Oliver Townend loses licence after admitting drink driving

Oliver Townend will have to be driven to Tattersalls International Horse Trials, near Dublin (31 May-3 June) – after losing his licence for drink driving.

The 29-year-old – who is taking six horses, including Armada and ODT Sonas Rovatio, to the Irish three-day event – admitted drink-driving last week.

He was pulled over by police while driving excessively fast in his Mercedes SLK300 on 3 May.

He was found to have 61 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath when stopped in Dudleston Heath, Shrops – almost twice the legal limit.

Oliver, from Ellesmere, Shrops, admitted drink driving at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court on Monday, 21 May.

JPs imposed a two-year driving ban and ordered him to pay £110 fine, £85 costs and £15 victim charge.

Oliver said he had “made a mistake”.

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