New Zealand’s top offshore based eventers are on the card for the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials – the world’s premier three day event.

Leading the charge is the defending champ, Jonelle Price aboard Classic Moet. She is joined by husband Tim who has three on the card in Ringwood Sky Boy, Bango and Xavier Faer. Sir Mark Todd has entered NZB Campino, Andrew Nicholson has Swallow Springs, Caroline Powell is in aboard On The Brash, Jesse Campbell has Cleveland and Ginny Thompson on Star Nouveau.

Organisers are calling it a stellar entry list, citing Jonelle alongside three of the four-strong British team gold medal winners from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games – missing from the team is world champ Ros Canter who is due to have her first baby this summer.

Also in the field are seven previous winners including three Kiwis – Mark, Andrew and Jonelle; along with Sam Griffiths (Aus), three from Great Britain – Pippa Funnell, William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend – all of whom have multiple rides.

But the strength of entry doesn’t stop there with the silver and bronze individual medallists from WEG Padraig McCarthy (Ire) and Ingrid Klimke (Ger) also entered. Ingrid has twice been second at Badminton so will surely be chasing that illusive crown with vigor.

There were 114 entries for the 2019 event, with 24 on the waiting list. Competitors are only allowed to compete on two horses and must make their choices before the first horse inspection on Wednesday, May 1.

Eric Winter is again designing the cross country course, which will be unveiled on April 10. The draw for starting order will be live streamed on Facebook on April 15.


The horse details:
Classic Moet – owned by Trisha Rickards and Jonelle Price
Ringwood Sky Boy – owned by Varenna Allen, Robert Taylor and Tim Price
Bango – owned by Numero Uno Syndicate
Xavier Faer – owned by Trisha Rickards, Nigella Hall and Tim Price
NZB Campino – owned by New Zealand Bloodstock and Sir Mark Todd
Swallow Springs – owned by Paul and Diana Ridgeon
On The Brash – owned by Sarah Tobey and Sue Smiley
Cleveland – owned by Kent Gardner and Jesse Campbell
Star Nouveau – owned by Elaine Butterworth, Anthony Quirk and Virginia Thompson

WHAT: Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
WHERE: South Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
WHEN: May 1-5, 2019
MORE INFO: www.badminton-horse.co.uk

 

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison