Andrew Nicholson

Wednesday 7th - Sunday 11th May 2025

Andrew Nicholson

New Zealand
  • 111 - Nereo
  • 14 - Qwanza

Biography

British-based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson (57) first completed Badminton 35-years ago in 1984. He has since completed the event a record 37 times and in 2017 claimed what had seemed an elusive win. With this year’s entry Swallow Springs he was third at Burghley 2018 – the horse’s first four-star event.

A six-time Olympian Andrew is based near Marlborough in Wiltshire and has lived in the UK for over thirty years. Considered the most prolific event rider ever, London 2012 was his sixth Olympic appearance (and seventh Olympic selection) where he won team bronze and finished in individual fourth place. In 1992 (Barcelona) he won Olympic team silver and in 1996 (Atlanta) team bronze. He won team gold at the 1990 WEG and in 2010 was a member of the NZ team that won bronze at the WEG in Lexington where he also won his first individual medal – bronze with Nereo. In 2014 with Nereo he was a member of the NZ team at the WEG and finished in 9th place.

He has won Burghley five times, 1995, 2000 and 2012.’13 &’14 (Avebury) and holds the record for the most Badminton completions (37). In 2013 he won the Lexington four-star (Quimbo), the Luhmuhlen four-star (Mr Cruise Control) and was first, second and seventh at Burghley with Avebury, Nereo and Calico Jo respectively. That year he was the winner of the HSBC Classics series and was British number one for a record 16th time.

In 2014 Andrew Nicholson re-wrote the Burghley history books when he won Burghley for the third successive year and on the same horse – Avebury, who is also the only horse to ever win back-to-back Burghley. In 2015 the combination also added a hat-trick of wins at Barbury Castle to their CV. A month later in August (2015), whilst competing at Gatcombe, Andrew suffered a fall at the final fence after which he was found to have sustained a serious neck injury. He spent eight hours in surgery but recuperated and recovered well; he was back in the saddle in December and began competing again in April 2016 and in June won the CCI3* at Bramham (Jet Set) and in August claimed his fourth consecutive CIC3* victory at Barbury Castle (Nereo) and in September was second at Burghley (Nereo) and at the end of the season was number two in the BE rider ranking.

The third of six children Andrew was brought up on a dairy farm in Kihikihi, North Island. After school Andrew joined his brother who was retraining racehorses and rode for local racehorse trainers. He came to England in 1980 aged 19 and his first job was grooming for Mark Todd and Southern Comfort at Badminton (who then won). Within four-years Andrew had two Badminton horses and was selected for the NZ team at the 1984 Olympic Games.

Andrew is married to Wiggy (nee Channer) and the couple has two children Zach and Lily. He also has two older children from his former marriage.

Swallow Springs, owned by Paul & Diana Ridgeon, is a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse grey gelding. Bred by Maria Keating his is by Chill Out (sire of Bonza King of Rouge) of a mare by the thoroughbred Cult Hero (sire of several four-star horses including The Deputy and Bay My Hero). He was acquired from Donal Barnwell as a five-year-old. Andrew formerly competed the full brother – Ghost Story – to intermediate level.  Swallow Springs was third at Burghley in 2018 – the horses first four-star.

 

 

Entries

Nereo

CDE, Spain, 2000
16.3hh , chestnut , gelding

Sire Fines

Dam Berganza (Golfi)

Breeder Mr Ramon Beca

Owner(s): Deborah Sellar, London

Qwanza

CDE, Spain, 2003
16.2hh , bay , mare

Sire Lacros

Dam Kurda 66 (Helio)

Breeder Ana Beca

Owner(s): Mark & Rosemary Barlow, Aylesbury, Bucks.
& Rider

Notable Results

2018 – Burghley CCI4* 3rd Swallow Springs

2018 – Bramham CCI3* 2nd Swallow Springs

2017 – Blenheim CCI3* 9th Swallow Springs

2017 – Burghley CCI4* 8th Nereo

2017 – Luhmuhlen CCI4* 19th Teseo

2016 – Burghley CCI4* 2nd Nereo

2016 – Barbury Castle 1st Nereo,

2016 – Bramham CCI3* 1st Jet Set, 7th Teseo

2014 – Burghley CCI4* 1st Avebury

2014 – Caen WEG 9th Nereo

2014 – Gatcombe CIC3* 1st Avebury, 7th Nereo

2014 – Lexington CCI4* 21st Avebury

2013 – Burghley 2nd Avebury, 3rd Nereo, 8th Calico Jo

2013 – Luhmuhlen CCI4* 1st Mr Cruise Control, 6th Rathmoyle King, EL Qwanza

2013 – Lexington CCI4* 1st Quimbo, 3rd Calico Joe

2012 – Pau CCI4* 1st Nereo, 7th Mr Cruise Control

2012 – Burghley CCI4* 1st Avebury, 13th Calico Joe

2012 – London Olympic Games 4th Nereo, team Bronze

2011 – Burghley CCI4* 2nd Nereo & 8th Avebury

2011 – Gatcombe British Open 1st Nereo, 2nd Avebury, 11th Qwanza

2011 – Luhmuhlen CCI4* 10th Armada, 14th Mr Cruise Control

2010 – Burghley CCI4* 14th, Armada

2010 – Burghley CCI4* 22nd, Avebury

2010 – Lexington WEG 3rd, Aachen CICO3* 1st Nereo

2008 – Burghley CCI4* 8th; (Armada)

2008 – Hong Kong OG Elim Lord Killinghurst

2004 – Athens OG 61st

2000 – Burghley CCI4* 1st Mr Smiffy

1996 – Atlanta OG team bronze

1995 – Burghley CCI4* 1st Buckley Province

1992 – Barcelona OG 16th Spinning Rhombus; team silver

1990 – WEG team gold

1984 – Los Angeles OG 28th Kahlua

Recent Badminton results

2018 – w/d Nereo

2017 – 1st Nereo, 12th Qwanza

2015 – Badminton 6th Nereo, 22nd Calico Joe

2014 – Ret Quimbo, El Nereo

2013 – Badminton CCI4* 3rd Nereo, 11th Avebury

2011 – 10th Avebury & 12th Nereo

2010 –11th Nereo, 27th Avebury