 Gemma Tattersall and Jesters Quest jump the Open Ditch during the cross-country phase of Badminton Horse Trials 2007. The Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only five elite international four star, CCI****, events as classified by the FEI. Eventing is an equestrian event which comprises dressage, cross-country and show-jumping. ...
The Concours Complet International, or CCI, is a rating for the equestrian sport of eventing. ...
The Fédération Equestre Internationale (commonly known as the FEI, or informally in English as the International Equestrian Federation) is the international governing body of equestrian (horse) sports. ...
"Badminton" takes place in May each year in the park of Badminton House the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in Gloucestershire, England. The event started in 1949. The current course designer and director is Hugh Thomas, who took over from one of the sport's most famous faces Frank Weldon, (himself a previous winner) in 1989. Frank is arguably the man who developed the event into the pinnacle of Three Day Eventing today. However, Hugh Thomas has recently come under fire following 2007's events, where poor organisation, outdated facilities and dreadfully hard ground resulted in 22 withdrawals, including World Champion Zara Phillips. Many have now stated that they want Hugh Thomas to resign, and that the event can no longer rely on its status as the World's Most Important Horse Trials, while others around it improve. Speculation is that Sue Benson, herself a runner up who is designing the London 2012 Olympic Course, may also design at Badminton soon. Badminton House is a large country house in Gloucestershire, England, and has been the principal seat of the Dukes of Beaufort since the late 17th century. ...
Arms of the Duke of Beaufort Arms of the Earls of Worcester The title of Duke of Beaufort in the Peerage of England was created by Charles II in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, illegitimate son of Henry...
Gloucestershire (pronounced ; GLOSS-ter-sher) is a county in South West England. ...
For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...
The cross country day at Badminton attracts crowds of up to a quarter of a million, which are the largest for any paid-entry sport event in the United Kingdom.
Together with the four-star rated Rolex Kentucky Three Day and The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Badminton forms the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. The remaining CCI**** rated events are the Luhmühlen Horse Trials, the Adelaide Horse Trials and the Stars of Pau.
The Rolex Kentucky Three Day is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. ...
The Luhmühlen Horse Trials are an annual equestrian eventing competition held in Luhmühlen, Germany. ...
Adelaide International Horse Trials is an annual three-day event held in Gawler, Australia. ...
History
In 1948 the Olympic Games - the first of the post War era - were held in Great Britain, based in London. The Three Day Event took place at Aldershot, with the Cross Country at Barossa, Camberley. A British team competed, without much success - before the War the competition had been largely confined to cavalry officers and the only training for the team was their normal cavalry exercises. Women were naturally not allowed to take part! The 10th Duke of Beaufort attended the event as a spectator and immediately recognised that the hunting and racing traditions in Britain should enable riders to do well in this Olympic competition. He suggested that an annual competition be organised on his Estate at Badminton, to give riders experience and assist in the training and selection of an Olympic team. The Duke was involved with horses all his life - his major passion being fox hunting. He was Master of the Horse for the Royal Family, responsible for the organisation of the equine side of all ceremonial occasions. He asked the recently formed British Horse Society to organise the proposed Trials and Col Trevor Horn agreed to act as Director, assisted by Col "Babe" Mosely. The Badminton Estate has been in the possession of the Beaufort family since 1608. The family itself is descended from John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III. The house and parkland date from the 17th and early 18th centuries, when huge expenditure for the times produced the house as we see it today and the park modelled by William Kent and Capability Brown. Badminton in the 20th century was probably best known as the centre of fox hunting for the whole country - the 10th Duke being seen as the expert on all matters relating to hound breeding and the art and science of the chase.
