Overnight leaders Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
56 horses came forward to the final horse inspection this morning at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, down from the 59 who completed yesterday’s competition. This comes after the overnight withdrawal of three horse and rider combinations overnight: Ireland’s Jim Newsam and Magennis, Padraig McCarthy and Mr Chunky, and Laura Collett and Mr Bass, who sustained an undisclosed injury across the country yesterday.
Elsewhere, the morning was largely drama-free: each of the 56 horses presented was accepted by the assembled ground jury of Nick Burton (GBR), Jane Hamlin (USA), and Christian Steiner (AUT). One horse was sent to the hold box – Italy’s Pietro Sandei had to re-present his Rubis de Prere, but they were subsequently accepted.
Pietro Sandei and Rubis de Prere await the decision of the ground jury. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Last week at Kentucky, we saw a totally drama-free Sunday morning, and withdrawals notwithstanding, it’s great to see another one this week – we’ve been blessed, once again, with fantastic ground and going, and a course that didn’t cause any nasty incidents throughout the day.
Woodge Fulton and Captain Jack come forward for the final day of their first Badminton. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
In Praise of Supergrooms
Amy Akehurst takes the top groom honours. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Each year, a prize is awarded to the groom who is deemed to have provided a superior level of care for their charge throughout the week. This year’s winner was Amy Akehurst, who works as head girl for Tom Crisp. Amy has worked tirelessly throughout the week to look after two horses with wildly different needs and today, Liberty and Glory came forward looking as fresh and feisty as always, despite having faced the biggest test of her life just weeks after contracting a respiratory infection.
Amy rides Coolys Luxury in front of Badminton House. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
“She’s a rare gem,” said Tom of the perennially sunny Amy. “She’s so likeable, she’s always smiling, and she works so, so hard.”
The first session of showjumping will begin at 11.00 a.m. BST/6.00 a.m. EST this morning, while the top twenty will jump from 2.00 p.m. BST/9.00 a.m. Let’s see this thing through, my friends.
The top ten as we head into the showjumping finale.
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- Cillnabradden Evo – seventh with Oliver Townend. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Overnight leader Ballaghmor Class. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Gemma Tattersall’s Arctic Soul. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- William Fox-Pitt and Little Fire. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Little Fire lies eleventh with William Fox-Pitt. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Oratorio II, the second ride for William Fox-Pitt. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Graf Liberty lies in third place with Chris Burton. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Cooley Lands – fifth with Chris Burton. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Isn’t she lovely? Tenth-placed Tina Cook. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Tom Crisp’s Liberty and Glory – the result of grooms’ prize winner Amy Akehurst’s hard work. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Bill Levett’s Lassban Diamond Lift – ninth as we head into the final phase. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Swallow Springs and Andrew Nicholson lie fourth. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Ginny Thompson and Star Nouveau sit in eighth place overnight. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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- Piggy French and Vanir Kamira – second placed overnight. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
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The 2019 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials is brought to you in partnership with the team at Voltaire Design United Kingdom. Going to Badminton? Head to Voltaire Design on Stand 253 on Somerset Way and meet the team of Sports Saddle Specialists, arrange a free, totally no-obligation fitting for you and your horse, or indulge in the Deal of the Day. Put a deposit on a new saddle during the event, and you’ll receive a matching girth, stirrup leathers, and saddlepad – free! Looking for a bargain? Head to Voltaire Design’s sister stand, EquiTack, to check out their premium pre-loved saddles at rock-bottom prices.
