Biography

It will be a first Badminton for Irish amateur rider Alan Nolan (42) who is based near Stourport on Severn in Worcestershire. Alan and Bronze Flight have completed two Luhmuhlens and three Burghleys – they completed Burghley last year.

Alan works full-time for Gain Horse Feeds as a Business Development Manager and has in the past manned the stand at events. Alan learnt to ride at the local riding school and has just three event horses, With Bronze Flight he has completed Blenheim, Bramham, Burghley and Luhmuhlen. In 2015 Alan completed his first four-star at Burghley with Bronze Flight and last year the pair gained their third Burghley completion.

Alan trains with Sarah Verney and Karen Nicholas.

In the winter he loves hunting – he often takes a party of British event riders back to Ireland for a hunting break – and anything to do with national hunt racing.

Bronze Flight owned by Carole Warren is an 19-year-old British-bred, AES registered gelding. He was bred by Fiona Menzies, close to Badminton and is by the AES stallion Dynasty (by Dompfaff) out of a mare by the British-bred stallion Flying Dutchman – a son of Dutch Courage. Fiona started him eventing in 2005 and Alan acquired the ride in 2008 – he was, in-between, campaigned to intermediate and one-star level by Alberto Giugni.  He is described as ‘a very special horse’ and is known on social media as ‘Precious’.