June 28 2016


Reigning British Under 21 Champion Dean Colhoun has been forced to retire from all racing with immediate effect on medical advice. Colhoun has been warned he faces serious permanent injury, or death, if he receives another blow to his head.

Specialists have told Colhoun that he received brain damage when he crashed at the opening round of the Irish and Southern Centre Championship at Limerick in April when he was involved in a collision with another rider.

Following the accident Colhoun suffered from headaches, double vision and nausea. He later had a severe reaction to the injury at the British Championship round at Fatcats in Yorkshire on the 29th of May, when he jarred his back. The impact through his spine brought on another concussion that required him to be hospitalised after he collapsed in the paddock between races.

Doctors have now told the 21-year-old from Saintfield, Co. Down that he is at severe risk from Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) in the event of another crash and should stop racing immediately.

SIS occurs when the brain swells rapidly, and catastrophically, after a person suffers a repeat concussion before the symptoms from an earlier one have subsided.

Colhoun is currently third in in this year’s British Under 21 Championship, and seventh in the main championship after three podium finishes.

British Championship series manager Rob McDonnell said: "It’s a big blow to the British Championship and the sport in general to lose a talented rider like Dean at such a young age. However, he has the rest of his life to consider and the decision he is taking is the correct one."

The dangers of SIS have been in the news a lot in recent months following head injuries to several high-profile sportsmen in rugby and boxing. As a result, the ACU has published a new directive on concussion and the procedures for riders before they can return to racing, which all ACU clubs are expected to adhere to.