Organisation It was the 10th Duke of Beaufort - Master - whose idea it was to hold an event in his Gloucestershire park in order that British riders could train for future international events. The first event was held in 1949. When Golden Willow won the first Badminton in 1949, there were 22 starters from two countries, Britain and Ireland. In 2004 there were approximately 100 entries, with 30 coming from overseas, representing 11 nations. There were 82 starters. Since then Great Britain has won three team golds and two individual gold medals in the Olympics; four team golds and four individual gold medals in the World Championships, and no fewer than 18 team golds and 17 individual gold medals in the European Championships. For the first 10 years, the dressage and show-jumping arenas were sited on the old cricket ground in front of Badminton House. Torrential rain in 1959 turned the park into a sea of mud and the arenas and tradestands were moved to the present site. The very first European Championships were staged at Badminton in 1953. The winner was Major Laurence Rook on Starlight XV. The Trials were first televised in 1956. in 2005 there were some 16 cameras covering the event for the Outside Broadcasts Unit of the BBC. In 1955, the Trials were moved to Windsor for one year at the invitation of The Queen, to hold the 2nd European Championships. In 1956, the Steeplechase course was moved from the Didmarton point-to-point course to the present site at The Slaits. In 1959 it was decided to run the Trials in two sections - The Great and Little Badminton. This was due to the popularity of the sport and the number of entries. This was abandoned after the 1965 competition, since when there have always been two days of dressage. In 1961, Messrs. Whitbread took over the sponsorship of the Badminton Horse Trials and this continued until 1991, one of the longest sponsorships for any sport. Bad weather has forced the cancellation of the Trials on three occasions - in 1966, 1975 and 1987. The terrible weather of 1962/63 which continued into the spring, forced Badminton to down-grade to a one day event. Foot and Mouth disease caused the cancellation of the 2001 Event. Mitsubishi-Motors, importers of Mitsubishi vehicles to the United Kingdom, & based in Cirencester, took over the sponsorship in 1992, initially for three years. The three year contract is worth in the region of £1 million and the riders compete for the silver Mitsubishi Motors Trophy designed and produced by the Wiltshire-based sculptress, Judy Boyt. The continued sponsorship of Mitsubishi Motors is now up to, and including, the year 2007. Mark Todd (New Zealand), on Bertie Blunt, rode two-thirds of the 1995 cross-country course with only one stirrup. The horse was unfortunately eliminated at the final Horse Inspection the following day. The following year, the partnership won the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton title. It was in 1981 that the Inspection of Horses moved to the North front of Badminton House. Until that time, it had always taken place in the courtyard of the stables at Badminton. An Armada Dish is awarded to any rider who completes the competition five times. In 2005 Armada Dishes were presented to Matt Ryan (Aus), Eric Smiley (Irl) and Kristina Cook. The prize money for the inaugural 1949 event was £150 to the winner and a total of about £500 in all; by 1965 this had 'progressed' to £250 and £750 in all; in 1975 to £1,000 and £3,500 in all; in 1985 to £5,000 and £15,000 in all; in 1995 it was £22,500 and £92,000 overall. At the 2007 competition the winner will take home £55,000. The car parks, tradestands, arena and cross country courses fit into an area of approximately 6 square kilometres (1500 acres) of Badminton Park. Directors of Badminton Horse Trials: Lt. Colonel Trevor Horn 1949-56 Lt. Colonel Gordon Cox Cox, 1957-64 Lt. Colonel Frank Weldon,1965-88 Mr. Hugh Thomas, 1989-present day
The late Colonel Frank Weldon, MVO., MBE., MC., was associated with the "Great Event" as a competitor, Official and Director for 36 years.
Fence builders at Badminton - Charlie Chapple; George Stoneham and Alan Willis; Alan Willis and Gilbert Thornbury; Alan Willis and his sons, James and Tim, now also assisted by Levi Ryckewaerts from Belgium who lives in Malmesbury and works full time with the Willis Bros. Alan and his sons are now internationally acclaimed and were coursebuilders at the Sydney Olympics in the year 2000 and built the World Equestrian Games course for 2002. , Malmesbury is a south Cotswold town and civil parish in south west England in the county of Wiltshire. ...
The Games of the XXVII Olympiad were held in 2000 in Sydney, Australia. ...
The World Equestrian Games are the world championship for Equestrianism, administrered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale. ...
Interesting Facts The first Badminton in 1949 advertised itself with immense foresight as "the most important horse event in Great Britain".
