Townend to be the pathfinder at Badminton

THE final preparations have been completed and today riders will be arriving for the start of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials tomorrow.

Cross-country day is on Easter Sunday and leading the way as pathfinder will be former winner Oliver Townend.

He is likely to ride his Burghley winner, Carousel Quest, first and then his second ride, Ashdale Cruise Master, later in the day. ODT Master Rose, who had also been entered, is now likely to go to Luhmulen.

Townend won at Badminton in 2009 riding Flint Curtis.

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Other former winners who will be competing at this leading event include William Fox-Pitt, Pippa Funnell, Mark Todd, Mary King and Paul Tapner, who won last year.

William Fox-Pitt has three final entries to choose from, Navigator, Seacookie and Cool Mountain.

Mark Todd’s likely rides from a choice of three are NZB Grass Valley and NZB Land Vision.

Nicola Wilson will be leaving home near Northallerton today to travel to Badminton with Opposition Buzz and Bee Diplomatic.

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Nicola has an early place in the draw, at 14th, with Bee Diplomatic, who will be competing in his first four-star event.

He was placed 10th at Bramham last year.

Both horses are bred and owned by Rosemary Search, who is based near Wetherby.

“It’s quite an achievement for Rosemary to have two horses she has bred competing at Badminton at the same time,” said Nicola.

Nicola says her gold medal-winning partner at last year’s World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, Opposition Buzz, is on really good form.

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He has been drawn to run later in the day on Sunday, at number 115.

“He was eighth at Badminton last year and seventh the year before, so it would be lovely to go as well, or even better.

“I’m just looking forward to getting there and starting the competition,” continued Nicola.

She will be doing a regular update on her progress at Badminton, featuring it on her website, www.nicolawilsoneventing.co.uk.

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There will be red-button coverage on BBC television on Sunday and highlights and the final showjumping rounds will be televised on BBC2 on Monday afternoon.

Badmintion starts early today for competitors in the Mitsubshi Motors Grassroots Championships.

This gives riders from many different walks of life a chance to compete at this major event, with a prize-giving in front of Badminton House tomorrow at 5.30pm.

Winners from BE 90 and BE 100 regional qualifiers held in different parts of the country will do dressage today and tomorrow when the showjumping and cross-country phases will also take place.

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Riders from Yorkshire who have qualified include Hettie Cust, from York, riding Dolce Vita II and Alexandra Farrar-Fry, from Dewsbury, riding Diamond Trefoil.

Last year’s winners were veterinary student Jack Day (BE 100) and Amy Dixon, who is a staff nurse (BE 90).

MORE than 6,000 people attended the recent two-day Parelli Celebration event at the LG Arena in Birmingham.

The team launched the new Horsenality/Humanality report and demonstrated how to work with horses’ different temperaments, such as extrovert and introvert personalities.

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The event also featured the last United Kingdom performance by Pat Parelli’s famous horse, Magic, now aged 20.

SOME new arrivals will be adding to the Easter celebrations at World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm rescue centre near Blackpool this weekend.

Four mares at the farm have recently given birth to foals which have been named Lilly, Hector, Unique and Yogi.

Visitors will be able to see the mares and their foals over the weekend when the charity is holding open days from Good Friday until Easter Monday.

For more information call 01253 766983 or go to www.worldhorsewlefare.org.

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