Brian Armstrong

Brian Armstrong, Horse & Hound's Point-to-Point correspondent, has died after a long illness aged 62.

Brian Armstrong, who lived in Somerset and shared the role of press officer for the Wessex Area with his wife, Gill, was not only a talented writer, but also a photographer whose pictures were a feature of the magazine's Point-to-Point and hunter chase coverage. He had become correspondent in 2007.

For the past two seasons he had defied the debilitating effects of cancer and continued to report from meetings, and over many years had gained the respect of owners, trainers, riders and officials, particularly in the West Country where he rarely missed a fixture.

Clare Hazell, chief executive of the Point-to-Point Authority, said: "Brian was a popular member of the Point-to-Point circuit, whose reporting was always accurate and entertaining. In spite of his illness he continued to attend meetings from the first day of the season until the last. He clearly loved the sport, but gave so much back in his reports.

He will be missed by his many colleagues within the sport

We send our sincere condolences to Gill.

A memorial service is to be arranged in the future