Meet Badminton’s special prize winners – from post-dressage climbers to a British-bred star
Who won the Badminton Horse Trials special prizes, at last week’s event presented by Mars Equestrian? Check out our complete list…
Butler Bowl, to the highest-placed British rider: Ros Canter
Ros and Lordships Graffalo won the event, finishing on 35.3, 15 penalties ahead of second place, which is the largest winning margin at Badminton since the days of eventing’s traditional long format, when the sport included roads and tracks and steeplechase.
“People say it’s fulfilling a dream, but I don’t know if I even dreamt I could do it. It will take a long time to sink in,” said Ros after her victory.
Badminton final scores
Laurence Rook Trophy, to the best British rider who has not previously completed Badminton: Kristina Hall-Jackson
Kristina finished 29th on CMS Google, incurring a couple of refusals on the cross-country and rolling just one pole in the showjumping.
“It’s a bit frustrating when I make little mistakes, but I’m only human,” said Kristina.“ Google is amazing at her job and I can’t fault her. I’ve produced her all the way through and we have such an amazing connection.”
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Worshipful Company of Saddlers’ saddle, to the rider with the best score who is under 25 on 1 January 2023 and who has not previously won a Company saddle in the calendar year: Bubby Upton
Twenty-four-year-old Bubby got redemption on her final fence refusal last year with Cola, jumping clear with 24.8 time-faults, which was enough to move her to eighth from 31st after the dressage. They then added eight faults in the showjumping to finish a creditable eighth.
Glentrool Trophy, to the horse and rider who have made greatest improvement on their dressage placing: Luc Château and Viens Du Mont, who moved up from 56th place to 11th
Luc’s impressive cross-country round for the third fastest time of the day (21.6 time-faults) on Viens Du Mont pulled them up the leaderboard to take this trophy.
Frank Weldon Memorial Trophy, to the rider of youngest British-owned and ridden horse in top 12: Ros Canter for 11-year-old Lordships Graffalo
The winner Lordships Graffalo is probably the horse most people wanted to take home from this Badminton.
“He’s the ultimate event horse; it’s what he lives and breathes for. He’s a busy little character when he’s not being ridden, so this job fits him perfectly,” said Ros.
Cotswold Life Trophy, to the top local rider: Tom Rowland
Tom collected the local rider prize for his sixth place – he is based near Cirencester.
The William Miflin Memorial Trophy, to the rider of the horse with no cross-country jumping penalties and closest to optimum time: Austin O’Connor with Colorado Blue
Colorado Blue finished 26 seconds over the 11min 35sec optimum time, with Austin saying: “He’s full of class. He’s one of the best horses in the world, in my opinion. It was a lot more difficult a round than I would normally have, but he dug deep and kept galloping.”
Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain prize, to the owner of best horse sired by a SHB(GB) graded stallion or premium stallion, provided it is in the top 12: Michele and Archie Saul for Lordships Graffalo
Lordships Graffalo is by the Trakehner Stallion, Grafenstolz, who has sired many leading British Breeding Futurity young event horses and is currently standing third in the World Breeding Federation of Sport Horses eventing sires.
The British Horse Foundation £1000, to the breeder of the highest-placed British-bred horse, provided it finished in the top 20: Lordships Stud for Lordships Graffalo
Lordships Graffalo was bred by the Lordships Stud at Writtle College in Essex, who were loaned his dam, Cornish Queen, by owner Pennie Wallace of Pencos Sport Horses. Cornish Queen is a daughter of Cornish Faer, who was competed at the top level by Katie Burton (nee Parker). Cornish Queen’s other progeny include the five-star mare Pencos Crown Jewel, by Jumbo, who is ridden by Ros.
Farriers’ Prize, to the owner and farrier of the best shod horse: farrier Greg Elliot for Toledo De Kerser, ridden by Tom McEwen and owned by Alison McEwen, Fred and Penny Barker and Jane Inns
Tom McEwen finished fourth on Toledo De Kerser. The pair went clear with 30.8 time-faults across country and jumped clear on the final day.
“Badminton hasn’t been my luckiest place – I’ve done stupid things all of the time,” said a self-deprecating Tom, who has finished 11th twice and seventh once with Toledo. “He found it so easy, we were just a little bit slow, but you have to look after them when they are older – maybe if Burghley stays dry, it will be perfect for him.”
Stud voucher £500, to the owner of the highest-placed British-owned mare: Chris Stone for Jalapeno
Gemma Stevens finished sixth on Jalapeno, a great result for the 15-year-old mare.
“This Badminton has been a bit of a marathon, but we are happy to be at the end with a happy and sound horse,” said Gemma.
Mark Holliday Memorial Trophy, to the groom of the winner: Sarah Charnley for Lordships Graffalo
David Beaufort Memorial Trophy, to the person who has contributed to the running of the horse trials over many years: Liz Dotesjo
Embryo transfer or ovum pick up session, to the highest-placed British-bred or domiciled mare to be in the top 20%, courtesy of Tomlinson Equine: Jalapeno
Another mares’ prize for Jalapeno – Gemma piloted “Jala”, who is British-bred by Badminton 2015 winner Chilli Morning, to a clear cross-country round with just 4.4 faults in the showjumping to finish sixth.
Breeder of the winner: Lordships Stud for Lordships Graffalo
Winner Lordships Graffalo is by Grafenstolz, out of a mare by Rock King.
Photos by Peter Nixon.
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Ros Canter makes strong bid for first Badminton Horse Trials title with ‘the ultimate event horse’
‘Emotional’ first Badminton completion for rider with horse who jumps out of his field over 1.60m fences
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Mark Phillips: ‘Riding standards and horsemanship is in decline’
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Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.