Tag Archives: Badminton Horse Trials

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T.

Jung Is One Step Away from Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Prize after Cross-Country at Badminton

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Photo courtesy of Rolex.

7 May 2016, Badminton, UK – Michael Jung (GER) gave a cross-country masterclass performance to maintain his overnight lead at the 2016 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, to put him just one step away from the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize.

Having won both the 2015 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and the 2016 Rolex Kentucky, Jung is now just 13 show jumping fences away from the coveted USD$350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize. Michael Jung heads into Sunday’s final show jumping phase at Badminton with two rails in hand and is focused on one thing only: winning the world’s greatest prize in Eventing – the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.

Riding La Biosthetique Sam FBW, Jung was 20th to go cross-country and made the four-star course look easy as he guided Sam over the 32-fence course with a clear round and no time penalties, finishing seven seconds within the time set.

In second place is his fellow compatriot Andreas Ostholt riding So Is Et, who went clear cross-country picking up 5.2 time penalties. In third place is Great Britain’s Gemma Tattersall riding Artic Soul.

TOP 5 RESULTS AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY

1. Michael Jung (GER), La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, 34.4
2. Andreas Ostholt (GER), So Is Et, 43.4
3. Gemma Tattersall (GBR), Artic Soul, 44.6
4. Mark Todd (NZL), Leonidas II, 44.8
5. Jonathan Paget (NZL), Clifton Lush, 45.2

ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF EVENTING CHALLENGE

Speaking after the cross-country, a jubilant Jung said, “I am very, very proud of my horse. He concentrates, he is so powerful, always galloping forward – it’s a really, really great feeling. We have a great partnership; he trusts me, and I trust him. Everything feels so easy with him – it’s a tough course but with this energy, there was not one time with him that I felt I was galloping fast – everything is so easy with him.”

Andreas Ostholt said, “I really enjoyed my ride; I was really pleased. For sure I had a hairy moment at the Vicarage Vee – I was sitting on top thinking ‘not today, not today, not today’; I’m getting old, but luckily not too old and managed to stay on my horse! I tried not to be too fast and not too quick. In the end I am one of the happiest men of the day.”

Competing for the third time at Badminton on her horse Artic Soul, in her fifth start, Gemma Tattersall said, “Today was awesome – amazing! I have been wanting to be here at Badminton [in the top 3] all my life. Artic Soul is a really good show jumper – he does get a little nervous with the crowds so I’ve just got to keep him calm and try my best to jump a clear round, but hey – he’s been incredible in the first two phases and I am incredibly proud of him.”

HISTORY OF THE ROLEX GRAND SLAM

In 2001 Rolex was inspired to link the three foremost eventing competitions in the world into a Grand Slam. Badminton – the British horse trials on which the modern sport of eventing was founded, Kentucky – the premier US event, and Burghley – the East of England’s showpiece event, formed the competition.

Every year these three events attract world class competition and crowds of enthusiastic supporters eager to bear witness to equestrian greatness. It became immediately apparent that, completing the challenge and winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, would require a series of outstanding performances from a remarkable athlete.

Since its inception in 2001, only one rider has risen to the challenge: Britain’s much loved and highly decorated team member, Pippa Funnell. In April 2003 she rode Primmore’s Pride to victory at Rolex Kentucky, beginning her Rolex Grand Slam campaign. A week later, this time riding double European champion Supreme Rock, Funnell was crowned Badminton winner. A few months later, Funnell reigned supreme at Burghley, riding Primmore’s Pride again, outperforming fellow Rolex Testimonee Zara Phillips, who finished in second place. Pippa Funnell immediately joined the ranks of sporting greats and became a Rolex Testimonee.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Rolex SA
Virginie Chevailler
virginie.chevailler@rolex.com
+41 (0)22 302 2761

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Rod Kohler
rod@revolutionsports.co.uk
+44 (0)7770 647 662

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T.

Jung Closes In on Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Prize after Leading Dressage at Badminton

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Photo courtesy of Rolex.

6 May 2016, Badminton, UK – Michael Jung (GER) continued his winning form from the Rolex Kentucky event last weekend to lead the 2016 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials after the Dressage phase, to set him on course for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize.

With a stunning dressage score of 34.4, Jung, riding his double gold medal winning horse La Biostheetique-Sam FBW, leads the 77 strong field of competitors with the UK’s Emily King in second place riding Brookleigh and fellow compatriot, Andreas Ostholt, in third place riding So Is Et.

Only these three riders posted dressage scores under 40 and now head into Saturday’s challenging cross-country course with one of the closest set of scores in the competition’s history.

TOP 5 RESULTS AFTER DRESSAGE

1. Michael Jung (GER), La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, 34.4
2. Emily King (UK), Brookleigh, 36.8
3. Andreas Ostholt (GER), So Is Et, 38.2
4. Francis Whittington (UK), Hasty IMP, 40.0
5. Christopher Burton (AUS), Nobilis 18, 40.3

ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF EVENTING CHALLENGE

Speaking at the post-dressage press conference, a delighted Jung said, “It is always in my mind [Rolex Grand Slam] and the pressure is on, but this is normal like in every competition – when I go to any big competition like a 4* I try to win for sure. I am always looking step by step – the dressage is over but now we are concentrating on the cross-country and then we will look to the next day.”

