Victory goes to Griffiths at Badminton
Olympian Sam Griffiths has won the Badminton Horse Trials, the world's most prestigious annual three-day event and with the victory has pocketed more than $140,000AUD in prizemoney.
It is a historic triumph for Griffiths, who is only the sixth Australian to take top honour at the premiere event. In winning he follows in the footsteps of past Australian winners which include Bill Roycroft (1960), Laurie Morgan (1961), Andrew Hoy (2006), Lucinda Fredericks (2007) and Paul Tapner (2010).
Leading into Sunday’s show jumping decider, Tapner was poised to become the first Australian to win the Badminton title for the second occasion but in a suspenseful end to a gruelling competition, Tapner and his mount Kilronan knocked four show jumping poles which saw them slip to fourth position.
London Olympian Griffiths and his 11 year old Irish mare Paulank Brockagh, are unexpected victors, having been in 25thposition following the dressage phase.
“It’s a dream come true for me. After being 25th after the first day there was no way I thought I’d be on the podium, let alone winning.
“It’s a testament to how hard my horse tried. She dealt with all the mud (on cross country day) and went beautifully. She was a star.
“I’ve shed a few tears already.
“I think will wake up tomorrow and think it’s a dream, it might take a while to sink in,” he said.
Victorian born Griffiths who now resides in the UK, moved into fifth position following cross country after a taxing course further hampered by wet and windy conditions reduced the field from 83 to 32. Griffiths and his mare incurred four jumping penalties during the show jumping decider, which clinched victory for the 41 year old.
Great Britain captured second and third positions through Oliver Townend (Armada) and Harry Meade (Wild Lone).
Although she had three time penalties, Australia’s Atlanta Olympic gold medallist Wendy Schaeffer (Koyuna Sun Dancer) produced the only clear jumping round of the day and she finished in 12th position.
Of the remaining Australians left in the field Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo finished in 16th position while Bill Levett and Shannondale Titan finsihed in 27th place.
The prestigious Badminton Horse Trials, which has been contested since 1949, is widely regarded as the pinnacle of three-day eventing outside of an Olympics and World Championships and with less than four months to go until the World Equestrian Games, Griffiths' victory is a huge boost for Australia's campaign to achieve a podium finish.
Full results at www.badminton-horse.co.uk
11 May 2014
Tapner Poised To Take Second Badminton Title
Paul Tapner is poised to win his second title at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials three-day event after producing a smart cross country round on Saturday which few of the 83 strong field could replicate.
Just 35 riders remain in the competition following the cross country, after rain and strong winds made a challenging course more taxing.
Tapner and his mount Kilronan were sitting in second position following the dressage phase, but the early leader, US rider Clark Montgomery, was one of 48 riders who could not finish the course.
Tapner, who is from New South Wales but now resides in the UK, said his decision to take a conservative route paid dividends.
“It’s Kilronan’s third event at this level and he feels a different horse from last year, he’s far more mature. He does, however, tend to get on his forehand when he’s a bit tired and that’s why I took a long route near the end.”
“I didn’t think the course was unusually tough but you couldn’t make any mistakes.
Tapner has a showjumping rail advantage over New Zealand’s Tim Price leading into Sunday’s decider, which is a position not unfamiliar to the 38 year old. In 2010 Tapner had a similar lead when he won the prestigious event riding the horse Inonothing.
Cross Country day produced mixed results for the large Australian contingent competing at this year’s Badminton Horse Trials, which is a crucial event for riders vying for team selection for the upcoming World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France in August.
London Olympian Sam Griffiths (Paulank Brockagh) was a standout moving from 25th position after the dressage phase into fifth place.
“I had to fight and my horse did too.
“The first half she was jumping beautifully, but we had to work the second half.
“Badminton is one of these places, had the going been perfect then it would have been a challenging course. But this year the course was really sapping on the horses that it makes it a different question. It makes each jump 5-6 inches higher because the mud you’re jumping out of and it becomes a real endurance test.
A brilliant round by Atlanta gold medallist Wendy Schaeffer and her horse Koyuna Sun Dancer catapulted her from 67thposition after the dressage to now be in 26th position. Schaeffer is renowned for her show jumping finesse and will be looking to improve her standings even further during tomorrow’s deciding phase.
Olympian Chris Burton on his new mount TS Jamaimo had a run out at Vicarage Vee (fence 15) but made it home and is in 23rd position.
Bill Levett had two entries and will progress to the show jumping phase with Shannondale Titan (28th position), but his second horse Silk Stone was eliminated following multiple refusals.
Emma Dougall (Kelecyn Ice Age) had two refusals (fence 15, 23) but made it home and will progress to Sunday’s Show Jumping phase.
