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An Emotional Send Off For Sir Mark Todd – An Eventing Legend
Images Courtesy of Mike Bain- all rights reserved and are subject to copyright Sir Mark Todd officially retired from eventing in an emotional ceremony at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials on Sunday (8 September). It was a a very sad emotional farewell to the man who has captured many hearts and inspired many riders yet remained very humble throughout. The eventing legend rode into the main arena on his London 2012 team bronze medal-winning ride, NZB Campino, ahead of the final jumping session. NZB Campino who appears to be loving his retirement still enjoyed being centre of attention in the main arena. He told the packed stands, before he was overcome with emotion. “Kinky, as he is known at home, is the last horse I finished a three-day event on and that was here at this event last year,” Sir Mark Todd has won Burghley 5 times amongst his many other achievements .. Past Winners 1999 Mr Mark Todd (N.Z.) on DIAMOND HALL RED 1998 Mr Blyth Tait (N.Z.) on CHESTERFIELD 1997 Mr Mark Todd (N.Z.) on BROADCAST NEWS (European Open Winner) 1996 Mrs Mary King (nee Thomson) on STAR APPEAL 1995 Mr Andrew Nicholson (N.Z.) on BUCKLEY PROVINCE 1994 Mr William Fox-Pitt on CHAKA 1993 Mr. Stephen Bradley (U.S.A.) on SASSY REASON 1992 Miss Charlotte Hollingsworth on THE COOL CUSTOMER 1991 Mr. Mark Todd (N.Z.) on WELTON GREYLAG 1990 Mr. Mark Todd (N.Z.) on FACE THE MUSIC 1989 Mrs. Virginia Leng (nee Holgate) on MASTER CRAFTSMAN (European Champion) 1988 Mrs. Jane Thelwall on KING’S JESTER 1987 Mr. Mark Todd (N.Z.) on WILTON FAIR Mark Todd KNZM CBE is synonymous with the sport of Eventing. Since he started competing at the top in 1978 when he was part of New Zealand’s first 3-day eventing team to contest a world championship, he has gone on to record numerous successes at the very highest level.His unsurpassable triumphs have been rewarded with the MBE (1984), the CBE (1995), in 2000 he was voted the ‘Event Rider of the 20th Century’ by the FEI and he received a Knighthood in 2013. Although he retired in 2000, he returned to the sport in 2008 in order to contest the Beijing Olympics. Unsurprisingly Mark returned to the top of the sport and built a new team of horses who have come through to represent New Zealand at London and Rio Olympics and Kentucky and Caen World Equestrian Games. Mark Todd is among the most celebrated New Zealand sportsmen, with two Olympic gold medals and numerous other honours. He was named to compete in six successive Olympic Games, though he missed the first games, in Moscow in 1980, because of the American-led boycott.Mark was a pioneer of three-day eventing in New Zealand and, in 1978, was part of New Zealand’s first three-day eventing team to contest a world championship. Those who followed him included Olympic medalists and world champions like Andrew Nicholson, Blyth Tait, Vaughn Jefferis, Vicky Latta, Sally Clark and Tinks Pottinger.Jefferis once said: “We all owe a huge debt to Mark Todd. He was the first, and he paved the way for the rest of us.” In his first attempt at Badminton in 1980, riding Southern Comfort, Todd was 45th after the dressage, but was one of only three inside the time...