Competing at her very first Badminton, 20-year-old Emily King said, “I’m absolutely over the moon. ‘Brook’ was really good; he went in the ring and warmed up very well and kept that into the main arena. I knew he was capable of doing such a good test. He kept his cool very well so I was over the moon!”

“I think the ground will be perfect for the cross-country, so the conditions can’t be better. If it stays like this tomorrow too, I think we will have a great day and enjoy the day,” said Ostholt, currently lying in third place.

Having won both the 2015 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and the 2016 Rolex Kentucky, Jung is now just one competition away from the coveted USD$350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize. He has traveled to Badminton straight from Kentucky to try to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.

HISTORY OF THE ROLEX GRAND SLAM

In 2001 Rolex was inspired to link the three foremost eventing competitions in the world into a Grand Slam. Badminton – the British horse trials on which the modern sport of eventing was founded, Kentucky – the premier US event, and Burghley – the East of England’s showpiece event, formed the competition.

Every year these three events attract world class competition and crowds of enthusiastic supporters eager to bear witness to equestrian greatness. It became immediately apparent that, completing the challenge and winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, would require a series of outstanding performances from a remarkable athlete.

Since its inception in 2001, only one rider has risen to the challenge: Britain’s much loved and highly decorated team member, Pippa Funnell. In April 2003 she rode Primmore’s Pride to victory at Rolex Kentucky, beginning her Rolex Grand Slam campaign. A week later, this time riding double European champion Supreme Rock, Funnell was crowned Badminton winner. A few months later, Funnell reigned supreme at Burghley, riding Primmore’s Pride again, outperforming fellow Rolex Testimonee Zara Phillips, who finished in second place. Pippa Funnell immediately joined the ranks of sporting greats and became a Rolex Testimonee.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Rolex SA
Virginie Chevailler
virginie.chevailler@rolex.com
+41 (0)22 302 2761

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Rod Kohler
rod@revolutionsports.co.uk
+44 (0)7770 647 662

Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI

Emily King Challenges Jung at Badminton

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Emily King (GBR) and Brookleigh (Sebastian Oakley/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 6 May, 2016 – Emily King (GBR), the youngest rider at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), fourth leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016, produced the performance of the day and is in second place behind first-day leaders Michael Jung (GER) and La Biosthetique Sam FBW at the end of the Dressage phase.

King scored 36.8 in a beautiful test on the 13-year-old Westphalian Brookleigh and is 2.4 penalties behind the Olympic champion, who retains pole position going into Saturday’s Cross Country.

King’s riding was calm and mature and she and the hogged black gelding made an elegant picture. “I feel really proud,” said the 20-year-old.

“Brookleigh can do a good test, but he also has a tendency to get behind the leg or be lively, and it was great that this time he was exactly as good in the arena as he had been in the warm-up.

“I’m excited rather than nervous – at the moment! This will be his longest course but the good ground should suit him.”

King, whose mother, Mary, won Badminton in 1992 and 2000, finished fourth on her CCI4* debut at Pau (FRA) last year. She said: “I’ve been coming to Badminton every year since I was born, and this has always been the most important event to me.”

Andreas Ostholt (GER) and Francis Whittington (GBR), who performed their Dressage tests Thursday, are now in third and fourth places.

As anticipated, Christopher Burton (AUS) and the 11-year-old Nobilis 18, a horse originally produced by Jung, are among the leaders, in fifth place on 40.3. Their test had some lovely moments, with just the odd mistake coming in the half-pass and one flying change.

Although the absence of two of Britain’s best riders, former winners William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Pippa Funnell (GBR), who was injured in a fall last weekend, the younger generation have certainly risen to the occasion.

Dani Evans (Raphael ll) and Izzy Taylor (Allercombe Ellie) are in joint sixth place and Oliver Townend is eighth on the New Zealand Thoroughbred Black Tie, once a winning racehorse on the flat.

Several experienced riders are clustered together on scores in the mid-40s, just a little off the pace of the leaders, and some have expressed disappointment with their performances.

Bettina Hoy (GER), 14th on a score of 44.0 with Designer 10, lost marks for tension and a mistake in a flying change, and Sir Mark Todd (NZL), 17th on 44.8 penalties, reported Leonidas ll to have been “uptight”.

Laura Collett (GBR), 37th on 48.2, looked as if she would challenge the leaders with Grand Manoeuvre before mistakes crept in, and Zara Tindall (GBR), 36th on 48.0, who is chasing Olympic qualification on High Kingdom, said the 15-year-old was “a bit too jolly” after an 18-month absence from major competition.

Beautiful sunny weather has created a relaxed atmosphere at the famous British venue, but the atmosphere is expected to hot up Saturday when riders tackle Giuseppe della Chiesa’s (ITA) challenging Cross Country course. Oliver Townend (GBR) will show the way on one of the world’s most experienced horses, Armada, at 11.30am (local time).

See how this thrilling competition unfolds on www.feitv.org (geo-restrictions may apply for certain territories – please check on FEITV.org for further details).

