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| William Fox-Pitt (GBR) |
The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2006, which will run without the steeplechase and endurance phases, in line with international changes, has attracted a high class entry from a very broad spectrum of equestrian nations.
Riders from no fewer than thirteen countries are due to arrive at the Duke of Beaufort’s Gloucestershire estate to take part in the world’s most famous three day event which runs from May 4th – 7th.
Australia and New Zealand are well represented as ever, but there is a very European aspect to this year’s entry, reflecting the direction the sport of Three Day Eventing is following. From Italy there is mounted policewoman Susanna Bordone; from Portugal the exotically named Frederico Mexia de Almedia; German medical student Anna Warnecke; Belgium’s Karin Donkers; a return for French Marie-Christine Duroy and a handful of Swedes, including dual World Cup winner Linda Algotsson and the ever competitive Irish.
To add to this truly international mix there is Samantha Albert, the first to ride at Badminton for Jamaica and Carlos Paro from Brazil.
Previous winners, both equine and human will be coming to contest the famous event. William Fox-Pitt has entered his 2004 champion Tamarillo along with three other possible starters, Ballincoola, Coup du Coeur and Idalgo. Last year’s winner Pippa Funnell this time comes with her European Championship ride Ensign and Rodney Powell takes Liquid Ice.
Olympic gold medallists who have yet to win the big one include Matt Ryan who has entered Bonza Puzzle and Bonza Katoomba, Phillip Dutton, travelling from the USA where he is based with Hannigan, Andrew Hoy, who comes with Moonfleet and Mr. Pracatan. These Australians are joined by the man who has the record 23 completions of the event, New Zealander Andrew Nicholson who has won at Burghley but never here. He has entered Flush Banker, Duddles and Lord Killinghurst and can choose two of the three to ride.
The next generation is on the march and coming for the first time is Harry Meade, son of former winner Richard Meade and Ingrid Klimke, daughter of the German dressage legend Reiner Klimke.
The popular ambition of being part of Badminton attracted an entry of 130. This has been reduced to 100 on qualification points scored. The usual starting figure is about 80 after the inevitable drop outs between entry and starting. Thirty five of these will be Badminton debutantes.
The youngest rider is Sarra Mayberry at twenty one and the senior contestant is Eddy Stibbe who clocks in at 57. The oldest horse is Jeanette Brakewell’s serial medal winning ride, Over to You at eighteen.
With a new format at Badminton the bookmakers will have a hard task to predict who will receive the Mitsubishi Trophy to be presented by HRH The Earl of Wessex on Sunday May 7th.
www.horsesport.org
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