Laura collett holds up the new Badminton Trophy, created by the award-winning animal sculptor Judy Boyt. Photo: Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
Laura Collett realised a childhood dream as she won Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian, after a superb performance on Karen Bartlett and Keith Scott’s London 52. Laura’s finishing score of 21.4 — a record completion score for Badminton.
Ros Canter with Lordships Graffalo (GBR). Photo: C. Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
Runner-up Ros Canter, the only rider to finish on her dressage score, showed she has another world champion in the making with the 10-year-old Lordships Graffalo, while Oliver Townend cemented his world number one position with third and fifth places on Swallow Springs (ISH) and Ballaghmor Class (ISH) respectively.
Oliver Townend with Swallow Springs (GBR) finished in 3rd place. Photo: Irish Eventing Times. Photo: Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
It was the first British one-two-three since Pippa Funnell led William Fox-Pitt and Leslie Law 20 years ago in 2002, and Laura Collett revealed that Pippa’s win on Supreme Rock had been her childhood inspiration. ‘I was going round the cross-country on my aunt’s shoulders and I wanted to be Pippa Funnell winning Badminton,’ she said.
Badminton champions, Laura Collett and London 52. Photo: Irish Eventing Times
When Laura entered the arena, she had the luxury of a fence in hand over Ros, but the pressure was huge. ‘That horse is amazing,’ she said of her Tokyo Olympic gold medallist. ‘He jumped his socks off. I couldn’t see a distance anywhere but he just got higher and higher.’
Ros was full of praise for her new superstar who was contesting his first five-star. ‘”Walter’s” eyes were on stalks when we arrived but he enjoyed every part of it – especially the prize giving. He will have learnt so much in the last few days.’
Piggy March and the gallant 17-year-old mare Vanir Kamira, the 2019 Badminton winners who set the early standard on the cross-country, finished an honourable fourth with just one pole down. ‘I think that’s the best “Tilly” has ever jumped. She left her heart out on the cross country course yesterday so I was a bit worried today, but shouldn’t have been,’ Piggy said.
David Doel with Galileo Nieuwmoed . Photo: Irish Eventing Times
David Doel, who lives just 20 minutes down the road from Badminton, had a dream debut, finishing in sixth place on Galileo Nieuwmoed with a double clear, and Kitty King, a member of last year’s winning European championships team, was seventh on Vendredi Biats.
Austin O’Connor with Colorado Blue (IRL) on their faultless cross country. Photo Irish Eventing Times
Irish Olympian , Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue, moved up fifty places to finish in eighth place after a foot perfect cross country round within the time, and added just 0.4 of a time penalty in the show jumping.
Alyssa O’Neill (Horse Sport Ireland) talking to Austin O’Connor:
Another Top 20 finisher for Ireland was Badminton first timer Susie Berry with Helen and Nick Caton’s John The Bull who finished in seventeenth place.
Record number of spectators at Badminton this year
After a gap of three years, support for the event was huge: 180,000 visitors attended over the four days, and the many tradestands did a roaring trade, delighted to be back.
‘It was everything I could have wished for,’ said Event Director Jane Tuckwell. ‘Lots of happy people, fantastic result, wonderful sponsors in our presenting partner Mars Equestrian and our official partner Lifesource BP. It’s a dream come true at last. Bring on 2023.’
