Tim Boland is presented with the Peppermint Grove Trophy by Greg and Gill Rolton
This year’s winner of the Peppermint Grove Award at the Australian International 3 Day Event was GV Billy Elliot, ridden and owned by Tim Boland.
The Peppermint Grove award is given to the best Australian based Eventing horse for the year as chosen by the Australian Eventing selectors. Peppermint Grove was the wonderful grey horse ridden by Gill Rolton on double gold-winning Australian teams at the Atlanta and Barcelona Olympics; the Award is presented to the horse which emulates Peppermint Grove’s attributes of brilliance, honesty and competition performance.
The Award was first presented by Freddie’s part owners Faye and Mick Craig and Greg and Gill Rolton to Megan Jones’ Kirby Park Irish Jester at Adelaide in November 2006. The winner’s name is inscribed on the Perpetual Trophy, a beautiful limited edition Wedgewood China white horse and the owner is given a replica trophy plus a cheque for $1000.
Gill Rolton and Peppermint Grove at Barcelona Olympics Photo:courtesy Gill Rolton
“The Peppermint Grove Trophy is awarded in memory of our wonderful dual gold medallist, Peppermint Grove (or Freddie) who passed away at 27 yrs of age on 26th August 2006. Since 2006, The Peppermint Grove award has gone to some brilliant horses and it is wonderful to see Billy Elliot – a horse with unlimited talent in both the dressage and as a jumper, added to this list” says Gill
The 11 year old GV Billy Elliot has had success with several riders, initially with Olivia Bunn then Stuart Tinney when Olivia decided to concentrate on her business career rather than riding. However in the past year Billy and Tim Boland have really rocketed into the limelight with a win in the CCI 3* at Melbourne, 2nd in the CCI 3* at Sydney and chosen as a reserve for the Australian Olympic team. It hasn’t been all plain sailing though; having missed out on competing in London, Billy was withdrawn from Burghley due to a minor injury but they bounced back the following weekend at Blenheim to place 9th in the CCI 3*.
When I spoke to Tim at Burghley he told me that he knew that Billy was a ‘once in a lifetime’ horse and it seems that the selectors agree. We look forward to watching him at many more major events in the future and congratulate Billy on joining the list of special horses celebrated by the Peppermint Grove Award; here are some beautiful photographic Billy moments at Blenheim International Horse Trials this year and their winning cross country round at the Melbourne International 3 Day Event