Live results and Radio Badminton available on www.badminton-horse.co.uk.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials Media Contact:

Julian Seaman
Head of Media
J.Seaman2@sky.com
+44 7831 515736

FEI Media Contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI

German Duo Steals Early Lead at Badminton

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Michael Jung (GER) riding La Biosthetique Sam (Sebastian Oakley/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 5 May 2016 – No German rider has won the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), fourth leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016, in its 67-year history, but two of them are currently heading the leaderboard after the first day of Dressage and few would bet against this being the year that history is made.

Michael Jung (GER), who flew straight to Badminton after his victory at Kentucky (USA) on Sunday, and La Biosthetique Sam FBW lead Andreas Ostholt (So Is Et), the two German riders earning the only sub-40 marks of the day.

Last to go, Francis Whittington (GBR) gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about when scoring 40.0 penalties on Hasty Imp to slot into third place at this stage.

Jung has become a great favourite in Britain and a packed crowd gave him a warm reception after his test, which was obedient and soft with some expressive canter work. The Ground Jury, President Marilyn Payne (USA), Andrew Bennie (NZL), and Angela Tucker (GBR), gave him nines for his riding.

“It’s the ease of it all that makes him such a pleasure to watch,” explained Olympic Dressage gold medalist Carl Hester, who was commentating.

“Sam was really good,” said Jung of the 16-year-old gelding that has given him Olympic, world and European titles as well as victory at Burghley last year.

“Before today, I felt he was quite nervous and that I hadn’t done enough work with him, but in the end he was very relaxed. I must thank all the people who have been looking after him while I was ‘on holiday’ in Kentucky.”

Ostholt, 38, who has not competed at Badminton for five years, is only 3.8 penalties behind, on a mark of 38.2 on So Is Et, a 13-year-old Westphalian gelding. “I have not scored in the thirties for two years, so it’s a good feeling,” he said.

Ostholt, whose brother Frank was placed at Badminton in 2007, is Head of the Riding Unit at the German Military Sports School at Warendorf.

Whittington said he was “over the moon” but was not going to allow his achievement to go to his head at this early stage of the competition. “I came here with no expectations,” he said.

“The horse has to work hard at this level and I am going to focus on one thing at a time. The main thing is that I need to concentrate [in Saturday’s Cross Country] and ride forward.

“I’ve changed my mindset following a great conversation with Joseph Murphy (IRL) in Ballindenisk recently. It’s cleared my mind and reminded me why I do this – for the fun of it. I’ve been here before [well placed after Dressage] and know it can all change overnight so I’m just going to enjoy the moment.”

Clarke Johnstone (NZL), who has returned to his home country to live, is in fourth place on the 12-year-old grey New Zealand Sport Horse Balmoral Sensation with a mark of 40.8.

Badminton first-timer Jesse Campbell (NZL), lying fifth, had the doubtful privilege of going into the arena after Jung, but he didn’t let that affect his concentration and the 13-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred Kaapachino, a reliable performer in the Dressage phase, produced a good test for 40.8.

“I’m a little on edge,” admitted Campbell, one of the tallest riders on the circuit, who revealed that things got off to a frenetic start when he lost his car keys and had to squeeze into Jock Paget’s suit for the first Horse Inspection.

“Kaapachino’s walk is always on the delicate side and I mucked up the halt, but I have to be pleased. Badminton is the reason you do this sport. I’ve wanted to come here ever since I sat up all night to watch Mark Todd win on Bertie Blunt in 1996.”

Five nations are represented in the top seven, with the 2014 winners Sam Griffiths (AUS) and Paulank Brockagh in sixth place ahead of Ireland’s Sarah Ennis on BLM Diamond Delux in seventh.

Riders have been making early assessments of Giuseppe della Chiesa’s (ITA) Cross Country course, which follows the same anti-clockwise direction as in 2015. It’s the Italian designer’s third year at Badminton and German team trainer Christopher Bartle considers “the pendulum has swung back to 2014,” which was generally considered a tougher course than last time.

He comments: “There is a lot to jump out there and you have to take confidence from fence to fence, but at the same time it is definitely doable.”

Blyth Tait (NZL), currently 17th after scoring 48.5 on Bear Necessity V, is also well placed to offer an interesting perspective on the track, as this is the first time he’s ridden at Badminton for 13 years, having retired from the sport in 2004.

“I feel as if I’ve never been away,” said the former Olympic and world champion. “I’m feeling pretty brave now, but that may have changed by Saturday! The course is strong all the way and I’m not so keen on all the left turns – at Huntsman’s Close, the Gatehouse New Pond, and the Lake, among others – where it would be easy to run out.”

Tait finished runner-up at Badminton three times in the 1990s. “I’d be thrilled with a top 10 finish this week, but I must admit it would be nice to nail this event before I retire… again.”

There are several smart combinations yet to perform their Dressage tests – the penultimate rider Friday, Christopher Burton (AUS) on Nobilis 18, is strongly fancied to challenge Jung – and Carl Hester expressed the opinion that the competition was still wide open for “a mistake-free, expressive test” to take the lead.

See how this thrilling competition unfolds on www.feitv.org (geo-restrictions may apply for certain territories – please check on FEITV.org for further details).

Live results and Radio Badminton will also be available on www.badminton-horse.co.uk.

