Charles Owen

The 2019 European Championship Young Rider Eventing team, from left, Megan Telford-Kelly, Ella Boyle, Christine O’Donnell, Anna Kelly, Luke Coan and Robyn McCluskey at the Eventing European Final Training at Spruce Lodge Equestrian Facility in Ballyrogan Upper, Co Wicklow.

About Charles Owen

World famous for raising the bar in safety, when Charles Owen himself founded the company in 1911, his mission was to make products for a safer world. Now under the direction of Charles Owen’s grandson, Roy Burek, the mission has remained the same, but has extended its reach to all parts of the globe.

It was in 1924 that Charles Owen was granted a patent that improved ventilation and dramatically improved the fit for all shapes of heads for military helmets used in the tropics. Fit has become a theme for the company throughout its history. The introduction of custom fit motorcycle helmets and today’s 3D sculptured equestrian helmets have the microfit system that creates a fit and comfort for which the company is renowned around the world.

It didn’t take long before Charles Owen started becoming involved in the revolution that has become the modern look of helmets of today. In 1928, the first Charles Owen motorcycle helmet was born and just ten years later, the Charles Owen jockey racing helmet was worn by the winning jockey of the famous Grand National steeplechase. These early helmets have a shadow of the modern technology in today’s helmets, but their introduction had an immediate impact on the racing industry by, for example, reducing rider skull fractures by 50%. Staying at the center of helmet development was very much at the heart of the company’s success, such as being involved in the very first helmet standard. Today, Roy Burek is regarded as a global expert in head protection and is passionate about educating the community to create a safer world.

For more information please visit www.charlesowen.co.uk