Vere Phillipps presents the Memorial Trophy to Alex "Hopefully you'll only win this once"
Alexander Bragg and his 13 year old Dutch bred warmblood Zagreb had a good year in 2016 with top ten placings at 3* level at Hartpury and Ballindenisk and a fifth place in the CCI4* at Les Etoiles de Pau to finish the season. They have now followed this up with a ninth place in the prestigious Grantham Cup CIC3* at Belton International, battling it out in a top class field and taking the Polly Phillipps Memorial Trophy
Presented to the top British rider who has not yet competed on a senior championship team, the award is in memory of Polly Phillipps, who was killed in an eventing accident in 1999.
Alex received the trophy and cheque from Vere Phillipps, Polly’s former husband and he was very appreciative of the support that the Memorial offers for new names aiming to break into the very top level.
“It’s such a great idea behind the trophy and it’s very thoughtful to provide recognition for up and coming riders trying to establish themselves”
Thanks to the back up of his wife and support team at home, Alex is still able to continue his job as a farrier whilst competing professionally but his eyes are firmly on the future when he hopes to compete for his country. Although he is delighted to win the award, he is also hoping to be ineligible for it in the near future if he manages to make a senior British championship team, a sentiment echoed by Vere Phillipps
“When Vere presented me with the trophy he said ‘Hopefully you’ll only win this once”
Alex and Zagreb scored 47 in the dressage and added just one time penalty in the show jumping for ninth place overall
Alex and Zagreb are now focused on the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and, although this was a good start to the season, they are hoping for even better results by then
“He has the movement, he has the scope, he has all the talent but the best thing about him is his attitude. He is so enthusiastic, every time I go to the stable with his tack, the ears are forward, he’s desperate to get out and do something. Sometimes at these early stages in the season his enthusiasm gets the better of him; he’ll produce a better dressage test again the next time out and hopefully by Badminton we’ll be really on song”
Alex Bragg