Full results: www.badminton-horse.co.uk.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials Media Contact:

Julian Seaman
Head of Media
J.Seaman2@sky.com
+44 7831 515736

FEI Media Contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Eventing/H.T., FEI, FEI

Olympic Hopefuls Head to Badminton

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Sir Mark Todd, 4-time Badminton winner and double Olympic champion, heads to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, fourth leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016, with Leonidas II (pictured here together at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014) (Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 4 May 2016 – There is always an extra frisson of excitement surrounding the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), fourth leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016, in an Olympic year, and 2016 will be no exception as the historic event has received an exceptionally star-studded entry from 14 nations.

In modern times, Olympic champions Mark Todd (NZL), Matt Ryan (AUS), Blyth Tait (NZL), David O’Connor (USA), Leslie Law (GBR) and Hinrich Romeike (GER), along with many other Olympic medalists had all won, or been highly placed, at the world’s oldest CCI4*. As Event Director Hugh Thomas says, “No rider ever got left off an Olympic team for winning Badminton!”

This year’s field ranges from the experience of 62-year-old former world champion Jean Teulère (FRA), riding Matelot du Val, and 60-year-old Sir Mark Todd (Leonidas ll), bidding for his seventh Olympic appearance at Rio, to first-timers, including Danish amateur rider Hanne Wind Ramsgaard (Vestervangs Arami) who works full-time in the renewable energy business, and 20-year-old Emily King (Brookleigh, GBR), the youngest competitor entered and daughter of six-time Olympian Mary King.

Blyth Tait (Bear Necessity V, NZL) is back at Badminton for the first time in 13 years – he has finished runner-up here three times – and leading American rider Boyd Martin (Cracker Jack) makes his very first visit.

Zara Tindall (GBR), another former world champion and on the bronze medal winning team at London 2012, will be trying to return to the British team for Rio with High Kingdom, which spent last season on the sidelines after sustaining an injury at Kentucky.

She will face strong competition for a team place in Rio from fellow British riders Izzy Taylor, Gemma Tattersall, Nicola Wilson, Laura Collett, Kristina Cook and Oliver Townend, and the home crowd especially will be willing Alice Dunsdon (GBR) to finish on Fernhill Present – if they do so, Dunsdon will be the first rider to complete the world’s six CCI4*s on the same horse.

German superstar Michael Jung – the reigning Olympic champion and current FEI Classics™ 2015/2016 leader – is fresh from his back-to-back victory on FischerRocana in Kentucky last weekend. He will ride his 2015 Burghley winner La Biosthetique Sam, and will be bidding for the elusive Rolex Grand Slam hat-trick.

His compatriots Bettina Hoy (Designer 10), has been going brilliantly on the British circuit this spring and Andreas Ostholt (So Is Et) and Andreas Dibowski (FRH Butts Avedon) also have winning credentials for Badminton.

In many people’s eyes, however, Jung’s fiercest challenge in Badminton looks likely to come from ‘Down Under’ in the shape of New Zealand’s supremely talented ‘first couple’, Tim and Jonelle Price (Ringwood Sky Boy and Classic Moet), or the stylish Christopher Burton (AUS) with Haruzac or Nobilis 18.

A total of 80 horses will be trotted up at the first Horse Inspection this afternoon (4.30pm local time). The action then starts tomorrow when Oliver Townend is first into the Dressage arena at 9.00am (local time).

See how this thrilling competition unfolds on www.feitv.org (outside the UK), with live results and Radio Badminton on www.badminton-horse.co.uk.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing.

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Kate Green

Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials Media Contact:

Julian Seaman
Head of Media
J.Seaman2@sky.com
+44 7831 515736

FEI Media Contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

USEF Announces Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grant Recipients for Spring Competitions

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Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of Land Rover/USEF eventing competition grants for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover CCI4* and the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI4*.

The following athlete has received a grant for Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover CCI4* taking place April 28 – May 1 in Lexington, Ky.:

Tiana Coudray will ride Jatial, Inc’s Ringwood Magister, a 2001 Irish Sport Horse gelding.

Find out more about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover CCI4*.

The following athletes have received grants for Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI4* taking place May 4-8 in Badminton, Gloucestershire, England:

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) will ride Lucy Boynton Lie’s Cracker Jack, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding, and Stephen Blauner and Kenneth Shelley’s Master Frisky, a 2004 Irish Sport Horse gelding.

Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) will ride The Donner Syndicate, LLC’s Donner, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding.

Find out more about the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI4*.

From the USEF Communications Department

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., FEI

William Fox-Pitt Claims His Second Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials Title

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Badminton, UK, 10 May 2015 – William Fox-Pitt (GBR) claimed his second Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials title riding Chilli Morning after a thrilling final day’s competition. Germany’s Ingrid Klimke was second on Horseware Hale Bob and New Zealand’s Jonathan Paget was third riding Clifton Lush.

It was 11 years since Fox-Pitt last won Badminton back in 2004 and he was not going to squander the chance to claim his second victory despite the strong opposition from the high-class field of international riders, with Germany and New Zealand taking four of the other top five final places.

