Biography

British rider Isabelle (Bubby) Upton (25) one of the younger riders, completed on her Badminton debut in 2022 and with Cola finished in 8^th place last year. It will be a first Badminton and first 5* for her second entry Magic Roundabout with who she took her second National U25 championship title when winning the class at Bramham. She was national U25 champion in 2021 (Cannovara).

Bubby who is based near in Suffolk, midway between Newmarket and Bury St Edmonds, has ridden all her life and started with the Newmarket and Thurlow Pony Club who she represented at the Pony Club Championships six times, from the age of nine. She has come up through the ranks of BE and has been successful in British Pony, Junior and Young Rider European championship teams winning one individual gold, two individual silver, one team gold, two team, silver and one team bronze. For the last four-years she has been a student studying sports management at Edinburgh University juggling education with eventing.

In 2021 she won the U25 championship at Bicton (Cannavaro) and completed her first 5* at Pau finishing 12^th with Cola.

Bubby trains with Tina Fletcher and Amy Woodhead. She enjoys time with family and friends and watching F1.

Magic Roundabout owned by the Zebedee is a British-bred 14-year-old SHB(GB) gelding. Bred by Sharon Stone he is by the thoroughbred Samraan although the breeding of his dam is not recorded. He was formerly ridden to 3*S by New Zealand rider Hannah Norvill. Bubby acquired him through Piggy French after she rang Bubby to say that she was bringing him to the yard as Bubby really ought to try him.

Cola III owned by her mother Rachael Upton is a 14-year-old German-Bred Holstein gelding. He is by international grand prix jumper Catoki out of a mare by the great Contender. He was acquired for Bubby in 2017 from GHF Equestrian – owner Vicki Tuffs produced and competed him to Novice level the previous season. Bubby and Cola crowned their first season together winning the BE seven-year-old championship at Osberton. They contested their first 5* at Pau in 2021 and in 2022 and 2023 completed Badminton.