read moreFrom 60th to 6th Imogen Murray Climbed The Leaderboard At Burghley 2019 On Ivar Gooden
Images courtesy of Tim Wilkinson – Eventing Images – all rights reserved and are subject to copyright This was Imogen’s fourth visit to Land Rover Burghley for British rider Imogen Murray (26), who has completed here on each of the three previous occasions – in 2018 she was the first recipient of the Barbara Cooper trophy awarded at Burghley. This is a prize for the ‘best performance by a young British rider’. With her 2019 Burghley entry ‘Ivar Gooden’ she has also completed Badminton three times gaining a career best this year when the pair finished in 8th place. Imogen, who has a yard in the heart of Leicestershire, has been riding since the age of four and took up eventing aged 13 after a successful showing career in both working hunter and show hunter ponies, regularly competing at the Royal International Horse Show and Horse of the Year Show. In 2011 Imogen was long-listed for Britain’s Junior eventing team (she broke her ankle just before the final trial) and in 2013 with Wiseguy IV was short listed for the British Young Rider team. In 2014 the pair completed Burghley – Imogen’s first 4* (now known as 5*). In 2017 she led the British team to second place in the Nations Cup event at Le Pin Haras – her first Nations cup. Imogen trains with Tracie Robinson and Fred Bergendorff. Ivar Gooden is a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. Bred by Pat Coffey, he is by the thoroughbred Young Convinced (also the sire of Mark Todd’s former four-star ride Major Milestone) out of a mare by Coevers Diamond Boy. He was purchased through Goresbridge sales and came to the UK as a four-year-old. In 2013 the pair was shortlisted for the world young horse championship and the following year completed the seven-year-old world young horse championship CCI2*. In 2017 Ivar Gooden completed his first 4 (*at Badminton) and at the end of that year was only 1 of 2 horses to have completed both Badminton and Burghley with a double clear. Results 2019 – Aachen CCIO4*S 14th Ivar Gooden 2019 – Badminton CCI5*L 8th Ivar Gooden 2019 – Belton CCI4*S 9th Ivar Gooden 2018 – Burghley CCI4* 19th Ivar Gooden 2018 – Le Pin Haras CICO3* 27th Ivar Gooden 2018 – Aachen CICO3* 24th Ivar Gooden 2018 – Barbury Castle CIC3* ERM 15th Ivar Gooden 2018 – Badminton 11th Ivar Gooden 2017 – Blenheim CCI3* 26th Tomgar Jess 2017 – Burghley CCI4* 14th Ivar Gooden 2017 – Badminton 21st Ivar Gooden 2016 – Blenheim CCI3* 12th Ivar Gooden, 41st Tomgar Jess 2015 – Blenheim CIC3* 8/9 28th Ivar Gooden 2014 – Le Lions CH-M-YH-CCI2* 38th Ivar Gooden 2014 – Burghley CCI4* 35th Wiseguy IV Well what a Burghley these two had again as they finished in an incredible 6th place after lying in 60th place post dressage : 77 MGH GRAFTON STREET Pippa Funnell 22.8 1 4.0 – 26.8 1 4.0 30.8 1 63 VANIR KAMIRA Piggy French 26.9 5 – – 26.9 2 4.0 30.9 2 81 BALLAGHMOR CLASS Oliver Townend 25.3 2 2.0 – 27.3 3 4.0 31.3 3 29 REVE DU ROUET Sarah Bullimore 29.6 11 10.0 – 39.6 5 – 39.6 4 1 BANGO Tim Price 29.6 11 12.0 – 41.6 7 – 41.6 5 39...
