All Passed
The quest for the 2007 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton trophy
began this afternoon with the first horse inspection held in front
of Badminton House.
Seventy seven horses were presented in front of the ground jury of
Christoph Hess (GER), Barry Rycroft (AUS) and Jane Tolley (GBR).
All the horses were passed and now go forward to dressage.
Sixty nine riders representing 12 countries are vying for the
£55,000 first prize Twelve riders have two horses entered including
British riders Daisy Dick, Mary King, Ruth Edge, Oliver Townend,
Harry Meade, Sarah Cohen and British first-timer Dominic Ruane who
at 22 years old is also the youngest competitor along with British
first timer Gemma Tattersall from Sussex.
Among the high class field of entries 21 riders are making their
Badminton debut including reigning World and European Champion and
local rider Zara Phillips; American team member Kim Severson who
has won the Kentucky Rolex four-star event three times and brings
the British-bred Winsome Adante; 2006 Luhmuhlen winner and German
team members Frank Ostholt and Air Jordan and former European
Champion Nicolas Touzaint and Hildago De L’ile.
With reigning Badminton Champion Andrew Hoy unable to defend his
title and 2005 and 2003 winner Pippa Funnell missing as well as
2004 winner William Fox-Pitt who withdrew Balincoola prior to the
horse inspection the title is wide open and a new name could be on
the silver trophy on Monday morning.
As the Meteorological Office is forecasting high temperatures
and cloudless skies for the duration of the event, work is
continuing on preparing the ground conditions on the course. Five
hundred tons of top soil are currently being spread around the
course; take-offs and landings are being watered and parts of the
course are being aerated with the equi-vator.
British rider Daisy Dick will be the first competitor in the
dressage arena tomorrow morning after ‘guinea pig’ test rider,
Young Rider Champion Amy Young and Highville.