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) had led from Day One and he was focused on claiming his first ever Badminton title after 31 years of trying. With the cross-country phase not causing too many challenges for the top-placed riders after dressage, the Kelvin Bywater designed show jumping course was to change everything on the leaderboard. The packed grandstands around the main arena saw only five clear rounds before the final top 10 placed riders jumped, and even two of those clears incurred a penalty time fault. It could not have been more tense going into the final five riders, with just three penalties covering them, the cost of one pole down.

Lying in fourth position overnight, Ingrid Klimke came agonisingly close in the end to becoming the first ever German rider to claim the title for a second time, having previously also finished in second place back in 2006. Klimke delivered a perfect clear round to ultimately move her up two places to finish second. Next to go was Great Britain’s Oliver Townend riding Armada who were the 2014 runners-up. Sadly a disastrous round with four poles down took them out of the placings down to 11th position.

Both Fox-Pitt and Nicholson, knew they each had to jump a perfect clear to prevent Klimke from winning, but despite this added pressure, Fox-Pitt delivered a faultless performance to the delight of the home crowd who took to their feet to applaud their British hero. This set up an electric climax to the competition as Nicholson entered the arena on his edgy 15-year-old horse Nereo. The crowd collectively held its breath for Nicholson, but it was not to be as the pair crashed through the second fence to hand Fox-Pitt the Badminton title once more.

A delighted Fox-Pitt said, “It’s been a long time since I won with Tamarillo [in 2004], which makes you realise how hard it is and how everything has to go right. Chilli has had a fantastic week; he’s gone wonderfully well. It hasn’t been a very relaxing day today, but it was my lucky day and Chilli jumped brilliantly.”

Previous Badminton winner Jonathan Paget (NZL) finished in third place despite hitting one pole down, while eventing legend Sir Mark Todd produced a brilliant clear round of show jumping to move up from joint 15th after dressage to fourth overall; and he could have even claimed third place if not for one time fault in the final phase. Rolex Testimonee Pippa Funnell, riding Redesigned, finished in 12th position overall having climbed from 17th place after a superb ride in both the cross-country and show jumping phases.

The win for Fox-Pitt now puts him on course for the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize with one step towards claiming the new Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Trophy, which was officially unveiled at this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event by Rolex Testimonee Zara Phillips. Fox-Pitt now heads to the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in September, as the live contender of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize.

TOP 5 PLACINGS AFTER THE FINAL DAY, SHOW JUMPING

1st   William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Chilli Morning, 39.0
2nd  Ingrid Klimke (GER), Horseware Hale Bob, 40.2
3rd   Jonathan Paget (NZL), Clifton Lush, 44.8
4th   Mark Todd (NZL), Leonidas II, 48.0
5th   Bettina Hoy (GER), Designer 10, 48.4

For full results, please visit: www.badminton-horse.co.uk.

THE ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF EVENTING

When Rolex was inspired to link the three foremost eventing competitions in the world into a Grand Slam in 2001, it was immediately apparent that it would require a series of outstanding performances from a remarkable athlete to complete the challenge.

Kentucky, and Badminton – the British horse trials on which the modern sport of eventing was founded – run two weeks apart in the spring, and Burghley, in the east of England, is the autumn highlight of the global sport. All three have stunning settings and attract vast crowds over the four days of competition.

To date, only one rider – Rolex Eventing Testimonee Pippa Funnell – has won this most prestigious series. In 2003 the much-medalled mainstay of British teams for many years took the Rolex Kentucky crown on Primmore’s Pride. She progressed to Badminton a week later and won there on Supreme Rock, her double European Champion, and added the Burghley title that autumn on Primmore’s Pride – beating Zara Phillips into second place on her four-star debut at the same time. Pippa Funnell immediately joined the ranks of sporting greats, respected by her peers and the media alike as an exceptional athlete.

Since then, two of the three legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing have been won by four riders: the Australian Andrew Hoy, Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend, and the New Zealand hero of six Olympic Games and current live Rolex Grand Slam contender, Andrew Nicholson. None of these top-class riders have yet succeeded in triumphing over the series and winning the final element of the Rolex Grand Slam.

ABOUT ROLEX

Leading brand of the Swiss watch industry, Rolex, headquartered in Geneva, enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its Oyster watches, all certified as chronometers for their precision, are symbols of excellence, performance and prestige. Pioneer in the development of the wristwatch as early as 1905, the brand is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism introduced in 1931. Rolex has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Rolex also actively supports the arts, sports, exploration, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities, as well as philanthropic programmes.

Website
www.rolex.com

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Merrick Haydon
merrick@revolutionsports.co.uk
+44 77481 868 33

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Show Jumping

Fox-Pitt Rides Chilli Morning into the Record Books at Badminton

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and the stallion Chilli Morning make history by winning the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, fourth leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015. (Jon Stroud/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 10 May 2015 – William Fox-Pitt (GBR) re-wrote the record books when he became the first rider in history to win a CCI4* on a stallion, jumping a magnificent clear round in today’s final phase on Christopher Stone’s Chilli Morning to capture the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, fourth leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015.

The popular German rider Ingrid Klimke finished runner-up by just 1.2 penalties on her new star Horseware Hale Bob, and New Zealander Jock Paget was third on Clifton Lush, a great achievement on a horse coming back after a year’s lay-off for injury.