read moreThe Beast Of Burghley : Only Half Of The Riders Complete Cross Country #LRBHT19
Images Courtesy of Lucy Hall Photography – all rights reserved and are subject to copyright Well where do I begin?! Lets just start by saying it was of the most thrilling cross country days to watch I have seen in a long time and it had me right on the edge of my seat, and by the end I was shouting at the TV willing the riders round and through every combination!! There were lots of thrills spills!! The cross country day definitely shuffled the leaderboard quite considerably, out of 67 riders completing the dressage only 33 completed the cross country with only one rider inside the time (Piggy French on Vanir Kamira ), 20 riders were eliminated, 3 riders withdrew their rides and 11 retired. There were 15 falls of which only which 5 were horse falls. It was one of the biggest toughest courses I’ve seen in a long while! The thing was Tim Price set off out on Bango as the pathfinder and made the course look ridiculously easy, though he didn’t make the time, he didn’t make the jumps look tricky he rode a very fluent round, it was just lovely to watch the horse running and jumping out of his natural rhythm, however this was not to be a continued theme over the course of the day as later we found out that the course was not as easy as he had first made it look and there was a lot of victims! As I have said there were errors all over the course with no one singular fence catching riders , here is where the riders that unfortunately did not have the best of days came to grief! Fence 6 – The Rolex Grand Slam Triple Brush Only 5 riders had issues at this which was surprising as it was a very skinny brush over a ditch with quite a difficult turn to it. There was no falls however five of the riders had a run out here. A few riders did opt for the alternative here which didn’t surprise me as it was early on into the course with the ominous Leaf Pit looming. Fence 7 – Holland Cooper Leaf Pit The renowned leaf pit has caught many a rider out in the past and his the biggest drop ever let alone having to try jump skinny technical fences after dropping of this cliff!! However this time the leaf pit did not cause too many issues with only a couple of riders taking the long route and only one rider having a run out at one of the jumping elements after the drop . Though it did cause Zara Tindall to get unseated from her ride on Class Affair after a glance off at the final element which came as a shock to Zara and to us all as we didn’t expect this to happen so early on in the course. Fence 8 abcd – Discovery Valley Well this rode slightly better than I thought it would and only afftected 4 riders with two having run out, one which was eliminated later on in the course and Nicky Hill on her ride MGH Bingo Boy went on to complete the course with no further issues. Eliza Stoddart (which I will discuss later …)...
read more5TH For Bango At Burghley : Tim Price
Images courtesy of Lucy Hall Photography – all rights reserved and are subject to copyright. Well after not seeing too many clears I was hoping Bango was feeling ready to take on the world by being alert and fresh, but I have to say he didn’t fill me with much confidence at the first fence which he was a little casual at but got away with it, after that he got up in the air and it was a lovely clear round, a real class piece of riding from Tim Price yet again as he is just such a lovely rider to watch in the showjumping as he allows the horse to stay soft and relaxed and forward thinking . He climbed the ladder throughout the event starting out at 11th after dressage moving to 7th after the cross country and with jumping a clear and riders that were ahead originally having poles they climbed up the board to finish 5th. I cannot help but feel that they deserved the win as Tim rode Bango so beautifully in every phase it was was a foot perfect event for them both and it was ultimately the time penalties on the cross country that cost them the win but what a piece of riding to watch and I will emulate to ride my own horses like that, the Kiwi’s just have a lovely way about them, the way they ride their horses and how they are with their horses, its a real bond and we should all aim to be like that. Lloyd Bell Productions caught up with Tim after his round: How was it for you Tim? I was really happy, a clear round is what we are after at the end of the day and it was no fluke he is a good jumper and you just hope that nothing goes awry. He woke up really well this morning, he’s a bright horse he’s bottomless but you need to put that into a package and deliver it in the ring and we did that and I’m really happy. Have you enjoyed Burghley 2019? I always enjoy it, there is always so many different emotions in this journey of preparing horses to come here and try and deliver results and then to get to this end is quite a lot of relief, I have to admit, to get through regardless of what you have achieved or not achieved but yeah it’s always fun. I love it here the weather has been kind, the people are great so how can you not love it What’s next for you ? I have got a whole bunch at Gatcombe this coming weekend, Blenheim, Ligniere, Le Lion, Pau after that and Boekelo I missed out somewhere in between all that so give me another six weeks then I will be ready for a Holiday! Well we wish Tim all the best with those events coming up and hope to see Bango back out next year after his holiday!! Follow...
