark where he became champion jockey.

It was there he met his wife Anne with whom he had two children, David and Tina. David went on to become champion apprentice in Ireland before losing his life in a car crash in 1990.

Buster Parnell rode three Irish classic winners. He won the 2000 Guineas at the Curragh in 1967 and 1968 on Atherstone Wood and Mistigo respectively, and he won the 1975 Irish 1000 Guineas on Miralla.

His biggest British win came aboard Klairvimy in the 1973 King Edward Vll Stakes. During his career he also rode winners in Kenya, Singapore, India and South Africa. He retired from riding in 1986.

A FULL OBITUARY ON BUSTER PARNELL WILL APPEAR IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND