Badminton 2010 | A Distant Memory

As we prepare to batten down the hatches for the briefest of Christmas breaks before the onslaught of the January ticket sales, we thought we'd share some of our favourite memories from this year's event, so here's a photo slide show:



In particular, look out for the photo that accompanies the caption:

"If Mark Todd can ride Grass Valley around Badminton, 

he'll make it on anything"

We look forward to welcoming you all back in 2011 and don't forget to book your tickets online from January....

Season's Greetings!

FUNDRAISER’S MOVING TRIBUTE TO BRAVE SISTER

Charlotte Dunn

VOLUNTEER fundraiser, Emily Drummond-Dunn, 23, had always supported cancer charities but her reasons became much more personal when her 19-year-old sister, Charlotte, was diagnosed with the disease. 

Emily, a former groom with event rider and The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2010 winner Paul Tapner, recently took part in a charity event to celebrate Cancer Research UK being chosen as Badminton’s 2011 charity of the year.

Emily joined a cancer surgeon, a research scientist, a young cancer survivor, fundraisers and top rider William Miflin - who has battled cancer himself - at one of the most famous jumps on the Badminton course to celebrate. 

“After my sister was diagnosed, I wanted my fundraising to involve horses and Paul suggested doing a charity course walk at Badminton 2010 in support of Cancer Research UK”. 

Emily, who worked with Paul Tapner for two years and helped groom the winning horse at Badminton 2010, added: “The course walk was a huge success and Paul plans to do another walk at Badminton 2011 and hopes to raise even more for that great cause.” 

 “One-in-three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives but more people are beating the disease than ever before and Cancer Research UK’s work is at the heart of that progress. 

“It motivates me to know that we are making a difference”.  

Preparing For The Chaos Of The January Sales

More Meetings!

November & December have been busy months at Badminton – lots of meetings about the ‘behind the scenes’ organisation, some fence building, the appointment of contractors – mostly the same but some new – and preparations for the usually chaotic January, when the Box Office opens, Trade Stands are finalised and the New Year brings thoughts of Spring!

One of the most important contractors for visitors is undoubtedly the firm that provides and services the loos! Here we are making a change to Portable Toilets Ltd, who have vast experience at music festivals but whose first big equestrian event this will be – lets hope they hit the ground running in April. Our site manager Harry Verney does the same job at numerous other events around the country – festivals, motor sport etc – so he was able to advise which firms might be able to cope with our large cowds.

ALICE JUMPS FOR JOY AT BADMINTON

Alice Beard & Cancer Research UK at Badminton

CIRENCESTER schoolgirl Alice Beard, 11 - who owes her life to an anonymous American donor after being diagnosed with leukaemia - took part in the charity event at Badminton in memory of her mum, Susan, who recently died of cancer. 

Cancer Research UK has been chosen as the 2011 charity of the year for one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events, The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Alice joined a cancer surgeon, a research scientist, Gloucestershire fundraisers and top rider William Miflin, who has battled cancer himself, at one of the most famous jumps on the Badminton course to celebrate. 

After being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2002, Alice suffered a relapse and had a bone marrow transplant in 2004. Doctors trying to find a match for Alice had to look across the Atlantic when their search in this country proved futile. 

Susan Beard, 51, was first diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma - a cancer of the lympathic system - in 2001. She was treated successfully on three occasions, but last July the cancer returned.