Badminton was the second three-day event to be run in Britain. The first was its inspiration - the 1948 Olympics.
The crowd at the first Badminton was estimated at 6,000 and the event made a handsome profit of £20. Exact numbers are now hard to gauge but overall figures for the four days certainly exceed 150,000.
In 1949 the admittance fee for a 26 seater charabanc was £2/10/-, pedestrians 1/-.
Golden Willow, ridden by John Shedden caused a sensation in 1949 when he clean jumped the Irish Bank on the way to an historic victory.
In that year, eight of the 22 starters failed to get past the cross-country phase, including the valiant Brigadier J. Scott-Coburn, who was the three times winner of the Kadir Cup, the pig-sticking blue riband of India.
Badminton was first televised in 1954.
Only one continental rider has won Badminton - Switzerland's Hans Schwarzenbach on Vae Victis in 1951. The Swiss were first, fourth, sixth and ninth, despite the fact that their horses hadn't jumped for eight months due to the Swiss winter - they were just very obedient.
The maximum dimensions for cross-country fences have remained unchanged since 1912.
Badminton was held at Windsor in 1955 by invitation of the Queen. The trials hosted the European championships, which were won by Col. Frank Weldon and Kilbarry.
Badminton's host, the current Duke of Beaufort, as Mr. David Somerset, was runner-up in 1959 riding Countryman III. The current Director, Hugh Thomas, was also a runner up - in 1976.
The oldest winner was Chris Bartle on Word Perfect. He was 46 and 80 days, just a few days more than Australia's Laurie Morgan.
Only two people, Australia's Bill Roycroft and Britain's Lorna Sutherland (now Mrs. Clarke), have ridden round three times in one day which, including the steeplechase, would have required about 120 jumps and nearly 50 miles (80 km) of riding. This feat can never be repeated because the rules now only allow a maximum of two rides.
Until 1967 the speed and endurance day also included a run in Phase E after the cross-country.
In the early years of the event it was quite normal for horses and riders to arrive at the trials by train.
The event has been rained off three times: in 1966, in 1975 and in 1987. It was a close run thing in 1951 when three separate courses were built during the wet spring and the final rails of the eventual track were only put in place the night before the cross country.
In 1963 the event only continued under one day event rules. The weather was so bad that communications broke down completely; the Horse and Hound correspondent stood at the last fence for 10 minutes without realising it had been cut; Switzerland's Dr. Koechlin got lost and Frank Weldon's horse cart wheeled over fence two.
The dressage leader has won 11 times: Frank Weldon (Kilbarry, 1955 Windsor, and in 1956); Sheila Wilcox (High & Mighty 1957, 1958); Anneli Drummond-Hay (Merely a Monarch 1962); Eddi Boylan (Durlas Eile, 1965); Richard Meade (The Poacher, 1970); Mark Phillips (Great Ovation 1971); Lucinda Green (Beagle Bay 1984); Mary Thomson (King William 1992); Ginny Leng (Welton Houdini 1993).
From 1959 until 1965 the competition was split into two sections. The "Little Badminton" competitors jumped the same course as those for Great Badminton but the sections were graded on horses' money winnings.
With increasing crowds it was decided that the cross-country day should be put back to Friday in 1974. This unpopular departure was put right when the event returned after the 1975 cancellation.
Lorna Clarke (formerly Sutherland) holds the record for competing on the most occasions - 23.
The Poacher is the only horse to have won both Little Badminton (with his owner Martin Whiteley in 1965) and Great Badminton (with Richard Meade in 1970).
Worcester Lodge, at the top of the avenue leading north from Badminton House and for many years a landmark for riders on the Roads and Tracks, was allegedly built by a previous Duke as a "pleasure dome", where he would entertain a mistress before cantering back down Worcester Avenue to Badminton for breakfast.
The youngest winner was Richard Walker with Pasha in 1969. Richard was 18 at the time.
In 1969 the dressage leaders, Bertie Hill and Chicago fell on the steeplechase. Next year they were eliminated for taking the wrong show jumping course while lying handily in third place.
