British Eventer Oliver Townend has claimed the top spot in the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings with 504 points. A spot he takes from his fellow countrywoman, Rosalind Canter, who held the coveted position for just one month. Townend’s ascent to the summit of the rankings comes as no surprise for the Olympic gold medalist, who previously held the world’s number one ranking over a year ago. He temporarily relinquished his position to New Zealand’s Tim Price, who enjoyed an 11-month reign before being surpassed by Canter. “It is and…

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It’s been a jam-packed day of competition at the BEDE Events Osberton International Horse Trials, with wall-to-wall cross-country action on the roster alongside the continuation of the Bennington Carriages National Carriage Driving competition and the culmination of four of our six hotly contested eventing classes.  Agria Equine Lifetime CCI1* Four classes saw their finales unfold on Saturday, and the largest of those was the inaugural Agria Equine Lifetime CCI1*, which had 81 competitors come forward to the final phase.  Both the showjumping course and the time allowed proved enormously influential,…

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Osberton International Horse Trials started in earnest on Thursday with riders of all levels taking to the dressage arenas, punctuated by appearances from some of equestrian sports most exciting names – and the stars of the future, too.  Agria Equine Lifetime CCI1* Osberton Ambassador, Simon Grieve, kept his grip on the CCI1* leaderboard with Make Believe, who took that top spot in the first day of dressage. Their score of 24.9 sees them sit 2.1 penalties ahead of their nearest competitors, second-placed Amy Simpson and Hero RHF, who go into cross-country…

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Under the beaming sunshine, the Defender Burghley Horse Trials arena once more witnessed a historic afternoon as Great Britain’s Oliver Townend is crowned the winner for his third time on board Ballaghmor Class. The 16-year-old Irish Sports Horse is no stranger to the hallowed turf of Burghley, having won here in 2017 as a fresh faced 10-year-old at his first five star, as well as notable results in 2018 and 2019, finishing second and third respectively. “He jumped as good as he’s ever jumped, what can I say about him?…

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After a day of the usual thrills and spills at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, despite the shuffling leaderboard beneath him, New Zealand’s Tim Price remains on top. Adding eight time penalties to his overnight score to lie on 26.7, Tim’s breathing space at the top is somewhat diminished, to leave him without even a fence in hand over Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class going into tomorrow’s show jumping phase. “He’s shown his class again, he didn’t feel like the horse I’ve had around this place last year, but for…

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Ros Canter was again in a class of her own at Defender Blair Castle Horse Trials this weekend, beating herself by almost 10 penalties for first, second and fourth place finishes in the CCI4*S, on Izilot DHI, Rehy Royal Diamond and MHS Seventeen respectively.  I’m absolutely delighted,” said Ros. I brought the horses up here to set them up for their autumn 4* long-formats; they are all at slightly different stages in their careers, but I’ve always found Blair to be a really good stepping stone in horses’ development. If…

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Ros Canter’s fabulous run of form continues, this time at Defender Blair Castle Horse Trials. With three horses in the CCI4*S after the dressage phase in first, second and fifth, it looks set to be yet another promising run for Ros and her team. Her final ride, Izilot DHI, has a commanding lead after scoring 24.8: Izilot DHI is possibly the most talented horse I have ever sat on, but also the quirkiest. He’s taught me a huge amount, with some fabulous results but also a few little blips. He’s…

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FEI Eventing European Championship 2023, Haras du Pin (FRA). Written by Louise Parkes It was all about the British once more when the FEI Eventing European Championship 2023 drew to a close at Haras du Pin, France this afternoon. Today they took not only the team title but team-members Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo) and Kitty King (Vendredi Biats) clinched individual gold and silver ahead of Germany’s Sandra Auffarth in bronze. The team ranking established after yesterday’s thrilling cross-country phase remained the same, with Germany standing on the second step of…

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FEI Eventing European Championship 2023, Haras du Pin (FRA). By Louise Parkes German giant Michael Jung swaggered to the top of the individual standings with a superb performance from Fischerchipmunk FRH as the dressage phase drew to a close at the FEI Eventing European Championship 2023 at Haras du Pin (FRA) today. As expected the individual leaderboard got a good shake-up, but it was four of reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham’s British compatriots who ousted her from overnight pole position before Jung overtook them all with a ride that earned…