read moreMichael Owen And Bradeley Law Finish Go Clear In The Showjumping To Finish 19th At Burghley 2019
Images courtesy of Lucy Hall Photography – all rights reserved and are subject to copyright Well Bradeley Law certainly came out fresh and alert today after the rigours of the tough cross country course yesterday and looked on his game, as did Michael, they certainly got some air over the fences, he just looked an out and out jumper. They had a lovely rhythm and it was one of the best rounds I saw all day, Bradeley Law was really on springs and Michael looked super cool and relaxed in the big arena jumping him round so effortlessly they got a great shot at the triple and both looked 100% focused ! This beautiful round moved them up from 22nd place overnight to finish 19th in a very tough Burghley. not only did they finish in the top twenty but they also finished 5th as a team with Lauren kieffer in the Peden Bloodstock International Pairs Challenge – a super result for cheshire based rider Michael Owen. Huge congratulations to him ands team who make these dreams come true for the riders PEDEN BLOODSTOCK INTERNATIONAL PAIRS CHALLENGE 2019 Pair No Horse & Rider Dres Aggr Rank XC 2nd Day Aggr Rank SJ Final Aggr Rank 6 77 MGH GRAFTON STREET – Pippa Funnell 22.8 55.6 2 4.0 65.6 1 4.0 77.6 1 5 STINGER – Ludwig Svennerstal (SWE) 32.8 6.0 8.0 2 63 VANIR KAMIRA – Piggy French 26.9 64.0 8 0.0 94.0 2 4.0 106.0 2 33 ON THE BRASH – Caroline Powell (NZL) 37.1 30.0 8.0 4 29 REVE DU ROUET – Sarah Bullimore 29.6 61.9 6 10.0 122.1 4 0.0 122.1 3 64 BLACKTHORN CRUISE – Dan Jocelyn (NZL) 32.3 50.2 0.0 1 81 BALLAGHMOR CLASS – Oliver Townend 25.3 64.7 10 2.0 115.1 3 4.0 123.9 4 10 TORONTO D AUROIS – Arthur Duffort (FRA) 39.4 48.4 4.8 14 4 BRADELEY LAW – Michael Owen 38.5 65.2 11 34.0 125.6 5 0.0 125.6 5 73 VERMICULUS – Lauren Kieffer (USA) 26.7 26.4 0.0 Congratulations Michael a fantastic clear round to finish inside the top twenty – 19th! Tell me how Bradeley Law felt this morning? I am so pleased with him he jumped out of his skin today. This horse is made for Burghley. I rode him this morning before trot up and he was very perky and fresh which is always reassuring after Xc. He is a great show jumper. How did you feel in the showjumping arena as you looked very comfortable and relaxed I enjoy my showjumping and especially on him so I try to stay relaxed and just enjoy it. How do you feel now its over?, I am glad it is all over and done with now!! What are your plans next for Bradeley Law? Bradeley Law will now enjoy some time off in the field and then we will get cracking again with his dressage. He will be aimed at Badminton and Burghley next year and fingers crossed for me Burghley is as tough again next year! Follow...
read morePerfect Pathfinder Price on the Beautiful Bango at Burghley 2019
Main Image courtesy of Lucy Hall Photogrpahy- all rights reserved and are subject to copyright Well Three rides for Tim Price but only one out of the three complete. it was one of the toughest courses I have seen in a long while and Tim had me on the edge of my seat. Bango set out as the pathfinder with Tim and to be honest made the course look very easy which we later found out that it was most certainly not!! Here is how each horse went: Beautiful Bango Well we couldn’t of had a better pathfinder than this combination!, they set out in a very positive yet lovely rhythm over the first three fences. They made The Land Rover Fountain in the arena look easy. Bango looked rather keen coming into Discovery valley at fence 5ab for the first time but they rode through that very boldly making nothing of the combination. Bango was still very keen up and through the leaf pit which they made nothing of, and that is one big drop!! Their return to discovery valley showed their precision and they jumped very bold through that as well. Fence 9 the Flight Hangar a very wide fence with a reasonable drop was just made to look like an everyday over for these two! Tim rode brilliantly through the Trout hatchery which is a very tricky combination requiring a bold horse and Tim certainly had that. It was seen later to cause quite a lot of riders to come to grief. Joules at the Maltings very wide oxers was made to look like child’s play as Tim and bango flew through that riding the third element a corner on 4 strides making it look easy which it certainly was not as other riders later came to grief there later on also. The Rolex combination again posed no issues for these two and they went on to get a very bold jump over the Cottesmore Leap. Clarence court looked a little trickier but again these two sailed through that then on to the Anniversary Splash which they just cruised through and then on to the finish. They didn’t look to hang about but they didn’t make the time as were 30 secs over but we later realised the time was certainly tight with only one rider going inside the time allowed of 11 minutes 16 seconds. What a round to watch though especially when first out on course they made it look easy, they rode it exactly how it needed to be rode, making short work of it! Just a class piece of riding!! Lloyd Bell Productions caught up with Tim after this round…. How did the course ride out there? Really nice, I had perfect going I couldn’t even see a hoof print out there! well for obvious reasons !! it was really nice, he’s a Burghley Horse through and through, so thats why I bring him here and it was fun to finally get on a course that was really matched to who he is and how he goes so I had a good time. He got a bit strong in a couple of places, especially coming towards the end , going down hill , the white gates were particularly challenging for us, but we managed...