Of the remaining Australians, Olympian Lucinda Fredericks retired early after her horse Flying Finish sustained a minor injury to one of its rear legs. The Australian based riders Natalie Blundell and Seumas Marwood did not finish after Blundell was eliminated for a fall and Marwood retired after having refusals. US based Australian rider Peter Atkins (Henry Jota Hampton) also had multiple refusals and retired on course.
For full results please visit the event website http://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/
10 May 2014
Australians post promising results at Badminton
Overnight leader Paul Tapner has been pushed into second place following the conclusion of the dressage phase at the 2014 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials but with riders facing a challenging course and wet track on Saturday, the cross country phase is expected to shake-up the score board.
Meanwhile, an Australia Jumping Team finished on the podium at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup event in Linz, Austria overnight – more below.
Badminton Image Gallery - HERE
At Badminton it is American rider Clark Montgomery (Loughan Glen) who will have the greatest advantage leading into the cross country phase after he received a score of 33.3 penalties for his dressage test. He has a 2.7 point advantage over Tapner.
There were a number of Australians in action on day two at the prestigious event, including the winners of the Australian International Three Day Event CCI4*, Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo. The combination is currently sitting in equal 20thposition after receiving a score of 44.8, which is a pleasing improvement on the score attained by the pair in the dressage phase at Adelaide where they attained a mark of 49.7.
“I can’t be too tough on him, I aimed only to go sub 45 and he did that so I’m happy,” Burton said.
“I was really happy with him coping with the atmosphere in there, particularly being a full thoroughbred, I was stoked.
“I’m trying not to think about tomorrow, it’s a big track but he’s a super horse. He’s a very good jumper and a tough little thoroughbred and I think that’s what they’re going to have to be to get around this one.
“It’s a great track but we’re all scared. I think that’s healthy, you have to get out there, get anxious and go for it,” he said.
London Olympian Sam Griffiths will enter the cross country phase in equal 25th position after his mare Paulank Brockagh received a score of 46.3.
“I had this mare here last year and I think I got a 59 so to get down to 46, I’m pretty pleased with that.
“I definitely left a few marks out there, there were a few little technical things I could have done better but I couldn’t fault her attitude, she tried really hard out there and she kept her cool,” he said.
Looking ahead to the cross country phase, Griffiths said the wet conditions would be influential.
“Usually I’m drawn early and this year I’m a bit later so the ground could become an issue. She’s an Irish mare she’s a big tough girl, this type of course should suit her but you need a bit of luck, you need everything to go your way.
“If any horse is going to jump well around it, it is going to be her,” he said.
Bill Levett returned to the arena on day two with his second entry Shannondale Titan and the pair was the best performing Australian combination of the day.
“He tried very hard for me and scored a 44.0 in his first four star test.
“He made a couple of expensive mistakes, jogging in the free walk and getting a bit stuck in a couple of changes but overall he tried very hard for me and I’ve learnt a lot about him for the future. The exciting thing about him is there is much more to come,” Levett said.
Seumas Marwood and Wild Oats were also in action on day two receiving a score of 56.8.
The big news for riders is that the middle element of fence 18abc, a trio of logs on an S-bend which was proving a hot topic, has been removed. This would have involved a sharp right-hand turn at the foot of a mound, and the organisers decided that the heavy rain that is forecast might make the turn slippery.
“That particular fence wasn’t in keeping with the rest of the course, which requires bold forward-thinking riding and with the weather forecast as it is, I think it’s a good decision,” commented Australia’s best placed rider Tapner.
For full results please visit the event website http://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/
Over in Europe the Australian team of Jamie Kermond & Colthaga, James Passey & Yirrkala Cortina, Alison Rowland & Bickley Brook Bella and James Paterson-Robinson & Vincente, finished 3rd in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup event in Linz (AUT). The Australians shared the lead with the home nation following the conclusion of the first round and solidified third position with strong rounds by Passey and Rowland in the second. View full results HERE
9 May 2014
Australians leading the way at Badminton
Two former Australian champions of the prestigious Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials are occupying the lead and third place at the end of the first day of competition.
2010 Badminton Champion Paul Tapner (1st) and 2008 Champion Lucinda Fredericks (3rd) were the standout performers of the Australian contingent on a wet and blustery afternoon that provided an additional challenge to combinations.
On his way to capturing pole position, 2010 Badminton Champion Paul Tapner achieved a personal best dressage result at this level. The score of 36 was also the best 4* score for his and his Irish bred grey Kilronan.
“Kilronan was getting very good marks at three-star level, but it was eating away at me that I couldn’t get the same at four-star, so I’ve been working hard over the winter,” admitted Tapner, who won Badminton in 2010 on Inonothing.
“But I don’t think I’ve ever felt so relaxed about the Dressage before. I’m not sure it matters too much about the marks because the Cross Country course is going to be extremely influential.”
Tapner and his mount finished 20th at last year’s event but the pair is on track to eclipse this result in 2014.