The finale could not have been more tense, with three penalties – less than the cost of a rail down – covering the first five riders, and all attention on the great Kiwi rider Andrew Nicholson aiming to win Badminton for the first time in 31 years of trying.

Paget, lying fifth after Cross Country, eased the pressure on his rivals when Clifton Lush hit the 11th fence to pick up four faults. Klimke, next into the arena, was immaculately prepared, having been competing her German Thoroughbred gelding in Jumping classes over the winter, and they produced a confident clear.

Next to go were the 2014 runners-up, Oliver Townend (GBR) and Armada, but the Yorkshireman had humorously predicted that he wouldn’t be taking home any trophies as the 16-year-old gelding is notoriously difficult in this phase. Four fences down dropped the pair to 11th.

Fox-Pitt is known for his ability to deal with extreme pressure and the generous Chilli Morning more than rose to the occasion, jumping as if on springs to record a clear and switch the burden onto the shoulders of his New Zealand rival.

As the crowd erupted, Nicholson entered on an unsettled Nereo, the 15-year-old chestnut clearly unnerved by the electric atmosphere, and when he hit the second fence it was all over. Two more rails went as well and the pair dropped to sixth place, but the New Zealander somehow managed to find a smile. “I’ll live to fight another day,” he promised.

Fox-Pitt, the first British rider to win Badminton for six years, last triumphed here in 2004 on Tamarillo. “That was a long time ago, and it makes you realise how hard it is,” he said. “It was very easy to think it was all over with a rider like Andrew in front. He doesn’t make many mistakes.”

Chilli Morning will now return to stud duties and will not compete again this year. “He’s a fantastic horse with a brilliant brain and he wants to work.” Fox-Pitt was quick to heap praise on Nick Gauntlett, the rider who produced the stallion up to four-star level.

Ingrid Klimke said Horseware Hale Bob had given her a great ride in all three phases and she was keen to pay tribute to Chris Bartle, the German team trainer “because he always had faith in us”.

Jock Paget, who withdrew his 2013 winner Clifton Promise (10th after Cross Country) before Jumping, said he’d had “a good feeling” about Clifton Lush, a ride he took over from fellow Kiwi Joe Meyer. “He did his maximum in every phase,” said Paget. “I knew that even if he jumped clear, I wouldn’t catch the other two.”

Kelvin Bywater’s Jumping track proved influential, with clear rounds at a premium. Sir Mark Todd (NZL) rose from ninth to fourth with just one time penalty on the German-bred Leonidas ll and Bettina Hoy (GER) had her best ever Badminton result with fifth place on Designer 10 after incurring only four faults.

Nicola Wilson (GBR) rose 11 places to seventh with a clear round on One Two Many; Aoife Clark (IRL) climbed three places to eighth with four faults on Vaguely North and fellow Irishman Michael Ryan shot up from 21st to ninth with a penalty-free round on Ballylynch Adventure. Last year’s winners, Sam Griffiths (AUS) and Paulank Brockagh, were 10th.

Klimke’s second place at Badminton added to her win at Pau (FRA) last year propels her into first place on the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015 leaderboard and she has a good ride, Escada JS, for the fifth leg at Luhmühlen (GER) next month. Fox-Pitt, now second in the rankings, following a fourth place in Kentucky (USA) recently, is also planning to compete at Germany’s premier event, so the contest should go right to the wire at Burghley (GBR) in September.

About the winner

William Fox-Pitt, 45, has won 55 CCIs, including a record 14 CCI4*s: Badminton (2004 and 2015), Burghley six times (1994, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011), Luhmühlen (2008), Kentucky three times (2010, 2012 and 2014) and Pau twice (2011 and 2013). He is the only rider to have won five out of the world’s six CCI4*s. Currently the world number two, he won the FEI Classics™ in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014.

He has represented Britain 18 times in championships, winning Olympic team silver (2004 and 2012) and bronze (2008), world team gold and individual silver on Cool Mountain (2010) plus team silver in 2006, team bronze in 2002 and team silver and individual bronze in 2014 on Chilli Morning. He has six European team gold medals, one team bronze, two individual silvers (1997 and 2005) and an individual bronze in 2013 on Chilli Morning.

Fox-Pitt is married to Alice, a television racing commentator. They live near Sturminster Newton, Dorset, and have two sons, Oliver and Thomas, and two daughters, Chloe and Emily.

Chilli Morning is a 15-year-old German-bred stallion by Phantomic, a thoroughbred, out of a Jumping-bred mare, Koralle. He was bought in Germany as a youngster by Christopher Stone.

Download the FEI Classics™ press kit here: www.feipresskits.org/press_kits/subevent/fei-classics.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics and #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials Media Contact:

Julian Seaman
J.Seaman2@sky.com
+44 7831 515736

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., FEI

Andrew Nicholson Keeps the Badminton Dream Alive

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Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Nereo retain their lead after a perfectly judged Cross Country round at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, fourth leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015. (Jon Stroud/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 9 May 2015 – Andrew Nicholson (NZL) joked that he was “still living the dream” after judging his Cross-Country round on Nereo to perfection at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, fourth leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015.

