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.

Badminton: Friday

After all 83 horses that were presented passing the first inspection, the first day of Dressage went underway.

Andrew Nicholson began the day on Avebury, delivering a respectable score of 47.2. This left him in 8th place after day 1. Georgie Spence was second to go with Birthday Night, yet had a difficult test leaving her with a score of 72.8, and is currently in second to last place. The most notable test of the day was most definitely 21 year old Laura Collett's on Rayef. Laura was 5th to go and set a score that the rest of the field were chasing for the rest of the day - to no avail. The Badminton first-timer achieved a highly impressive score of 36.5, leaving her well in the lead above German rider Marina Kohncke (39.8).

After the first break came some riders hopeful to score a good mark, including Pippa Funnell on her first ride of Mirage D'Elle. Pippa achieved a score of 56.8, leaving her in equal 21st after day 1. Pippa will be hoping to challenge the top spot tomorrow with her promising Redesigned. Also in the second section was Mary King with the lively Apache Sauce. Mary was given a score of 55.5, leaving her in 20th position. Like Pippa, Mary will be hoping to achieve a higher score with her second ride of Imperial Cavalier tomorrow. William Fox-Pitt achieved a respectable score of 47.5 on Navigator, placing him in 9th. William too has a second ride tomorrow in Cool Mountain - and is a hot contender for the top spot. Gaining a score of 43.3 - and consequently 4th place - was German rider Ingrid Klimke and FRH Butts Abraxxas.

After lunch we saw last year's leader after the dressage Kai Ruder with Les Prince Des Bois, scoring another decent score of 44.8 leaving him in 5th place. In addition, promising young rider Harry Meade scored a perhaps slightly disappointing score of 59.3, along with Gemma Tatterstall with King's Gem - scoring 58.3. A better score of 43.0 was given to Italian rider Susanna Bordone and Carrera, leaving them in 3rd place.

Then the final section of riders included Horse and Hound's blogger Ben Hobday, who was given a score of 61.0 on Upton's Who, perhaps slightly worse than he was hoping for - yet I am sure as a Badminton first-timer he is quite happy just to be continuing onto the exciting cross country on Sunday. James Robinson achieved a score of 52.3 on Comanche, along with Badminton first timer Flora Harris, who gained a respectable score of 52.8 on Law Choice - leaving her in 14th, one place behind James.

First to go tomorrow at 9am is Vicky Brake on Looks Like Fun, with second to go a first-timer Lucie McNicholl with Zeus of Rushall. Perhaps the tests to look out for will belong to:
Tina Cook and Miners Frolic at 11:54,
Ruth Edge and Two Thyme at 13:48,
William Fox-Pitt and Cool Mountain at 15:30,
Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz at 15:46,
Oliver Towend and Ashdale Cruise Master at 16:02,
Caroline Powell and Lenamore at 16:18,
Mary King and Imperial Cavalier at 16:26,
Lucy Wiegersma and Shaabrak at 16:34,
Pippa Funnell and Redesigned at 16:50 and
Mark Todd and NZB Land Vision finally at 16:58.

Good luck to all, I am sure tomorrow's scores will jumble the results table up a fair bit!

Badminton: Updates

We're getting ever closer to the event, with the wait list being cut off at 6pm last night and the first Trot Up tomorrow. So, with the final list of accepted entries up, what changes are we looking at to the original plan?

Firstly, 2009 winner Oliver Townend is no longer the pathfinder after withdrawing Carousel Quest, ODT Master Rose and ODT Sonas Rovatio. This leaves him with the one ride, Ashdale Cruise Master. Instead, the job is given to Andrew Nicholson on a choice of three rides (one of which is yet to be withdrawn); Armada, Avebury and Nereo.

Seventeen horses have been accepted from the wait list in total after withdrawals, these include Aoife Clark and Vaguely North, 2007 winner Lucinda Fredericks and Prada, Lauren Shannon (Badminton first timer) with a second ride of Quixotic, Georgie Spence riding Birthday Night, Nick Gauntlett and Elektron and last to be accepted Swedish rider Dag Albert with Tubber Rebel, to name but a few.

Yet, there are still a number of riders in the competition with more than the allowed two horses entered. It will be tomorrow at the first trot up when we find out who the riders are presenting. These include the ever-favourite, Mary King, who has entered Imperial Cavalier, Apache Sauce and King's Temptress. It is thought Mary will ride the former two horses and leave King's Temptress, yet this is yet to be confirmed. As well as Mary, the famous Mark Todd still has three entered into the competition, leaving him pick of Major Milestone, NZB Grass Valley and NZB Land Vision.

Other rider updates include William Fox-Pitt's withdrawal of Seacookie, leaving him with Navigator and Cool Mountain. In addition, Polly Stockton has withdrawn both Regulus and Westwood Mariner - leaving her with just Westwood Poser for the competition. Caroline Powell (2010 Burghley winner) has taken Mac Macdonald out of the event, leaving her with the popular grey Lenamore and Boston Two Tip.

This certainly changes things in the run up to the competition, but firm favourites for the title still stay more or less the same. Will it be everyone's favourite, Mary King, who takes the title for her third time? Will Caroline Powell have another 4* win after Burghley last year? Or will the break have done Pippa Funnell well and she be holding up the trophy on Monday afternoon? Only time will tell!

One week until Badminton: Contenders for the top spot.

With one week until everyone's favourite event, who should we all be looking out for?

The entries for this year's event are possibly one of the best we've ever had. With Pippa Funnell making her Badminton comeback - six years after her 3rd win on Primmore's Pride and three years since her last Badminton run - she'll surely be in hot contention with her up and coming 10 year old, Redesigned, not to mention the mare Mirage d'Elle, who appears to be full of potential. Pippa is popular within the Eventing fans and all will be hoping for her to do well this year.

We've also got the ever-popular Mary King originally entering three horses into the competition; Apache Sauce, Imperial Cavalier and King's Temptress. All three are proven 4* horses and will all be in top contention for the number one spot. Mary hasn't won Badminton for eleven years, despite riding near enough every year - so we are all expecting her to come back even more competitive this year, no doubt still with her famous smile across her face.

When regarding contention for the top spot we of course cannot rule out the almightily successful William Fox-Pitt. William originally entered five horses this year, but since has withdrawn Idalgo and Macchiato to leave him with Seacookie (2nd at Burghley 2010), Cool Mountain (2nd at Kentucky 2010) and Navigator (2nd at Pau 2010). With these three horses William is surely in top contention for the 2011 title, and the crowd will definitely be supporting him the whole way.

Other riders tipped for the title include New Zealand's Caroline Powell on Burghley 2010 winner Lenamore. The 17-year old grey may be a veteran in the sport now, but is showing no signs of ageing. With a flawless jumping technique the popular horse is always a contender for the Badminton title, yet could this year be his year?

And of course we cannot forget our reigning champion Paul Tapner, returning this year with Kilfinnie II. Perhaps not one of the most well-known of horses at Badminton, yet gave a smooth clear round the Cross Country last year and if they can improve on last year's dressage score could easily climb up the scoreboard to a top spot.

I couldn't possibly predict any sort of result, as we often do get surprised! (Let me give the example of 2008; Clayton Fredericks coming a cropper at the Hexagon Hedge, Ruth Edge in the lake and both Pippa Funnell and Andrew Hoy falling at the Huntsman's Close). Yet other names up for contention could include 2009 winner Oliver Townend, Tina Cook, Ruth Edge, Nicola Wilson and Andrew Nicholson.

It is certainly looking to be another fantastic few days of Eventing at this year's Badminton.