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Entries for Cornbury House Horse Trials 2023  (6-10 September) are now open. Established by David Howden at his home in Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, in 2020, this event has taken the equestrian world by storm in just three years – and there are many innovations for 2023. For the first time, Cornbury House Horse Trials (CHHT) will host the highly prestigious British Eventing Young Horse Championships for five-, six- and seven-year-olds. These will run alongside the well-established international classes at CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S level.  In keeping with David Howden’s passion for…

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Oliver Townend has well and truly stamped his influence on day one at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park, with first, second and third place in the Evelyn Partners British Intermediate Championship class. In first place with a score of 24.9 with Finley Du Loir, last year’s winner of the Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship at The Festival. The 8-year-old grey gelding owned by Caunton Stud started his affiliated eventing career last year and in only his second run he won at Great Witchingham in…

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Oliver Townend and Piggy March shared the honours in the feature classes at Burgham this weekend. Holme Dodsworth Metals CCI4*-S sections welcomed a victory apiece in a thrilling finish to a day of top-class horse sport. Oliver was scoring his sixth CCI4*-S win at Burgham, this time with Tregilder. The pair were fifth after dressage with a mark of 27.1 and added nothing in the jumping phases to nip ahead of dressage leaders Ros Canter and Izilot DHI and take the highly competitive class. Oliver said: He’s a horse who…

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Georgie Goss (nee Spence) has announced the retirement of her CCI5* ride, Halltown Harley this week. The 17-year-old by Harlequin Du Carel has seen much success at the highest levels of eventing with multiple Badminton CCI5* completions and wins at CCI4*S and CCI4*L.  The gelding, affectionately known as Barbie, most notably travelled to Tokyo for the Olympic test event.  Finishing 4th and providing Team GBR valuable insights that supported their campaign to Olympic Gold in 2021. Georgie Goss (nee Spence) has seen a successful eventing career representing Team GBR at…

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France take FEI Eventing Nations Cup honours on home turf – Written by Eleanore Kelly The home side dominated the French leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup from the beginning until end. Their overall score of 101.5 put them well ahead of Belgium who completed on 142.8. Third place went to Great Britain who finished on 149.9.  This was the fifth leg of this popular series which took place for the first time at Haras de Jardy, in Normandy this weekend, and attracted nine European nations as well as Australia. The victorious French…

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Alnwick Ford International Horse Trials (21-25 June) has received its highest-ever number of entries, with nine different countries represented in its international CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S classes. Among them are former world number one Oliver Townend, Irish championship rider Joseph Murphy, former European champion and multiple Olympic medallist Ian Stark, New Zealand CCI5* winner Caroline Powell and rising star of the sport, 21-year-old Alice Casburn. Alnwick Ford has quickly become renowned for its excellent conditions in all phases for horses and riders, its friendly atmosphere and its exciting, educational cross-country courses,…

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Millie Juleff, from St Breward in Cornwall, took the honours at Nunney International Horse Trials this weekend (16-18 June), winning the CCI-S3* riding Viktor Krum. The celebration proved even more victorious as she had only acquired the gelding four days before the start of the event. Millie explained: I’m really lucky that my dad was able to buy him from Joy Jackson who had him with Bubby Upton. We picked him on Monday and went straight to Caroline Moore’s for a lesson. On Tuesday I had a dressage lesson with…

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The stage is set for the 11th running of Nunney International Horse Trials which takes place on June 16, 17 and 18 at Whatley near Frome in Somerset. The competition is set in the grounds of Southfield House with Nunney Castle providing a picturesque backdrop for the event. The event’s principal sponsors are Hopkins Estates, Kingsland Property & Land Agents, and Bellevue Veterinary Clinic. It has attracted nearly 600 horse and rider combinations with some of the sports leading competitors heading to the idyllic south Somerset venue. Competitors showcase their…

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