KEEN COMPETITION FOR THE
60TH ANNIVERSARY BADMINTON
Once again there are more riders wanting to compete at the
2009 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (7th –
10th May) than can be accommodated, so 85 horses have
been accepted and there are another 44 on the Waiting List.
Entry Highlights
The undoubted highlights of a star-studded entry list for the
60th anniversary of the famous event are the return of
three times winner and double Olympic Gold Medallist Mark Todd
after a 9 year absence; and the entry of reigning World Champions
Zara Phillips and Toytown, back in competition after the injury
that kept the horse out of the 2008 Olympic Games.
Returning Past Winners
Other past winning riders entered include
Lucinda Fredericks with Headley Britannia & Rodney Powell with
Zin Zan II, in addition to Mary King and William Fox-Pitt; these
two have also got rides at the Rolex Kentucky event in the USA a
fortnight before, which could give them a head start in the quest
for points in the valuable HSBC FEI Classics™ 5 four star events,
which starts in Kentucky, continues at Badminton and will
finish at Pau in France in October. The only other riders who
could have horses at both Kentucky and Badminton are both British,
Oliver Townend and Lucy Wiegersma (placed 2nd last
year).
William Fox-Pitt’s entries also raise the
intriguing possibility of his coming to the Mitsubishi Motors
Badminton event to complete the elusive Rolex Grand Slam, if he
could only add a win in Kentucky to his Burghley effort last
autumn.
A Truly International Event
Ten nations will be represented this year.
Matt Ryan, Olympic Individual Gold Medallist from Barcelona still
represents Australia, but is hoping to change nationality to tie in
with his long British residence and he will be out to impress the
British selectors this time! Mark Todd will have 5 fellow New
Zealanders up against him, with Andrew Nicholson as keen as ever to
cap his (so far) record 26 completions with a first Mitsubishi
Motors Trophy.
A Strong British
Contingent
In addition to William and Mary, 2 more
members of the British 2008 Olympic bronze medal team, Daisy Dick
and Sharon Hunt, will be hoping to do enough to retain their team
places in 2009, when the target this autumn will be the European
Championships in Fontainebleau in September. A host of young
British riders will know that a good performance at Badminton has
always been the route to team selection. The famous Trophy and the
top prize money for any Horse Trials in the world are also a real
attraction!
Full Entry List Updated Daily
The full list of accepted entries and the
Waiting List can be seen on
http://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/
– it will be updated daily.
Buoyant Ticket Sales
Despite fears of the recession advance ticket
sales have been as buoyant as last year. The Box Office will take
advance bookings until 27th April via http://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/;
thereafter spectators will be able to purchase entry tickets each
day on the gate.
Note:
Press Accreditation Closes 17th
April 2009 – see website for details.
Further
Information:
Julian Seaman, Badminton Press Officer, 41
Gastein Road, London, W6 8LT
T: + 44 (0) 207 385 0591; F: + 44 (0) 207 386
9820; E: j.seaman2@sky.com
Also:
Mitsubishi Motors Press Office
T: + 44 (0) 1285 647200; E: pressoffice@mitsubishi-cars.co