Badminton Grand Slam showdown — whose team are you on?
There’s only one question dividing the Horse & Hound office this week — are you Team Andrew Nicholson, or Team William Fox-Pitt?
For the first time, two riders are in the running for the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam prize at Badminton (3-6 May) simultaneously. To commemorate the occasion, and allow you to show your support, Horse & Hound have produced t-shirts featuring the message “Team William” or “Team Andrew”.
The t-shirts, which cost £8, are on sale at the Horse & Hound stand at Badminton (stand 8) from Friday 3 May.
To pocket the £229,275, a rider has to win Badminton, Burghley and Lexington four-star events on the trot. This is the first time the climax of the Grand Slam has been contested at Badminton. It’s also the first time two riders have been in the running at one event. This is only possible due toBadminton’s cancellation last year, which meant Rolex rolled the prize over to the following year.
Pippa Funnell is the only rider to win the Rolex Grand Slam,taking all three events in 2003. Andrew Hoy and Oliver Townend have both won two out of three events, but where Andrew came second at the last element, Oliver fell.
Badminton final scores
This year’s contenders will need all the support they can get. It’s time to pick a side, pledge your allegiance and get round that water jump in support of one of two of the greatest riders of all time.
Tweet @horseandhound with a picture of you in your team t-shirt at Badminton with #HHTEAMWILLIAM or #HHTEAMANDREW. Our favourite picture will win a three-month H&H digital subscription. Pictures may also appear in the H&H Live at Badminton service.
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