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. 

Progress In Safety Initiatives Continues To Gather Pace

Frangible Fences| Further Innovation

Badminton has always been pleased to help the industry and sport of eventing with any new initiatives, particularly those related to the safety of horse and rider, and has implemented frangible pin technology for many years now, on numerous cross country fences.

As technology and innovation in this area gathers pace, Hugh Thomas and many other course designers have played a wider role in helping the industry improve it's overall understanding of the issues related to this aspect of safety on the cross country course and the challenges it brings to the sport.

In this short video, Hugh discusses the recent international seminar on these types of 'deformable' fence, where the industry is making some headway in standardisation, and what some of this means for the sport.

Looking Forward to Badminton 2011

Paul Tapner with Inonothing

So now our website and all of our energies are looking forward to 2011, not backward to 2010. In one last look back as the European eventing season comes to an end in Pau this week we are mightily relieved to hear that Inonothing, the brilliant Mitsubishi Motors Trophy winner in 2010 is recovering well from chipping a bone in his stifle at the World Equestrian Games; he is unlikely to be back to defend his title in 2011 but should be competing again later next year.

Our tradestands are starting to return their application forms for next year and we are finalising agreements with all of our contractors. We have said goodbye to Brian Higham, Stable Manager and Carol Alexander, Box Office Manager but happily both are very much around to help with advice when needed, as it undoubtedly will be! Vicky Iddon has taken over in the Box Office, all the 2011 prices have been fixed and the team are busy testing the ticketing kiosk to make sure all will be ready for it to open in the New Year.

7 Months To Badminton 2011 And Only Days to WEG Eventing

Many More Planning Meetings To Go!

It seems like only last week we were 'breaking down' the 2010 event, and even though Badminton Horse Trials 2011 is some 7 months away, we're already nose to the grindstone in preparation for next year.

Many planning meetings are held in September which vary from Traffic to Loos and nearly everything in between! This week we have had our Campsite Managers, Andrew and Sasha Munro Seear down for the day and have been discussing ways in which to improve the campsite and hopefully find some more space! At one point yesterday the whole office were marching around a field trying to imagine what it would look like with tents and caravans and the best place for loos & showers!

Badminton Win Sets Tapner On Path To WEG

Paul Tapner At Highclere

This year's Badminton winner, Paul Tapner, has continued to enjoy more success both in and out of the saddle since May, and is now set to take his Badminton horse, Inonothing, to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky later this month, in what he describes as a good shot at the medals. We caught up with him Highclere Horse Trials, where most UK based WEG hopefuls were giving their horses a last preparation run for Games. Here's what Paul had to say:






Notice how fellowAustralian, and previous Badminton winner, Andrew Hoy, tries to get into the picture!