Celebrating 75 years, we are gearing up for a truly prestigious Badminton Horse Trials presented by Mars Equestrian
With anticipation and excitement swirling there was only one way we could begin our coverage, because it’s going to cross the mind of every person who walks through those gates and those watching at home. Can they do it? Can they win the Grand Slam?
We are of course talking about Oliver Townend (Official) and Ballaghmor Class.
This past weekend, Oliver and Cooley Rosalent won a hotly contested Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event and Oliver achieved his milestone 100th five-star start (achieved only by Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt). The World Number One has since withdrawn Tregilder from Badminton, leaving him to pilot the 17yr old grey owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan in their fifth trip to Badminton together.
The Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing has only been achieved twice since its conception in 1999, with Pippa Funnell (GBR) winning in 2003 and Michael Jung (GER) in 2015/16. It is an accolade given to any event rider who can win Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky consecutively, in any order.
We are cautious of adding to the pressure, no doubt Oliver will be aware that all eyes are on him and Thomas. We do, however, want them both to know that we are supporting them and will be riding every step with them and that, irrespective of the final results, they are and have always been a champion team and have already cemented their legacy in our sport.
The pair have twice won Burghley (2017 & 2023), won Kentucky (2021) and brought home Team Gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. They have never finished outside of the top five at Badminton (twice runner up and twice fifth) and what a dream it would be to see them take the win!
In the immortal words of Julia Roberts ~ โWe want the fairy taleโ