In 1972 Richard Meade, show jumping last with Laurieston and needing a clear round to win, left every pole intact but was so cautious he got 1.25 time penalties to lose by just 0.65 to Mark Phillips and Great Ovation.
In 1973 the coffin at fence three penalised well over half of the field.
Jane Holderness-Roddam's victory on Warrior in 1978 was immortalised by the resident poet of Private Eye, E. Jarvis Thribb.
The shopping centre of the tradestands can provide, in a smaller area, probably more goods than any capital in the world.
The permanent Badminton horse trials office which temporarily moves to the show ground for the event used to be the Badminton village blacksmith's shop.
Eleanor Brennan was the youngest person to complete Badminton, in 2005, on Bailey Zwei, she placed 44th out of ninety.
Winners In 1988, Ian Stark became the only rider to date to gain first and second places with Sir Wattie, first, and Glenburnie, second. Sheila Willcox (Mrs. J. Waddington) is the only rider to have achieved a hat-trick of wins with High and Mighty in 1957 and 1958, and on Airs and Graces in 1959. She almost set up a remarkable four-timer when, in 1956 on High and Mighty, she was runner up to Colonel Frank Weldon on Kilbarry. She did win a fourth Badminton title winning Little Badminton on Glenamoy in 1964. The smallest horses Our Solo (Australia) in 1960, and Our Nobby, ridden by Jane Bullen (now Mrs. Tim Holderness-Roddam) in 1968. Both were 15 hh. The biggest horses to take the Badminton title have been Durlas Eile, Major E.A. Boylan (Ireland) in 1965, Columbus, Captain Mark Phillips in 1974, Custom Made, David O'Connor (USA) and Word Perfect II, Christ Bartle in 1998. All were 17 hh. The youngest rider to win at Badminton is Richard Walker, aged 18 and 247 days, when he rode Pasha to win in 1969. The youngest horse winning at Badminton was the five year-old Golden Willow, ridden by John Shedden in the very first year of the competition. Nowadays 7 years is the minimum age for all competing horses. The oldest rider to win at Badminton is Andrew Hoy in 2006 aged 47. The oldest horse to win the Championship is Lynn Bevan's Horton Point, 16 years, ridden by Mark Todd (New Zealand) in 1994. Three grey horses have been successful since the start of the event - Columbus, Captain Mark Phillips, in 1974, Beagle Bay, Lucinda Green, in 1984, and Welton Houdini, Ginny Leng, in 1993. Golden Willow is the youngest horse to ever win the Badminton Horse Trials. ...
Tony Collins was a runningback in the National Football League in the mid 1980s. ...
This article is about the English town. ...
Shelia Wilcox is a Britain-born eventer who won many notional and international three-day events, including the Badminton Horse Trials and the European Championships. ...
Shelia Wilcox is a Britain-born eventer who won many notional and international three-day events, including the Badminton Horse Trials and the European Championships. ...
Shelia Wilcox is a Britain-born eventer who won many notional and international three-day events, including the Badminton Horse Trials and the European Championships. ...
Bill Roycroft (born March 17, 1915 in Flowerdale, Victoria) is a former Olympic Games equestrian champion who competed for Australia in five Olympic Games: 1960 Summer Olympics, 1964 Summer Olympics, 1968 Summer Olympics, 1972 Summer Olympics, and 1976 Summer Olympics. ...
Laurie Morgan is the Chief Minister of Guernsey. ...
Richard Walker is most known for being the youngest rider ever to win the Badminton Horse Trials. ...
For other persons named Richard Meade, see Richard Meade (disambiguation). ...
Mark Antony Peter Phillips (born September 22, 1948), former Olympic gold-medal-winning horseman, was the first husband of Anne, Princess Royal. ...
Mark Antony Peter Phillips (born September 22, 1948), former Olympic gold-medal-winning horseman, was the first husband of Anne, Princess Royal. ...
This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...
Mark Antony Peter Phillips (born September 22, 1948), former Olympic gold-medal-winning horseman, was the first husband of Anne, Princess Royal. ...
