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Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) and Hildago de l'Ile win the 2008 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
Current European Champion (with Galan de Sauvagere) Nicolas Touzaint of France had added Badminton to his string of successes. (More photos at the bottom of the page.)
Sunday, 04 May 2008
This is only the second time in the history of the Badminton Horse Trials that a "continental" European has won the coveted trophy. Swiss rider Captain Hans Schwarzenbach was the first back in 1951, two years after the event's inception in 1949.
Jim Dunn reports: Well, as per usual, Badminton had a very exciting finish. The top 21 jumped after lunch. Matt was 10th after XC, 11.9 behind the leading horse Hidago de l'Lile. Matt had a rail down halfway through the course and then went onto finish the rest with out a fault. As the last nine riders above Matt jumped, some had faults and Matt was able to move up two places to finish 8th. At Bonza Puzzle's last start at Badminton in 2003, Matt finished 26th, so this was a great improvement. There were only a total of three clear rounds so Matt's round of 4 faults was very creditable. Our other two riders, Sam Griffiths and Paul Tapner, jumped this morning. Sam had two rails and he was able to improve his place from 34 after XC to 26, but Paul went down from 26th to 28th as he had 4 rails and 2 time faults. The weather on the last day had the odd shower of rain. It seemed to be ever odd 3 minuts apart Saturday, 03 May 2008
Jim Dunn reports (He had earlier summarised the situation with one word: 'Bugger!'): Matt did a really solid round to go clear. His start was delayed for 20 minutes, so he was a bit cold going out.
Sam took a few long routes on his course and at the splash pond massive brush just ploughed through it chest-high and he had to do the long way then. At 19B he just tried to sharp a line after the verticle and ditch and had a glance off. Paul was going very strongly and seemed to be on time but at the top of the 2nd step before the narrow brush he chipped and could not get his pace back. He then had a cheap stop at the brush, then sailed home the rest of the way. Up to his fall Clayton was eating up the course but he never looked like jumping the ditch and brush, seeming to be stopping 3 strides back. Andrew at The Huntsman Close was big over A and just did not get himself together for B. Moonflleet really stretched for it but knuckeled over on landing. "End of story". Stuart also at the fence, which was 4ABC, just made BC and went well up to 18 when he just missed his stride after jumping up the bank and rolled over the vertical on top sending Stuart off. Janelle and Mr Showoff had a fairly strong round with him jumping big over many jumps and so making the aproach to the next fence in the combinations difficult. All in all, a course that reflected that Badminton must alway be RIDDEN.
Friday, 02 May 2008
The lead has changed. For complete results so far, please click the link below. For the first time, all Australian riders have fewer than 50 penalties after the Dressage Test. A large credit for this achievement must go to the Australian Sports Commission, whose funding has supported additional Dressage clinics with Eventing Dressage Coach Harry Boldt. Thursday 01 May
After the first day of Dressage Clayton Fredericks and Nullabor are in the lead with a score of 38.1. The score would undoubtably have been even better but for the heavens opening in the second half of the test. The rain did not stop Clayton from scoring a 10 for his last halt from the judge at B, Marilyn Payne. Janelle Pitts and Mr Showoff are in 9th place (46.8) and Sam Griffiths and Connigar Bay are in 11th (49.3). A great start for Australia. Currently in second place is Emily Baldwin (UK) riding Drivetime (39.3) and Rodney Powell is in third place riding Zin Zan II with a score of 43.2. The field consists of 81 horses so there are still 41 combinations to ride tomorrow. Wednesday 30 April 2008
The first horse inspection is out of the way and the riders prepare to get down to business at Badminton 2008. There were no problems at the first trot-up, although, we had an anxious moment when Stuart Tinney was asked to re-present Vettori. Extensive work has been done on the going for this year’s event and if the weather stays fine for the rest of the week (yeah right!) the ground will become more firm which would be ideal. As always the course is tough and course designer Hugh Thomas asks big questions of horse and rider right to the end of the course. This is Badminton after all. However, the last four fences aren’t too bad - according to Jim! Good luck to the Aussie riders…Clayton Fredericks, Sam Griffiths, Andrew Hoy, Janelle Pitts, Matt Ryan, Paul Tapner and Stuart Tinney.
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