Badminton Horse Trials: Oliver Townend Trots the Top of the Leaderboard after Day One

Badminton Horse Trials 2019: Oliver Townend Trots the Top of the Leaderboard after Day One #MMBHT

After the first day’s Dressage at the 2019 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, Oliver Townend has yet again clinched the top spot to head the leaderboard overnight with Cillnabradden Evo.

Fresh-faced from Kentucky, Townend has two horses entered into this year’s proceedings. His second ride, the stunning grey ISH Ballaghmor Class, is in the line-up for tomorrow, which will conclude the dressage phase of this year’s event.

Cillnabradden Evo, known as Gary to his friends,  is a former ride of Andrew Nicholson. Still fairly new to the four-star circuit, the 16.2hh black gelding has proved he already shows promise for the days that lie ahead.

Currently sat in second place is Great Britain’s Tom McEwen, with his ride and sole entry into this year’s Badminton Horse Trials, Toledo De Kerser. McEwen and the 16.2hh bay gelding by Diamant De Semilly, were members of the British team that won Gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games. The pair finished on 75.26%, exactly 5% behind Townend’s posting of 80.26%.

Piggy French and Vanir Kamira were hot on the heels of the pair finishing on 74.04%, slipping into a comfortable third position overnight, with Kitty King riding Vendredi Biats in fourth.

Tomorrow will conclude the dressage phase of the 2019 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials event. More World class riders and their mounts, including William Fox-Pitt and Oratorio, Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy and Pippa Funnel riding Billy Walk On will welcome the honor of once again competing on the luxurious green grass that spans the main Arena.

For more information and ticket enquiries visit https://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/

Image credits and copyright Mike Bain.

Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.