16 days to go!

Mary King and her Olympic ride Imperial Cavalier

With the Olympics a mere couple of weeks away many predictions as to who is going to take the medals are beginning to circulate. In the Equestrian disciplines our teams appear to be the strongest they’ve ever been and our chance of clinching the gold seems as likely as ever. Before the Olympics have even begun our Eventing team has been blighted with injury and controversy, with the sad withdrawal of Piggy French after injury of both Jakata and DHI Topper W. The surprise initial rejection of Nicola Wilson and everyone’s favourite Opposition Buzz had rather a bittersweet ending when they managed to secure a place on the team when Piggy was forced to pull out. The final team is Tina Cook with Miners Frolic, William Fox-Pitt with Lionheart, Mary King with Imperial Cavalier, Zara Phillips with High Kingdom and Nicola Wilson with Opposition Buzz. We now must pray they all stay safe and sound in the short run up to the games, I do believe it’s time to bubble wrap the horses!

Andrew Nicholson on his way to a win at Barbury

With all of the predictions circulating it’s time for me to name mine (or attempt to, at least). I must say it’s a difficult decision, the performances from so many riders across the nations have been astounding recently. We saw Andrew Nicholson take a 1,2 in the CIC*** at Barbury earlier this month, Christopher Burton winning Aachen on his sub-40 dressage score and Michael Jung achieving a 1,2 at Luhmuhlen in June. Their nations; New Zealand, Australia and Germany respectively, are perhaps Great Britain’s toughest competition for the Gold medal. The New Zealand team is particularly strong, consisting of Jock Paget with Clifton Promise, Caroline Powell and Lenamore, Andrew Nicholson and Nereo, Jonelle Richards and Flintstar and Mark Todd and NZB Campino. Their form recently, particularly Andrew Nicholson’s makes them favourable for the top spot at Greenwich, but the German team are unlikely to make this easy for them. Known for their admirable dressage scores the top of the leaderboard after the first day of competition is likely to feature a number of German names, notably Michael Jung (recently 3rd at Aachen) who rides La Biosthetique Sam FBW (a horse who’s name proves a challenge for the 140 character limit on Twitter). Jung is looking to add to his collection of golds – notably his individual title at the 2010 World Equestrian Games as well as his individual and team gold at the 2011 Europeans. With this form, he is perhaps favourite to take the individual Gold. Despite this and the obvious strengths of both New Zealand and Germany our British team are also in with a fighting chance of standing on the top spot of the podium on the 31st July. William Fox-Pitt (1st at Kentucky, Bramham and Tattersalls this year) is looking stronger than ever and despite two of his qualified horses out with injury (Oslo and Cool Mountain), William is still a favourite for a medal. The Brits as a team are exceptionally strong and I would love for them to clinch the team gold, an achievement I believe is highly likely.

I look forward to the forthcoming games which are now scarily close (the announcement that we’d won the bid feels like yesterday!), and wish a safe build up for all horses and riders competing. I leave you with a cracking video from Barbury last weekend, where Clayton Fredericks performs quite a stunt...

Badminton 2012: One Month To Go

This year’s Badminton promises to be better than ever, with the Olympics in the summer and selection still very much open many riders will be hoping to catch the eye of Yogi Breisner in the hope of a place on Team GBR. The riders who are pretty much guaranteed a spot on that team (William Fox-Pitt and Mary King) have entered their potential Olympic prospects for Chatsworth, the week after Badminton, and
instead will bring a couple of their other 4* rides. Mary King has entered her newly acquired ride Chilli Morning from Nick Gauntlett. They have so far had two runs this season together, a 10th place at Aldon in the OI and an unlucky elimination at Belton in the Advanced after being the overnight leader. Despite this the horse is putting out some great dressage marks and I wouldn’t be surprised if they hold a competitive place after dressage at Badminton. Mary has also entered Apache Sauce, a capable horse who is rumoured to be having his last season at the top this year. Both Apache Sauce and Chilli Morning have had their last run now before Badminton, so the countdown begins for Mary.

William Fox-Pitt however chose not to run any of his Badminton entries at Belton and instead has them entered for Burnham Market (beginning 5th April). Parklane Hawk and Lionheart are both in the CIC class, with Neuf Des Coeurs (winner in the OI at Somerley last month) in the Advanced section. William’s other Badminton rides had runs in March, with Seacookie gaining a 9th in the OI and Somerley and Macchiato a 20th place at Gatcombe. As you are only allowed to run two horses at Badminton I will imagine this weekend’s runs at Burnham Market will be interesting to follow, perhaps the results will deduce who is Badminton bound and who isn’t.

Other notable results from Belton include a 1st in an Advanced section from Andrew Nicholson and Avebury, 3rd from Lenamore and Caroline Powell (who are having a truly fantastic start to the season), an Advanced win for Mark Kyle and Coolio and an AU25 win (and 2nd overall) for Sarah Stretton and Skip On II. In the CIC*** the title (and Grantham Cup) was taken by Sarah ‘Cutty’ Cohen and the promising Treason, they head to Badminton to try and put in another competitive performance. 2nd place was given to Paul Tapner with Inonothing, who is now back from injury last year and in fighting form.

