CONNORS ADVANCES FIRST AT CORNBURY HOUSE HORSE TRIALS

Ireland’s Ben Connors scored a first at Cornbury House Horse Trials (9-12 September) by winning the new British Eventing Advanced class for under-25 riders on his own OLS King Aragon.

This Advanced section, with a new cross-country track designed by Andrew Heffernan, was held as part of the Oxfordshire event’s preparations for hosting the FEI World Championships for U25s in September 2026.

Co Kildare-based Ben, 19, was third after dressage on a mark of 30.5 with 15-year-old homebred OLS King Aragon. The pair lowered one showjump, and then sped round the cross-country for 4.4 time-faults and a finishing score of 38.9. British rider Finn Healy was second on Intentie W with a score of 40.8.

Ben said: “It’s been a brilliant couple of days. This will be an amazing venue for the under-25 World Championships next year – the groundwork that David [Howden, Cornbury’s founder and president] has done here, the stunning Lawn dressage arena in front of Cornbury House, the whole atmosphere. And the cross-country is going to be a proper test for everyone – I loved riding round it today.”

He added: “This horse is very laid-back – he sleeps all day and he’s a pet to ride. He just wants to please and to do his best for you.”

Another 19-year-old, this time Jago Jackson, fresh from winning a team silver medal for Britain at the European Young Rider Championships in Sweden, took The Howden Way Young Rider CCI3*-S on Johnny Hornby’s Barrington Highlight K. Jago, who is based at Johnny’s Barrington Sport Horses’ yard just 20 minutes from Cornbury, led throughout the competition, adding only 6.4 cross-country time-faults to his dressage mark of 26.3.

“He’s very smart on the flat, and he produced an amazing test yesterday, and then today he was just awesome in the showjumping. I don’t think he’s had a pole down in about 10 events since Belsay last year – he’s ultra-careful – and he was fantastic round this beautifully designed cross-country course as well. Cornbury is one of my favourite events of the year!”

Max Warburton’s victory in The Howden Way British Eventing National Seven-Year-Old Championship was his third consecutive win in these highly prestigious young horse championships in three years. Riding Nicky and Robin Salmon and his own Earl Dorado, on whom he took the five-year-old national championship in 2024, Max rose well up the order after dressage with two excellent jumping performances to complete on a score of 33.7.

Lizzie Baugh was second and third on KBIS Star Struck and Tysons Upto Trix with final scores of 34.2 and 34.5.

Max, who was also fourth on Monbeg Condor, said: “These are two very different horses, but both are top-class prospects for the future. I loved the way the cross-country rode now that [course-designer] David Evans has reversed the track – it’s a real championship course, which is only right for a championship class like this, which prepares them so well for the world young horse championships at Le Lion d’Angers.”

There was also a Pragnell-sponsored CCI3*-S section today at Cornbury House, in which Lucinda Mesquita pulled off her first-ever international triumph. Lucinda was riding her own and Heidi Bates’ DSH Golden Eye, and secured a rare cross-country clear inside the time to complete on her dressage mark of 30.9.

She said: “I’ve had this horse since he was a three-year-old and have done everything with him, which makes it even more special. He’s been a pleasure to produce and I know him like the back of my hand. He’s going to Blenheim next week so I wasn’t supposed to be running fast here, but when I was in the lead after showjumping, my husband [CCI5* rider Aaron Millar] said, ‘You need to go fast!’

“It’s lovely to come to an event and for it to feel different – they’ve done an amazing job here in changing the layout and the track around. It rides so well. The ground’s amazing, it rode beautifully and it’s a great venue.”

Alongside top-class sport, Cornbury offers so much to its visitor, such as:

 Visit www.cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk for more information and to buy tickets.

Cornbury House Horse Trials’ supported charity for 2026 is the British Eventing Support Trust (BEST), and donations can be made at the point of ticket purchase.

Cross-country, showjumping and some highlights of the dressage will be shown on ClipMyHorse.tv.