The brilliant New Zealand rider finished one second inside the optimum time of 11 minutes 27 seconds to remain on his leading Dressage score of 37.8. But the six-time Olympian has no room for error to realise a great ambition nurtured since he first competed here in 1984. He has no margin for error in tomorrow’s Jumping phase over four riders who, like Nicholson, all know what it takes to win a CCI4*.

William Fox-Pitt (GBR), who beat Nicholson into second place at Badminton in 2004, is in the runner-up spot after a thrilling round on the stallion Chilli Morning. Oliver Townend, the last British rider to win Badminton, in 2009, is third on Nicholson’s former ride, Armada, a full-brother to Nereo.

Ingrid Klimke (GER) is fourth on her 2014 Pau winner Horseware Hale Bob and the 2013 Badminton winner Jock Paget (NZL) is fifth on Clifton Lush. None of them can afford the tiniest mistake in what promises to be a thrilling Jumping finale. “The crowd will love it,” said Fox-Pitt.

The 2010 winner Paul Tapner (AUS), who proved a masterful pathfinder on Kilronan, 22nd, is in close contention with his second ride, Indian Mill, sixth.

There are five New Zealand horses in the top 10. Nicholson is also seventh on the Thoroughbred Calico Joe and Paget is ninth on Clifton Promise after picking up 6.4 time penalties. Sir Mark Todd is ninth on Leonidas ll with 1.2 time penalties and earned an enormous cheer from the crowd when he finished on the last horse of the day, Oloa, 43rd.

“The course rode really well and the going was perfect,” said the four-time winner who, at 59, was the oldest in the field of 78 Cross Country starters. “Even now, I can say that you still get just as nervous and it’s still just as much a thrill. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Nicholson has won eight CCI4*s, including Burghley five times, but the Mitsubishi Motors trophy has eluded him so far. In 2014, he was last to go on the Spanish-bred Nereo and appeared to have the competition at his mercy, but was unseated midway round at a rail out of the Gatehouse Pond.

“I’ve had a year to contemplate that,” Nicholson said ruefully. “Until I managed to fall off, Nereo was making it feel easy. So this year I made a conscious effort to have him jumping every fence right. It perhaps didn’t feel as smooth, but I’m sure he realised that I was using a bit more pressure from the leg and a stronger rein contact and I think he sensed that each fence mattered.”

With only one ride, Fox-Pitt endured an anxious wait for his turn towards the end of the day, and revealed that he’d been “playing in the Wendy house and on the bouncy castle” with his young sons. “With the course riding so well, I knew that just a few seconds wasted would mean it was all over.”

The performance of Fox-Pitt’s mount, Chilli Morning, was the best by a stallion in the history of Badminton. “When he argues, it gives me confidence that he’s up for it,” said Fox-Pitt, a reference to the time the chestnut stopped at a ditch at Kentucky in 2013. “It’s not poetry in motion, but he’s very genuine, a super horse.”

Bettina Hoy (GER) produced one of her best ever Badminton performances to lie eighth on Designer 10 with just 1.6 time penalties. “He’s never jumped anything that big before and I don’t think I’ve been that fast for a while,” said a delighted Hoy, “I was getting lots of texts and positive messages from riders at Marbach [the German national championships] telling me to kick on.”

Course Designer Giuseppe della Chiesa (ITA) had reduced the intensity of his track, but it still exerted an appropriate influence and, despite the perfect weather and footing conditions, riders had to be completely focused to achieve the optimum time. There were 52 clear rounds, 13 of which were inside the time.

“It was really wonderful to ride,” said an effervescent Ingrid Klimke, who could be the first German to win at the world-famous Gloucestershire venue. “Congratulations to the designer. It had big fences and technical questions which were appropriate for four-star level and it motivated the horses.”

The huge crowds waiting to see thrills and spills at the Lake were not disappointed. Three veteran riders, Kristina Cook (GBR), 11th after Dressage on De Novo News, fellow Briton Gary Parsonage (Sligo Luckyvalier), who last rode at Badminton in the days of long format, and triple Olympic gold medallist Andrew Hoy (AUS) on Rutherglen all got a soaking when their horses pitched over the curved willow “wave” fence into the water.

“I’m so annoyed with myself,” said Cook when she’d dried off. “He was going so well and for some reason I decided I wanted another stride and got the horse too close to the fence.”

The 2014 winner Sam Griffiths (AUS), who is lying 16th on Paulank Brockagh, retired his second ride Happy Times after nearly falling and missing his line in the Lake.

The step out of the Lake also proved influential and ended the challenge of young German rider Niklas Bschorer who had been eighth after Dressage. He performed heroics to stay on when Tom Tom Go 3 stumbled up the step, but had to retire when his air jacket inflated.

Andrew Hoy (AUS), who first rode at Badminton in 1979, had a particularly damp day. He was having trouble anchoring first ride Lanfranco TSF, the horse previously ridden by Bettina Hoy, when the onward-bound gelding ran past the narrow brush in the Gatehouse Pond (fence 20) and dislodged him.

Experienced New Zealander Caroline Powell, 23rd after Dressage, also got wet here when Onwards and Upwards tripped on landing.

Christopher Burton (AUS), now 40th, finished 15 seconds inside the optimum time on TS Jamaimo but incurred 20 penalties when taking the alternative route at Huntsman’s Close, which cost him 11th place.

