Who will be making their way to to this great event ...
Riders’ entries are now in for this years’ Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (7th – 11th May) and another feast of top class international sport is in prospect. Competitors from 14 other nations will take on the best of the British, with a major focus being selection for the World Equestrian Games, Normandie this summer.
13 Australian horses and 14 New Zealanders are in the entry list, reflecting those countries’ riders being assessed for selection by performance in the northern hemisphere this spring. As usual there is a strong Irish contingent, with ten horses, eight each from France and the USA and seven from Sweden.
Emma Dougall and Kelecyn Ice Age have been accepted
On the Australian front US based Peter Atkins will be riding Henry Jota Hampton (Henny) who he missed out on riding at Badminton a couple of years ago after he (Peter, not Henny) broke his foot. Bloggers, Natalie Blundell and Seumas Marwood will, like Peter, also be competing at Badminton for the first time with Algebra and Wild Oats and Chris Burton will be riding winner of last years Adelaide CCI4*, TS Jamaimo. Chris also has Tempranillo on the waiting list. Another Badminton first timer is Emma Dougall who will be riding her lovely grey Kelecyn Ice Age, with whom she finished 12th at last years Luhmuhlen CCI4*. Lucinda Fredericks, Andrew Hoy and Sam Griffiths will be sitting on their experienced horses, Flying Finish and Rutherglen and Paulank Brockagh, while Bill Levett has two horses accepted entries in Shannondale Titan and Silk Stone. The final two places on the Australian list go to Wendy Schaeffer and Paul Tapner. Wendy’s horse, Kouyna Sun Dancer will be making his Badminton debut while Paul will be hoping to be improve on his 20th place at Badminton 2013 riding Kilronan.
Will Mark Todd get the chance of another kiss ...
Eight former winners of the Mitsubishi Motors Trophy will line up again this time, headed by double Olympic Champion Sir Mark Todd from New Zealand, with Andrew Hoy, Paul Tapner and Lucinda Fredericks from Australia, Mary King, Oliver Townend, Pippa Funnell and William Fox-Pitt from Great Britain. Among those not to have won here Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) stands out with his record 33 completions to date and he must stand a great chance this time with a choice of two from Nereo (third at Badminton in 2013), Quimbo (Kentucky winner 2013) and Avebury (first and second at Burghley).
British favourite Mary King will ride Imperial Cavalier, who has completed on four occasions and has been third and fourth in the past; William Fox-Pitt has a choice of four, including European bronze medallist Chilli Morning.
Places in the British team are certainly up for grabs after the disappointing result at the European Championships last year, so competition for the record prize money and the best known Trophy in the world will be intense.
Over 130 entries were received for the 85 places available, so those on the ‘Waiting List’ will be hoping that some of those accepted withdraw over the next month.