This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...
This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...
This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...
Mark Todd (born March 1, 1956)(height 172) is a New Zealand horseman who was voted Rider of the 20th Century by the International Equestrian Federation, (Fédération Equestre Internationale). ...
Mark Antony Peter Phillips (born September 22, 1948), former Olympic gold-medal-winning horseman, was the first husband of Anne, Princess Royal. ...
For other persons named Richard Meade, see Richard Meade (disambiguation). ...
This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...
This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...
Virginia Leng (Ginny Holgate) is a British-born eventer who has won several national and international titles, including European Champion, winner of the Badminton Horse Trials and winner of the Burghley Horse Trials. ...
Priceless was a horse ridden by British rider Virginia Leng. ...
Ian Stark is an equestrian who competes in the sport of eventing. ...
Ian Stark is an equestrian who competes in the sport of eventing. ...
Virginia Leng (Ginny Holgate) is a British-born eventer who has won several national and international titles, including European Champion, winner of the Badminton Horse Trials and winner of the Burghley Horse Trials. ...
Mary King, born 1961 June 8 in Sidmouth, Devon, is a world class equestrian sportswoman. ...
Virginia Leng (Ginny Holgate) is a British-born eventer who has won several national and international titles, including European Champion, winner of the Badminton Horse Trials and winner of the Burghley Horse Trials. ...
Mark Todd (born March 1, 1956)(height 172) is a New Zealand horseman who was voted Rider of the 20th Century by the International Equestrian Federation, (Fédération Equestre Internationale). ...
Bruce Oram Davidson (born December 31, 1949 in Rome, New York) is an American equestrian who competes in the sport of eventing. ...
Stream Lion is an event horse that has competed at the highest level of the sport with great success. ...
Mark Todd (born March 1, 1956)(height 172) is a New Zealand horseman who was voted Rider of the 20th Century by the International Equestrian Federation, (Fédération Equestre Internationale). ...
David OConnor is a well known equestrian rider who competes in eventing competitions. ...
Custom Made is a horse that was ridden by American David OConnor at the international level in the sport of eventing. ...
Christopher Bartle is a British equestrian who has had great success in both dressage and eventing. ...
Ian Stark is an equestrian who competes in the sport of eventing. ...
Mary King, born 1961 June 8 in Sidmouth, Devon, is a world class equestrian sportswoman. ...
Notice telling people to keep off the North York Moors. ...
Pippa Funnell MBE, born 7 October 1968, in Crowborough, East Sussex, is a world class equestrian sportswoman. ...
Supreme Rock Riden By Pippa Funnell - Retired In 2005 at Badminton Horse Trials Won 2 European Titles Back To Back - The Only Horse To Have Done So 1999 Luhmühlen, Germany 2001 Pau, France He Also Won Badminton Horse Trials Twice 2002 and 2003 He Was a Member Of The...
Pippa Funnell MBE, born 7 October 1968, in Crowborough, East Sussex, is a world class equestrian sportswoman. ...
Supreme Rock Riden By Pippa Funnell - Retired In 2005 at Badminton Horse Trials Won 2 European Titles Back To Back - The Only Horse To Have Done So 1999 Luhmühlen, Germany 2001 Pau, France He Also Won Badminton Horse Trials Twice 2002 and 2003 He Was a Member Of The...
William Fox-Pitt is a British three-day eventing rider. ...
Tamarillo is a horse that has excelled in the sport of eventing under rider William Fox-Pitt. ...
Pippa Funnell MBE, born 7 October 1968, in Crowborough, East Sussex, is a world class equestrian sportswoman. ...
Andrew Hoy competing at the 2005 Rolex Kentucy Three Day Event, riding Yeomans Point. ...
Lucinda Fredericks nee Murray (born September 28th 1967) is a champion equestrian sportswoman competing at the highest levels of equestrian eventing. ...
Headley Britannia, stable name Brit, is a mare competing at the highest levels of the equestrian sport of eventing. ...