When asked how he was going to keep calm overnight, the leader Andrew Nicholson replied that he was going to return to his home near Marlborough, Wiltshire. “My youngest two children, Lily and Zach, will bring me back to reality, and we’ve also got a few problems with our chickens,” he said.

Find the start list, drawn order, rider biographies and live results on www.badminton-horse.co.uk, and watch the full Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials live on FEI TV: www.feitv.org.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics and #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials Media Contact:

Julian Seaman
J.Seaman2@sky.com
+44 7831 515736

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI

Nicholson and Nereo Hold Onto Badminton Dressage Lead

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Chilli Morning is currently in second place to Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Nereo after the Dressage phase at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, fourth leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015. (Jon Stroud/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 8 May 2015 – Andrew Nicholson (NZL), the man who has completed the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials more times (33) than any other rider, is still in pole position on Nereo after a fascinating two days of Dressage at this fourth leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015.

The 53-year-old Kiwi, who performed his test early yesterday morning, is still out in front of the 81 starters, although his lead has shrunk to just 1.2 penalties over world number two William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and the 15-year-old stallion Chilli Morning.

Nicholson’s former ride, Armada – a full brother to Nereo – is in close contention in third place with Oliver Townend (GBR) on 39.2. Ingrid Klimke (GER) is fourth on Horseware Hale Bob on 40.2 penalties, and New Zealander Jock Paget’s two rides, Clifton Lush and Clifton Promise, are in fifth and sixth place, separated by a mere 0.4 of a penalty.

With judges now able to award half marks under new FEI rules, the scores are tightly bunched – just 10 penalties cover the top 29 horses – making for a thrilling day’s Cross Country tomorrow.

Nicholson admitted that he was quite surprised to find himself still in the lead after some strong performances by fellow competitors today. “I expected to end up about fifth,” he said, “but Nereo felt very smart yesterday and I thought that if anyone beat me they probably wouldn’t be very far in front.”

Fox-Pitt, who is bringing his world bronze medal horse to Badminton for the first time, was rueing a couple of fluffed flying changes in an otherwise immaculate test. “It’s frustrating because Chilli is a horse that is normally very solid in this movement, but I’m very happy with him overall and he feels fantastic,” he said.

“He’s usually a very relaxed horse and has been half-asleep all week, so it was rather a bad moment for him to wake up!” added Fox-Pitt, who admits that he faces a long and anxious wait tomorrow as he only has the one ride this year and won’t be going across country until nearly the end of the day.

Townend, the last British rider to win Badminton (in 2009 on Flint Curtis), commented that this was Armada’s best test to date. “It’s all about the long-term work we’ve done together,” he said.

“This is the first time he’s come to Badminton felt he’s ready to do his job in the arena. Usually, you’re sitting on eggshells, but as the test progressed and when we got into the canter, I could ride him more and more.”

As anticipated, Klimke (GER) produced a beautifully ridden, accurate test on Horseware Hale Bob, which was only marred by a few moments of tension, notably in the walk. The ever good-humoured German Olympian, who took “Bobby” draghunting as a young horse, explained that he had suddenly heard the hounds in the Duke of Beaufort’s hunt kennels on the Badminton estate.

“He was really opening up at the start, with a lovely shoulder in, and I had a big smile on my face,” she said. “But then he heard the dogs and I had to tell him ‘come on, we’re not hunting’! But it’s good that he’s excited, because he needs to be awake tomorrow for the Cross Country.”

Klimke added: “I’m looking forward to it and don’t feel there is any particular problem fence. My horse has scope and is neat on his feet and well balanced. We’re definitely going for it.”

Riders have been weighing up Giuseppe della Chiesa’s (ITA) Cross Country course, which last year claimed such notable scalps as Nicholson, Fox-Pitt, Sir Mark Todd (NZL), Pippa Funnell (GBR) and Mary King (GBR). As is traditional, the direction has been reversed this year so that it runs anti-clockwise, the route riders tend to prefer, and the general perception is that the intensity has been reduced.

However, the Italian designer, only the fourth in Badminton’s 66-year history, has still set some of the difficult lines for which he is renowned.

The riders will have been carefully assessing the big brush corners at the ISH Studbook Huntsman’s Close (fence 8), which were so influential in 2014, the cunningly placed logs on undulating ground at the Swindon Designer Outlet Mound (15-16), the tricky carved hedges at the Mirage Pond (18), the choice of rolltops at the Shogun Hollow (22) and the curving line through three silver birch rails at fences 25-26, the complex named after Badminton’s official charity, Sense.

“The course is a little bit kinder than last year, with not as many combinations, but you can’t get away from the fact it is still big, it’s still Badminton, and there’s no room for error anywhere,” said the seasoned Kristina Cook (GBR), who is lying 11th on De Novo News.

“There is so much history at Badminton. I rode here when I was 21, many years ago. I was completely terrified then. I’ve had some amazing rides here, and I have also fallen off a few times as well, but that is the respect Badminton needs. Only the best come here.”

Find the start list, drawn order, rider biographies and live results on www.badminton-horse.co.uk, and watch the full Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials live on FEI TV: www.feitv.org.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics and #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials Media Contact:

Julian Seaman
J.Seaman2@sky.com
+44 7831 515736

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45