Monday, 15 August 2011

Ride Badminton | On Board With Paul Tapner

Paul Tapner
Badminton like you've never experienced it before! 

Join last year's winner, Paul Tapner, in the saddle (so to speak!) as he talks us through his strategy, his thoughts, his excitement, and his dilemas of riding around the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials cross country course.

Via the magic and technology of the helmet cam, Paul takes us through his cross country ride on Kilfinnie from this year's event, fence-by-fence, and  blow-by-blow with some fascinating insights into what it takes to ride Badminton.....



Wednesday, 10 August 2011

Badminton 2011 Winner Mark Todd | Win No.4 & The London Olympics

Mark Todd won his fourth Badminton this year, more than 30 years after winning his debut appearance in 1980. With more than 3 decades of experience at the top of the sport his achievements are truly legendary with back to back individual Olympic gold medals and 5 Burghleys added to his Badminton successes and ever burgeoning trophy cabinet.

After a brief spell in retirement, his resolve, self believe, and talent are as strong today as they've ever been. In this short interview Mark talks about his delight at winning another Badminton after his comeback, and his favoured horse for the London 2012 Olympics.





This video is also available to watch via the Official Badminton iPhone App

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Sam Watson On Fairy Tales & Hard Luck Stories From Badminton 2011

Mark Todd & NZB Land Vision
If someone was to write the ideal fairytale ending to this year’s Badminton Horse Trials, it would be a carbon copy of the historic scenes which we saw unfolding before our eyes this afternoon. My tip at the start of the week was that a man on a grey horse would win, but I was leaving my options open with Oliver Townend and Ashdale Cruisemaster, Andrew Nicholson and Avebury, and eventual champions Mark Todd and NZB Land Vision all falling into that category.

Oliver was the hard luck story while Mark was the tear jerker, regaining his crown some thirty-one years after capturing the first of his four Badminton titles. Andrew, who groomed for Mark all those years ago in 1980, summed up the competition. He showed that brilliance wasn’t enough to win the World’s Greatest event this year. Despite performing two dressage tests in the forties, steering both horses clear and inside the time cross country, a rail lowered on the final day meant that he was only rewarded with 10th place on the aforementioned Avebury, and 12th onboard WEG bronze medallist Nereo who had two uncharacteristic rails in this afternoon’s show jumping. Any horse and rider in that top ten this year performed exceptionally. How fitting that the most talented man to ever sit on an event horse topped the pile.

Monday, 25 April 2011

Badminton 2011 | Riders Thoughts Post Show Jumping



(Plus Capt. Mark Phillips)

Leading contenders safely through the final horse inspection

All the leading contenders for the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials are safely through this morning’s final horse inspection.

Fifty-six combinations will come forward for the final showjumping phase, which will begin at 11am for the lower-placed competitors.

Flora Harris’s Law Choice (19th overnight) was sent to the holding box and subsequently withdrawn, while Lucie McNichol’s Zeus Of Rushall (30th) and Aoife Clark’s Vaguely North were not presented.
At 1.45pm there will be a parade of competitors, which will be followed immediately by the showjumping finale for the top 20.