“It’s (Kilronan’s) second time here. He’s had 12 months’ worth of working to making him more relaxed that what he was last year. Bring on Cross Country.”
Watch an interview with Paul Tapner HERE
Two-time Olympian Lucinda Fredericks received a score of 39 to end the first day of dressage in third place.
Fredericks is riding her London Olympic mount Flying Finish and said Saturday’s cross country would prove influential.
“I’ve walked the cross country course twice now and it’s most definitely a true 4* test and the ground conditions are going to make it tougher.
“The last time I rode in the real wet at Badminton was probably in 1992.
“Flying Finish has had a good lead-up to Badminton, his last run was at Bicton, which – luckily – was in the wet.
Britain’s Francis Whittington (Easy Target) was the only other rider to score below 40 and is sitting in-between the Australians on second position after receiving a score of 36.2
Australian results on day one as follows:
1 Paul Tapner & Kilronan 36
3 Lucinda Fredericks & Flying Finish 39.2
10 Bill Levett & Silk Stone 47.8
14 Natalie Blundell & Algebra 49.8
31 Wendy Schaeffer & Koyuna Sun Dancer 57.3
36 Peter Atkins & Henry Jota Hampton 62.2
38 Emma Dougall & Kelecyn Ice Age 64.8
The dressage phase continues today at Badminton and among the line-up is Adelaide CCI4* winners Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo who will have their first serious test since becoming an established combination. But it is Saturday’s cross country phase which is predicted to have the greatest effect on standings.
For full results please visit the event website http://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/
8 May 2014
Strong Australian representation at Badminton Horse Trials
All Australian combinations have passed trot up at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials ahead of the opening day of competition which is due to commence later today.
View our gallery from the first horse inspection HERE.
Australia has 11 entries among the field, among which are Australian based combinations Natalie Blundell and Algebra and Seumas Marwood and Wild Oats who have temporarily located to the UK in a bid to make Australia’s team for the 2014 World Equestrian Games.
Also in the mix is the new pairing of Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo and all eyes will be on the combination to see if they can replicate their performance at the last year’s Australian International Three Day Event. When the combination won at Adelaide, the horse was a catch-ride for Burton after the horse’s former rider Will Enzinger broke his leg. Since this time there has been a change in ownership of Jamaimo and the horse has relocated to the UK to be with Burton.
“It’s been a fascinating experience and I feel so lucky.
“He’s a good-looking horse on the flat and a careful jumper. I can’t wait to take him to Badminton,” said Burton
The last Australian to win at Badminton was Paul Tapner in 2010 on his bay thoroughbred gelding Inonothing.
In the last decade there has been a total of three Australian victories at Badminton including wins by Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia in 2007 and Andrew Hoy and Moonfleet in 2006. Hoy was a late withdrawal from the event but Fredericks is entered on her London Olympic mount Flying Finish, while Tapner will pair with Kilronan.
Atlanta Olympic gold medallist Wendy Schaeffer is also among the line up with Koyuna Sun Dancer. Schaeffer has recovered from the broken leg which ruled her out of the 2013 Australian International Three Day Event and is ready for what will be her second appearance at Badminton.
Bill Levett is the only Australian to have two horses (Silk Stone and Shannondale Titan) in the field and is sixth in the order to go on Thursday. He and his 12 year old grey gelding Silk Stone will be the first to go of the Australians.
“I’m feeling well prepared and ready for the week ahead – I just need to continue with the focus, execute the plan and do the best I can for the horses and my team,” said Levett.
Course designer FEI Eventing Committee Chairman Giuseppe Della Chiesa has had everyone talking with a new look cross country course.
London Olympian Sam Griffiths, who is partnering with the 11 year old mare Paulank Brockagh, said the course would prove more challenging than the previous year.
“It’s pretty tough. I think the logs on the mound (18abc) will be influential, and the course is definitely tougher than last year – but hopefully it should suit my mare,” said Griffiths.
Rounding out the Australian contingent is WEG 2010 representative Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton and Emma Dougall and Kelecyn Ice Age.
The Badminton Horse Trials is a significant event for Australian combinations vying for team selection for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. In order to be eligible for team selection riders must compete at this event, Saumur CCI3* or Luhmuhlen CCI4*.
The full list of Australian representatives entered in the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials includes:
- Bill Levett Silk Stone & Shannondale Titan
- Peter Atkins & Henry Jota Hampton
- Nat Blundell & Algebra
- Emma Dougall & Kelecyn Ice Age
- Paul Tapner & Kilronan
- Lucinda Fredericks & Flying Finish
- Wendy Schaeffer & Koyuna Sun Dancer
- Seumas Marwood & Wild Oats
- Sam Griffiths & Paulank Brockagh
- Chris Burton & TS Jamaimo
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