Many other entrants for Badminton this year are having their final runs before the big day, with Burnham Market being the particular favourite event of choice. Pippa Funnell has Redesigned and Pure Addiction entered (Pure Addiction also entered for South of England on the following weekend, so a withdrawal is expected). Redesigned is being run at Badminton in the hope of Olympic selection and so his results will definitely be one to watch. Pippa’s third Badminton entry is Mirage D’Elle, who is entered for a final run in the OI at South of England. Also at Burnham Market is the media’s favourite Zara Phillips with High Kingdom. An exciting horse showing serious potential, he’s had a good couple of runs so far this year and a 10th place at his first 4* at Burghley last year puts him in with a good shot for Badminton. In addition, Oliver Townend has entered both of his Badminton entries (Armada and ODT Sons Rovatio) in the CIC class. Armada was given to Oliver Townend from Andrew Nicholson to give him a shot at Badminton this year, and so far their results haven’t given much evidence of what is to come, so they are definitely a combination to watch.

Exactly one month from Badminton and we’ve had a first withdrawal from the competitive Simone Deitermann and Free Easy NRW. Leaders after dressage at Burghley last year (but a very unlucky fall cross country eliminated them – a similar circumstance to their WEG performance), Simone was a hot shot for putting in a good performance at Badminton too. This withdrawal means Jan van Beek and Bridget from the Netherlands are into the entries from the Wait List, after top of the wait list Declan Cullan also withdrew.

I feel now is the time to pay my condolences to all those involved and close to the ‘tricky but wonderful’ Sir Roscoe. Gaby Cooke’s Badminton bound horse was put to sleep on Sunday after injury at Belton. It is tragic and undeserved and I am sure I speak for everyone in the eventing world when I say I am truly sorry for the loss of such a great horse, Roscoe had the potential for the top and it is clear his connection with Gaby was one in a million. My thoughts are with all involved at this sad time.

(Photos are mine from various events 2010/11.)

2012 and Olympic Selection

It's finally 2012 and the Eventing season is due to begin any day now, so of course the focus is on the London Olympics. Great Britain is tipped for a medal, with a high chance of Gold - especially when you look at who is in contention for the team. Gold at the World Equestrian Games in 2010 and a (perhaps unlucky) Bronze at the Europeans last year makes us hot favourites to take the top spot at our home Olympics this summer. So who is qualified for our team, who is still yet to qualify and who is likely to take the 5 places on Team GBR?


Perhaps a certainty for the team (although in our sport 'certainty' is never a wise word to use!) is World Number 1 Mary King and the hugely successful William Fox-Pitt. William has managed to qualify nine horses since qualification began in 2011, but with his perhaps favourite (1st Kentucky Rolex 2010, Team Gold and Individual Silver at WEG) Cool Mountain out of work for 2012 due to a tendon injury, William looks likely to be taking Oslo - who had a very impressive 2011 with two 3* wins and a 4* win at Pau. Yet, we can never predict anything in Eventing so take any news at this point in the selection process very lightly. Mary King also has a number of horses at top level, namely her WEG and Europeans ride Imperial Cavalier. Mary will miss Badminton with both him and King's Temptress this year in order to preserve them for the Olympics, instead they will aim for Chatsworth 3* in preparation. Her other 4* rides include the newly acquired Chilli Morning from Nick Gauntlett and Apache Sauce, both who will aim for Badminton this year.

Other likely combinations qualified for the Olympics include Nicola Wilson and everyone's favourite Opposition Buzz. Their pathfinder skills across country are invaluable for the British team and I'm sure everyone would love to see them skipping round Greenwich this July. In addition, Blenheim 2011 winner Piggy French and her top horse Jakata are also in the running after a 2nd place at Badminton and 9th at the Europeans, yet it has often been noted that this horse's way of going isn't suited to the twisty course at Greenwich.

After a devastating 2011 for Tina Cook's ride Miners Frolic their hopes for the Olympic team were perhaps dissolving rapidly, but after a fantastic recovery Miners Frolic is fully fit and raring to go for this season. They aim for the 3* at Ballindenisk this weekend, where their result will be closely watched by many. Part of the gold medal winning team at WEG in 2010 and Olympic medallists in 2008, Miners Frolic and the experienced Tina Cook were perhaps in good contention for the Olympic team going into 2011, but after being diagnosed with colitis shortly after Badminton Miners Frolic was in a critical condition and their season came to an abrupt end. It is up to them now to prove their place on the team in the few months of qualification we have left before the final selection takes place.

Another rider hoping to make Olympic qualification this year after injury in 2011 is Pippa Funnell and Redesigned. They were perhaps a surprise choice for the 2010 WEG team, with Pippa making her first team appearance since 2004, but they proved their worth and finished on their dressage score for a very credible 5th place. This result has most definitely put Redesigned as one to watch for future years, and a few good runs at the beginning of this season will put him and Pippa in good contention for Olympic selection. They aim for the one-day at Burnham Market in April to kick-start their quest for qualification.

Other riders that we can't possibly overlook for the team include Ruth Edge, Polly Stockton, Lucy Wiegersma and Laura Collett. Knowing Eventing and the horse world we simply cannot predict anything accurately though and the results of the spring events, namely Badminton, will be the deciding point for many. The final five team members will be named on July 6th, 3 weeks before the Olympics will begin. Whoever manages to make the coveted places on Team GBR will I am sure do the country proud and we look forward to this season, one of the most exciting years of sport in recent history, with bated breath. Good luck to all.