WORLD CHAMPION ZARA TO TACKLE FIRST BADMINTON
Reigning World and European Three Day Event Champion,
Zara Phillips has entered Toytown for her debut at the Mitsubishi
Motors Badminton Horse Trials.
She leads the field in an entry that includes last year’s winner,
Andrew Hoy with Moonfleet (and Master Monarch) and the previous two
champions, William Fox-Pitt and Tamarillo (with Ballincoola and
Idalgo) and Pippa Funnell, this time with Ensign. The other
previous winner competing is Mary King with a choice of three
rides, Call Again Cavalier, Cashel Bay and Apache Sauce. Riders may
only start two of their entered horses.
Andrew and William are the current world no.1 and 2 and also
entered is the no.3, Clayton Fredericks with two entries, Nullabor
and WP in Limbo. Clayton was individual Silver medallist at the
World Championships and is one of the three World Cup winners,
along with Sweden’s Linda Algotsson and France’s Nicolas Touzaint
coming to Badminton.
Of an initial record entry of nearly 150, the hundred to make
the cut include riders from fourteen nations including Sam Albert
from Jamaica and Yoshiaki Oiwa from Japan, who made such an impact
with his first Badminton attempt a couple of years ago with Voyou
Du Roc. This time he brings Fifth Avenue Fame.
There are also contestants from Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden and
the USA. Over recent years the Badminton spoils have been shared
amongst an ever increasing international pool and the greatest
prize in the sport is a very open affair this year.
New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson will be looking to increase his
record 24 completions with Henry Tankerville and Lord Killinghurst,
but undoubtedly would prefer to lift the Mitsubishi Trophy for the
first time. Then there is British born Australian, Lucinda
Fredericks, Clayton’s wife, who won Burghley in the autumn with
Headley Britannia.
With more sophisticated qualifying strictures, recent years have
seen accepted entries from less experienced riders who have hit
form in the build up. Again there is a welcome representation from
over thirty first timers.
Despite some traditionalist fears, the first short (without
steeplechase and roads and tracks) format Badminton in 2006 was as
tough a competition as ever and will be just as hard to win in
2007.
For a full list of entries go to our website www.badminton-horse.co.uk
** ENDS **
Press Accreditation Closes 12th April 2007
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