Badminton Horse Trials prizes: all about the Mark Holliday Memorial Trophy
We continue our build-up to Badminton Horse Trials honours by finding out about the grooms’ trophy and speaking to Imogen Mercer, groom of 2015 Badminton winner Paulank Brockagh
The Mark Holliday Memorial Trophy at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials goes to the groom of the winning horse.
The trophy was first awarded in 1994. Mark’s parents and his brother John gave it in memory of Mark, who was killed riding across country at Hexham Horse Trials in June 1993.
Mark, who was 23 at the time of his death, had been head groom to Ian Stark and his duties had included caring for Murphy Himself and Glenburnie at the Barcelona Olympics.
Last year’s winner of the trophy was Imogen Mercer (pictured), the groom of Sam Griffiths’ ride Paulank Brockagh.
Imogen, 22, joined Sam’s yard as a working pupil initially for her gap year, but took over as head girl after a year and is now in her fourth season with the Griffiths’.
Badminton final scores
“I really enjoy working for Sam and [his wife] Lucy — they are so supportive and want it to be a fun place to work,” she says. “Sam wants everyone to get the best out of working here.”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Imogen has groomed at Badminton twice — in 2013 when Happy Times and Paulank Brockagh both completed and last year.
“The whole competition last year showed the best of ‘Brocks’ and of Sam,” says Imogen. “She gives her all for everything and it was exactly what she and Sam deserved.
“After she had showjumped I was with Brocks and people kept coming up and telling us where we were — when we heard we were third we were like, ‘Top three, that’s amazing’.
“Sam and [overnight leader] Paul Tapner are great friends, so Sam wanted the best for Paul and we would have been very happy to be second. But then Chris Burton came running over and said, ‘You’ve won Badminton!’ It was pretty surreal — I couldn’t laugh, couldn’t cry, I didn’t know what to do.”
Happy Times and Paulank Brockagh both head to Badminton again this year.
“It’s strange to think she’s just Brocks on the yard, but she’s a Badminton winner,” concludes Imogen. “That’s an odd feeling in the horse you look after every day. But she’s a sweet horse to care for and knows she’s top of the ranks. She keeps herself to herself and doesn’t like a huge amount of fuss.”
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.