Laura Collett & London 52 win Badminton Horse Trials

Laura Collett realised a childhood dream as she won Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian, after a superb performance on Karen Bartlett and Keith Scott’s London 52. Laura’s finishing score of 21.4 — she added a mere 0.4 of a show jumping time penalty to her dressage mark — is a record completion score for Badminton.

Runner-up Ros Canter, the only rider to finish on her dressage score, showed she has another world champion in the making with the 10-year-old Lordships Graffalo, while Oliver Townend cemented his world number one position with third and fifth places on Swallow Springs and Ballaghmor Class respectively, each of his greys hitting a fence apiece.

It was the first British one-two-three since Pippa Funnell led William Fox-Pitt and Leslie Law 20 years ago in 2002, and Laura Collett revealed that Pippa’s win on Supreme Rock had been her childhood inspiration. ‘I was going round the cross-country on my aunt’s shoulders and I wanted to be Pippa Funnell winning Badminton,’ she said.

When Laura entered the arena, she had the luxury of a fence in hand over Ros, but the pressure was huge. ‘That horse is amazing,’ she said of her Tokyo Olympic gold medallist. ‘He jumped his socks off. I couldn’t see a distance anywhere but he just got higher and higher.’

Ros was full of praise for her new superstar who was contesting his first five-star. ‘”Walter’s” eyes were on stalks when we arrived but he enjoyed every part of it – especially the prize giving. He will have learnt so much in the last few days.’

Piggy March and the gallant 17-year-old mare Vanir Kamira, the 2019 Badminton winners who set the early standard on the cross-country, finished an honourable fourth with just one pole down. ‘I think that’s the best “Tilly” has ever jumped. She left her heart out on the cross country course yesterday so I was a bit worried today, but shouldn’t have been.’

David Doel, who lives just 20 minutes down the road, had a dream debut, finishing in sixth place on Galileo Nieuwmoed with a double clear, and Kitty King, a member of last year’s winning European championships team, was seventh on Vendredi Biats.

Irishman Austin O’Connor interrupted British domination with eighth place on the spectacular Colarado Blue, and American first-timer Tamra Smith was ninth on Mai Baum. Britain’s Richard Jones and Alfies Clover rounded up the top 10.

After a gap of three years, support for the event was huge. One hundred and eighty thousand visitors attended over the four days, and the many tradestands did a roaring trade, delighted to be back.

‘It was everything I could have wished for,’ said Event Director Jane Tuckwell. ‘Lots of happy people, fantastic result, wonderful sponsors in our presenting partner Mars Equestrian and our official partner Lifesource BP, it’s a dream come true. Bring on 2023.’

Full results here.

Sammi Birch finishes as the highest placed Australian

Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB were the highest placed Australian combination, finishing in 25th place on 49.5. The pair added one rail and 1.2 time faults in the show jumping phase to their dressage score, in addition to the 5.6 cross country time penalties from Saturday. It was a good result for Sammi and the rising 12 year old KWPN gelding, who was completing his second CCI5*, improving on their score of 56.6 at Bicton in September last year. Finduss PFB is by Saffier out of Delle Miranda (Sarantos) and is owned by Parkfield Breeding.

Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB, Badminton 2022.

Dom Schramm and Bolytair B added two rails and 1.6 time faults to their score on the final day to finish on 91.8 and in 49th position. Flying all the way from the US, it was a long-time goal for Dom to compete at Badminton and to complete the event is a huge achievement in itself. Congratulations to both Sammi and Dom!

Dom Schramm and Bolytair B, Badminton 2022.

The highest placed Aussies following the show jumping, Bill Levett and Lassban Diamond Lift, unfortunately had to withdraw before the final horse inspection.

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