read moreMichael Owen Completes the Cross Country at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2019
Main Image courtesy of Lucy Hall Photography- all rights reserved and are subject to copyright Michael originally had two rides round the cross country courseat Burghley today but after his first ride round on the more experienced horse bradley Law understably withdrew Jims Pal and after watching the course catching out riders everywhere I am inclined to say this was definitely a good decision, you see someone once told me in fact I think it was Dee kennedy that you will never regret not running. Cross Country with Bradeley Law Well we didn’t get to see much of his round but what we did see looked very bold and positive riding from Michael and they were jumping well subsequently making fence 9ab Flight Hangar the big wide roll top look nothing!! They rode through the Rolex combination beautifully making it look very easy. However Clarence Court did catch these two out and they hit the second part quite hard knocking Michael slightly out of his seat and he did well to stay put but this meant they could not make the third part of the combination and they had to circle getting themselves 20 technical penalties. Michael then took the pressure off Bradeley law and let him cruise home just to complete which they did , it was a real shame as they were going great guns and this horse is a super cross country horse. They currently sit just outside the top twenty and this is certainly a big achievement after what I witnessed today on the cross country!! 4 BRADELEY LAW Michael Owen 38.5 51 14.0 20 72.5 22 Micheal well done getting Bradeley Law round , you were going great up until clarence court please can you talk me through your round? He was amazing, just got a bit tired and hit the fence. I wasn’t quick enough to think and crossed my tracks so a technical 20 faults. You withdrew Jims pal what made you decide to do that ? We decided not to run Jim because having watched a lot of riders ride the course, it was causing more trouble than normal and it is very important that they have a nice experience around their first 5*. It rode big and very punishing on them with the terrain How is Bradeley Law as look like hit fence hard? Bradeley Law seems fine. Lots of precautionary icing tonight and lots of walking around. I have a very good team around me who help sort him out. How is Braeley Law at Showjumping? He is a very good show jumper so everything crossed for tomorrow We we saw Micheal climb the leader board today from sitting 51st after dressage to now in 22nd place we have hooves crossed that he can climb up some more and have a good show jumping round tomorrow and wish them the very best of luck. Follow...
read moreA Gallant Effort from The Rutman A Very Tough Burghley Cross Country :Simon Grieve
Image Courtesy of Julian Portch Photography – all rights reserved and is subject to copyright Not the day Simon had in mind, to be fair not the day for a lot of riders. This was one of the toughest Burghley cross country courses I have seen in a long while and it was catching horses and riders out everywhere, but what courageous effort these two made of it. They had a great start to the course and Simon rode The Rutman really well through their first look at Discovery Valley and the horse started to grow in confidence as he was super bold off the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit and made it easily through that combination. They got a huge jump over fence 9 the flight Hangar, a big fence in itself . Coming into the Land Rover Trout Hatchery The Rutman gave a big jump over the first oxer in and Simon decided to take the long route and rode him really well through it giving the horse confidence with a positive ride. The Joules Maltings however saw Simon have his first run out at the final element the corner on the way out but they jumped it beautifully the second time which I am sure was frustrating for Simon seen as he made the whole thing effortless. Then the Rolex Combination at fence 14 seemed like the horse had just switched off and the first corner posed problems for the combination with The Rutman running out twice which unfortunately meant Simon was eliminated. I have to say though that Simon gave this horse a great run and rode him aptly considering he is a young horse at this level and it was his first attempt at a 5* he was kind to the horse and they certainly have a fantastic partnership, they certainly showed their future potential and I am sure we will see their return. Follow...
read moreNot To Be For Dee: Burghley Cross Country 2019
Image courtesy of Julian Portch Photography – all rights reserved and are subject to copyright Not the day Dee had hoped for or that I had hoped either for this combination. Well both Dee and kenny set out great guns looking very positive over the first couple of fences, they continued on to ride beautifully through Discovery Valley and then took longer route at fence 6 The Rolex Grand Slam Triple Brush and then again at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit but they did them both in true Dee style – sleek and elegant, they got a huge jump over fence 9 the Flight Hangar but the Land Rover Trout Hatchery was not to be for Dee and Chequers Playboy it had caused problems throughout the day, yet they got a great jump in over the first oxer where many had to to grief but unfortunately kenny just looked a bit unsure at the second and he dropped a leg causing a pin to go and Dee decided to call it a day . It was a real shame as they looked to be going so well but I feel it was the correct decision and they can return another day. Today didn’t go to plan but Kenny is absolutely fine and fit for another day . I will definitely be planning another three day before the end of the season as he hadn’t run too many minutes. He felt super up to the trout hatchery . He hasn’t had many runs since here two years ago and although he has plenty of mileage he just didn’t read the fence right . As he landed on the back rail I pulled up to make sure he was ok and save him for another day Follow...
read moreA Heart Wrenching Unlucky Parting Of Company For George Hilton-Jones And Efraim
Main Image courtesy of Julian Portch Photography- all rights reserved and is subject to copyright This is is a truly unlucky story for this combination as they were going so so well. They set off steady , Efraim was jumping lovely. though they looked a bit a bit steady through the combination in the arena, The Land Rover Fountain, looked much more positive through Discovery Valley at fence 5ab and made it look effortless a real good piece of riding from George. They took the long route at the Holland Coper Leaf Pit and Efraim looked rather keen but they got through that combination well. After that we didn’t see much of the pair until the Maltings where Efraim was so genuine through the Joules Malting and despite hitting the rail on the second oxer though not breaking a pin didn’t lose confidence and jumped the corner out well! A lovely lovely horse !! To say I was relieved to see them through that combination was an understatement especially after seeing what carnage it had caused. They got a great jump over the Cottesmore Leap and then this was were they were so unlucky I cannot even put into words how I felt for them, they jumped the first part of the combination of the Keepers Brushes but the stud or shoe caught in the martingale causing Efraim to struggle to getting his foot out for landing tough he did eventually it was unfortunately too late and this put George out the front door – this was a freak accident and it was heart wrenching to see these two get eliminated as they had been going great guns up to this point , but what potential these two have for the future and I am sure we will see them back out next year here! We have had such a good day today. Just ended a little earlier than we expected. Leo was so responsive through out the course. We had a great start, all to plan. We planned to do the long route at the leaf pit and was very happy with how it went. I had to take an unexpected long route at the last part of the Maltings. We had a great shot in to the first part, then I cut the corner a little to the second part and got a little close. So had a quick decision to go long for the last part. Everything after that went to plan until we jumped the fence after the Cottesmore leap. We got the stride bob on but on landing we stumbled. On watching back he got a stud caught in his breastplate so landed on three legs. So unfortunately we stumbled for two strides and I popped off. Very very frustrating as he was flying but he is none the worse for wear. But he has shown what a class horse he is even with some pilot errors. Follow...
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