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Philippa Hendry and her nine-year-old horse Flyer des Coupeaux topped the 2024 EHOA and BETTALIFE Veteran Eventing Championship and will be popping the champagne at the joint EHOA, British Eventing and BEF awards ceremony at the 2025 Badminton Horse Trials on Wednesday 7th May.
The BETTALIFE and EHOA Veteran Eventing League rewards those older riders (45 and over) whose passion for eventing burns as strong as ever, with the results from a maximum of five British Eventing competitions completed on one horse providing the end of year Championship points.
Winners Philippa and Flyer des Coupeaux took an impressive five wins at BE100 level in 2024, including a win at Berkshire College of Agriculture (see cross country video above) to take the first prize of £500, the Veterans’ League trophy and a selection of BettaLife products.
“As a nine-year-old he is the most amazing horse; I absolutely adore him, and he makes me smile just by looking at him” says Philippa of ‘Fly’
“He has had 15 wins so far! I am 60 next month and have a couple of young homebreds that I am also producing – it’s hard work as I keep them at home. Luckily, I live close to 5 star rider Kylie Roddy so go to her regularly for lessons and she has been the most amazing support to me.”
Last year’s winners Deborah Burrell and Imperial Tangle (“Impy”) finished in second place this year with their season cut short by Deborah breaking her leg. This wasn’t the only health hurdle Deborah had to overcome but “Impy’ helped her throughout it all.
“I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma a few weeks before I was due to compete at the Bramham BE80 Championships, but that was never going to stop me going with my super mare. I told my consultant that treatment would have to wait until after our event! We had an amazing event, finishing third and this was the boost I needed to keep me going through radiotherapy.
Then, the day after my PET scan showed the treatment was working, I managed to break my leg tripping over and missed the last 10 weeks of the season – I was totally gutted as Impy was going so well and we both love finishing the season at Bicton 3 Day. Throughout both setbacks Impy was my therapy and even when I was in a full cast I managed to hop to the stables and spend some time with her. I’m hoping for a fun and safe 2025 season with my wonderful horse of a lifetime, Impy”
The winner of the Over 60’s prize of £100 and a selection of BETTALIFE products went to Dinah Smith riding Culmore JJ, with Dinah keen to point out that she is nearly 70 and is delighted to still be in top competitive form!