Merry Sovereign, ridden by Clarissa Strachan, is the only horse to have completed the Badminton course six times in successive years, 1976 - 1981. Completed Badminton the most times - Andrew Nicholson (NZL) is the new holder of this record with 23 times. Previously Lorna Clarke held the record with 22 times. Lorna retired after the 1992 event. Riding three horses in the same competition at Badminton has been achieved twice. Bill Roycroft (Australia) rode Eldorado, Stoney Crossing and Avatar in 1965. Roycroft was second on Eldorado and sixth on Stoney Crossing which, the previous month was third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup behind Arkle and Mill House. Five years later in 1970, Lorna Sutherland, now Lorna Clarke, also rode three horses on the same day - Popadom, Gypsy Flame and The Dark Horse. Riders are now restricted to riding no more than two horses in the same competition. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race in the United Kingdom for five-year-old and above horses. ...
Arkle (19 April 1957 - 31 May 1970) was a famous Irish race horse. ...
Mill House was an English-bred racehorse. ...
[Headline text]
Riders The name Andrew Downes can refer to two people: Andrew Downes (composer) (b. ...
Tony Collins was a runningback in the National Football League in the mid 1980s. ...
Shelia Wilcox is a Britain-born eventer who won many notional and international three-day events, including the Badminton Horse Trials and the European Championships. ...
Bill Roycroft (born March 17, 1915 in Flowerdale, Victoria) is a former Olympic Games equestrian champion who competed for Australia in five Olympic Games: 1960 Summer Olympics, 1964 Summer Olympics, 1968 Summer Olympics, 1972 Summer Olympics, and 1976 Summer Olympics. ...
Laurie Morgan is the Chief Minister of Guernsey. ...
Richard Walker is most known for being the youngest rider ever to win the Badminton Horse Trials. ...
For other persons named Richard Meade, see Richard Meade (disambiguation). ...
This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...
Mark Antony Peter Phillips (born September 22, 1948), former Olympic gold-medal-winning horseman, was the first husband of Anne, Princess Royal. ...
Mark Todd (born March 1, 1956)(height 172) is a New Zealand horseman who was voted Rider of the 20th Century by the International Equestrian Federation, (Fédération Equestre Internationale). ...
Mark Antony Peter Phillips (born September 22, 1948), former Olympic gold-medal-winning horseman, was the first husband of Anne, Princess Royal. ...
For other persons named Richard Meade, see Richard Meade (disambiguation). ...
Ian Stark is an equestrian who competes in the sport of eventing. ...
Mary King is the name of a number of individuals. ...
Virginia Leng (Ginny Holgate) is a British-born eventer who has won several national and international titles, including European Champion, winner of the Badminton Horse Trials and winner of the Burghley Horse Trials. ...
Bruce Oram Davidson (born December 31, 1949 in Rome, New York) is an American equestrian who competes in the sport of eventing. ...
Mark Todd (born March 1, 1956)(height 172) is a New Zealand horseman who was voted Rider of the 20th Century by the International Equestrian Federation, (Fédération Equestre Internationale). ...
David OConnor is a well known equestrian rider who competes in eventing competitions. ...
Christopher Bartle is a British equestrian who has had great success in both dressage and eventing. ...
Ian Stark is an equestrian who competes in the sport of eventing. ...
Mary King is the name of a number of individuals. ...
Pippa Funnell MBE, born 7 October 1968, in Crowborough, East Sussex, is a world class equestrian sportswoman. ...
William Fox-Pitt is a British three-day eventing rider. ...
Andrew Hoy competing at the 2005 Rolex Kentucy Three Day Event, riding Yeomans Point. ...
Lucinda Fredericks nee Murray (born September 28th 1967) is a champion equestrian sportswoman competing at the highest levels of equestrian eventing. ...
Casualties 2007 - Skwal ridden by Andrew Downes died of a suspected heart attack in the finishing ring
- Icare d’Auzay ridden by Jean-Lou Bigot died after a fence flag marker pole pierced an artery.
References - Badminton Horse Trials – "Past Winners"
- Badminton Horse Trials – "Horse Fatalities"
External links - Badminton Horse Trials website
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