Olympic years can always throw up unexpected results at Badminton, and 2024 is absolutely no exception with a total shakeup of the leader board. New Zealand’s Caroline Powell came from 6th place overnight to take her first Badminton Horse Trials title with the feisty mare Greenacres Special Cavalier, having finished here in last place in 2023.
Ireland’s Lucy Latta climbed up one to eventual second place – an incredible result for her first five star event, let alone her first Badminton with the incredibly promising RCS Patron Saint, followed by best of the Brits, Alex Bragg riding Quindiva, a horse that laid in 51st place after dressage and sat just inside the top 10 after yesterday’s cross country.
Unfortunately it was not the best day in the office for cross country leader Tim Price, who had 4 fences down in the show jumping arena today to incur 20 penalties and drop him down the order to 8th place. But he only had kind words for his fellow New Zealander, “disappointing – that’s going to hurt, especially as he has been going so brilliantly.” Tim said ruefully, “but how about that for Caroline Powell? She’s been in the mix so many times and is a fantastic jokey, always has been since those iconic days on the little grey horse Lenamore. But to have a big win like this is overdue for her”.
It was also a similar story for previous two-time badminton winner, Britain’s William Fox-Pitt, who incurred 24 penalties to finish in 13th and announced his retirement from elite level eventing afterwards, “I’ve had moments before and you have to deal with it, and it just wasn’t quite my day was it?” He said philosophically. “I won’t be coming back to Badminton now, it’s a shame to finish on a bit of a downer but I’m cool with that, she’s a great horse and I shall look forward to see what happens for her next. This is my last Badminton for sure.”
But today is all about Caroline and the amazing 11 year old mare “Cav” taking the top spot after a spectacular clear round – one of just three throughout the whole day – to propel themselves up the leader board. “Oh my god! You always come and you hope that you’re going to get your double clear and go home and everybody’s safe but to come and to win it is just brilliant! I was just down the back and then when someone came running to tell me I’d won I said “don’t be silly, that doesn’t happen to people like me!” It never even entered my mind that we’d win it.” The Irish Sports Horse mare gave the fences plenty of air, only rattling one at fence 11, but otherwise never looking like she was going to touch a pole with a class performance, “god she jumped a good round, she’s quite special isn’t she? She’s such an amazing mare, she’s got such scope. To have a mare like her, I’m so lucky.”
Ireland’s newest leading lady, Lucy Latta will have turned the team selectors’ heads for Olympic selection later in the year after a noteworthy performance over the toughest Badminton show jumping track in easily the last decade, having two fences down which was enough to secure the runner up spot. The 27 year old five star first timer was understandably in total shock as she watched the results play out in front of her, “It’s something else with all the crowd cheering, you just get the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It was total rider error to fence three, but that’s for me to learn from my mistake but he jumped really well and I’m really pleased with him.” Lucy said of an uncharacteristic 8 faults for the gelding who had never experienced anything like the atmosphere of the Badminton arena before.
“He’s just been fantastic from start to finish,” Lucy said of her incredible result, “I couldn’t have asked for anything more from him so I’m thrilled! I’m a bit speechless, he’s just the best cross country horse so to come out there and jump like he did today, I’m just so proud of him, I’m delighted with today.” She grinned.
There will certainly be celebrations in the Bragg stables this evening after Alex finished best of the brits and also smashed his previous best Badminton result of 36th out of the water with the ever-improving 14-year-old mare, Quindiva. The combination pulled up across country here last year after the mare struggled with the deep going and Alex was keen to ensure she had a positive memory of the event – turning out to be a wise decision in the long run!
“I wasn’t expecting to be called back for a podium finish” Alex said, having show jumped in tenth place and posting a rare and valuable clear round. “What an exciting finish! This mare was double clear at Burghley and finished double clear here, she’s just getting better and better, I don’t think it’s quite sunk in for all of us, we’re just so overwhelmed and so pleased. It’s more than special for us and her owners.”
The remainder of the top 10 was overrun with Brits and Kiwis, with Emily King remaining in fourth for her first Badminton completion, followed by Tom Jackson on his European Championships mount Capels Hollow Drift in fifth. Jonelle Price usurped husband Tim to finish in 6th with Cappa Nera, Brit Tom Rowland and Dreamliner – a horse he only took the ride on 15 month ago – finished in 7th, Tim in 8th, and Brits Pippa Funnel with MCS Maverick and Bubby Upton with Cola (who lay in 2nd after the dressage phase) finished in 9th and 10th respectively.
It was certainly another vintage year of competition which saw a very worth winner in Caroline Powell who was long overdue her first Badminton Victory. A year that will certainly go down in Badminton’s 75 years of history.