EVENTING News


Australians leading the way at Badminton (EA Press Release)
Thursday, 8 May 2014


Two former Australian champions of the prestigious Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials are occupying the lead and third place at the end of the first day of competition.

2010 Badminton Champion Paul Tapner (1st) and 2008 Champion Lucinda Fredericks (3rd) were the standout performers of the Australian contingent on a wet and blustery afternoon that provided an additional challenge to combinations.

On his way to capturing pole position, 2010 Badminton Champion Paul Tapner achieved a personal best dressage result at this level. The score of 36 was also the best 4* score for his and his Irish bred grey Kilronan.

“Kilronan was getting very good marks at three-star level, but it was eating away at me that I couldn’t get the same at four-star, so I’ve been working hard over the winter,” admitted Tapner, who won Badminton in 2010 on Inonothing.

“But I don’t think I’ve ever felt so relaxed about the Dressage before. I’m not sure it matters too much about the marks because the Cross Country course is going to be extremely influential.”

Tapner and his mount finished 20th at last year’s event but the pair is on track to eclipse this result in 2014.

“It’s (Kilronan’s) second time here. He’s had 12 months’ worth of working to making him more relaxed that what he was last year. Bring on Cross Country.”

Watch an interview with Paul Tapner at http://www.horseandcountry.tv/episode/interview-paul-tapner-dressage-lead

Two-time Olympian Lucinda Fredericks received a score of 39 to end the first day of dressage in third place.

Fredericks is riding her London Olympic mount Flying Finish and said Saturday’s cross country would prove influential.

“I’ve walked the cross country course twice now and it’s most definitely a true 4* test and the ground conditions are going to make it tougher."

“The last time I rode in the real wet at Badminton was probably in 1992. "

“Flying Finish has had a good lead-up to Badminton, his last run was at Bicton, which – luckily – was in the wet. "

Britain’s Francis Whittington (Easy Target) was the only other rider to score below 40 and is sitting in-between the Australians on second position after receiving a score of 36.2

Australian results on day one as follows:
1 Paul Tapner & Kilronan 36
3 Lucinda Fredericks & Flying Finish 39.2
10 Bill Levett & Silk Stone 47.8
14 Natalie Blundell & Algebra 49.8
31 Wendy Schaeffer & Koyuna Sun Dancer 57.3
36 Peter Atkins & Henry Jota Hampton 62.2
38 Emma Dougall & Kelecyn Ice Age 64.8

The dressage phase continues today at Badminton and among the line-up is Adelaide CCI4* winners Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo who will have their first serious test since becoming an established combination. But it is Saturday’s cross country phase which is predicted to have the greatest effect on standings.

For full results please visit the event website http://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/