Words By Stephanie DeWitt   Photography Julian Portch   #MMBHT

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Records tumbled at this year's Badminton Horse Trials, the last at this venue to be headlined by Mitsubishi Motors, sponsors for the last 28 years.

 

At the end of the dressage phase of the four-day event Oliver Townend was placed 1st and 2nd on the stunning black gelding CILLNABRADDAN EVO and BALLAGHMORE CLASS, the former, competing at Badminton for the first time, beating the existing Badminton record with a remarkable score of 19.7. The previous record score for dressage of 20.5 was held by Australian Andrew Hoy riding DAMIEN POWERS in 2000.

 

When asked who trained him in dressage to help him achieve such remarkable results, Oliver replied that he trained himself with the aid of a set of mirrors and by watching a lot of Carl Hester videos!

 

Fresh from his success at Kentucky the previous week, Oliver retained the lead after the cross-country phase, jumping clear on BALLAGHMORE CLASS but adding one time penalty to their overnight dressage score.

 

Second last to showjump, Piggy French was delighted with her foot-perfect clear round on VANIR KAMIRA, finishing on 26.8 penalties. With one fence in hand and a second to spare, Oliver and BALLAGHMORE CLASS set off to achieve a careful, clear round. But disaster struck as they lowered fence 10, then couldn't make the time allowed of 81 seconds, incurring an extra 1.6 time penalties, finishing on a score of 27.1            

 

And so it was Piggy and Trevor Dickens' VANIR KAMIRA who took top honours at this prestigious 5* event on its 70th anniversary, the first Englishwoman to do so since Pippa Funnell triumphed with PRIMMORE'S PRIDE in 2005. As well as the stunning Mitsubishi Motors Trophy, Piggy also took home the Butler Bowl as the highest placed British rider; Amy Phillips, her groom, won the Mark Holliday Memorial Trophy: Trevor Dickens, the owner of the highest placed British owned mare was awarded a £500 stud voucher; and an embryo transfer was given to VANIR KAMIRA as the highest placed British bred or domiciled mare, courtesy of Tomlinson Equine. What a haul!