Former British team stalwart Daisy Berkeley has returned to compete at Mars Badminton Horse Trials after a 16-year gap, scoring 32.9 with Diese Du Figuier to sit equal 23rd after her test on the second day of dressage (Friday 8 May).

Daisy last rode at Badminton in 2010 on Spring Along – the cheeky little bay who took her to European team gold, world team silver and Olympic team bronze – finishing third.

“If I got a fiver for every time someone mentioned that, I wouldn’t need to win this,” Daisy said. “Last time I was wearing a top hat – on Spring Along, and he finished third. I thought, ‘That’ll do me, I don’t need to come back here.’ And here I am again.”

The “petite, but beautifully balanced” 13-year-old gelding Diese Du Figuier, second at Blenheim CCI4*-L in 2024, was making his five-star debut.

Badminton final scores

“It was a really good start,” said Daisy. “I think I probably slightly underrode him in his changes – they’re normally just really spot on and beautiful, and I was a bit wet, which meant they weren’t as good as they could be. He did a little head toss in his walk, and that brought us down to a five.

“He’s such a spooky horse in real life. I can’t walk him on the grounds where it’s wetter in one area, he can’t go near it. If he’s in an arena and someone’s harrowed it, the floor is lava. So to go in there with all that going on and not bat an eyelid, I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Daisy had originally planned to take Diese to Pau last autumn, but a training setback intervened.

“I said to his owner, ‘Let’s just run him at Burnham,’” she said. “And he went double clear. I thought, ‘Badminton is only up the road, rather than carting him all the way to the moon. He likes being on grass. He likes jumping on grass. He likes dressage on grass more than he does on a surface. So, why not?’

“If it comes off, brilliant. If it doesn’t – we haven’t found out in Pau.”

Looking ahead to the cross-country on Saturday, Daisy said the long break hadn’t dulled her feel for the place – partly because she’s been at Badminton most years anyway, working with the on-site radio team.

“It really doesn’t feel like that long,” she said. “I’ve been here every year in some capacity – I’ve always walked the course, so I’ve seen it gradually evolve. I’m hoping he’ll show that bit of fight tomorrow and not be too polite.”

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To watch Badminton Horse Trials live or via catch up, including the trot-ups, from the comfort of your home anywhere in the world, you need a 2026 Badminton TV Pass. Badminton TV is once again powered by ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £22.99. Go to badminton-horse.tv to sign up. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. Also check out the Badminton app, which provides free live results and much more this year. Sign up for Badminton Plus membership for £4.99 to access the live Radio Badminton broadcast and receive exclusive offers from on-site exhibitors. Search for Badminton Horse Trials in your app store.

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Tim Price added a first Blenheim title to his already incredible tally of international victories when topping the leaderboard in the 2024 Blenheim Horse Trials results aboard Happy Boy in the CCI4*-L.

The British-based New Zealander had competed at six previous Blenheims prior to this one since he moved to the UK 19 years ago, but until today (22 September), the Blenheim winner’s trophy had eluded him.

Happy Boy, a 12-year-old gelding owned by Susan Lamb and Therese Miller, hadn’t been seen competing internationally since retiring across country at Saumur in May and his 2023 season was plagued with bad luck.

“He’s had a bit of an unlucky last 12 months with bits and bobs like he tied up at one point and then suffered from travel sickness at Luhmühlen,” explained Tim after his dressage, which left him equal fourth on 25.4, a score he added just 1.6 cross-country time-faults to, to seal victory by 5.7 penalties, maintaining his overnight lead in the process.

“I do not take these days for granted. He was cool, wasn’t he?,” said Tim after the showjumping, which was a victim of the weather, with the final 10 horses jumping in deluge of approximately 8mm of rain. “He tried really hard in the ground – the going, especially the treble, had taken a turn for the worse, but he’s a fighter.”

Tim made no secret of the fact Happy Boy was eliminated for three run-outs at a corner in an open intermediate at Cornbury House Horse Trials last week, but said that this horse’s character can sometimes display itself in this way when preparing for a big run.

“That’s often been the way when he’s been on form, where he can get a little tricky and then he’s gone on to do something fun and special,” smiled Tim. “Don’t get me wrong, I was a little bit worried – it wasn’t just one run out – so we went cross-country schooling at Rosamund Green Farm on Monday and had to go through a few things with him, with some repetition, but I was still a bit dubious.”

Following this blip, Tim opted to take one long route during yesterday’s cross-country.

“Thankfully the long route I took at the second water didn’t cost me the win, but that decision was based on our result at Cornbury and our schooling session on Monday.”

Happy Boy is a horse that has shown oodles of promise throughout his career and Tim drew on past experience with him to help net a clear round in today’s showjumping; a course that provided 15 clear rounds inside the time from 58 starters.

“He won the world seven-year-old championships at Le Lion – he was seventh or eighth going into the showjumping that year where the final phase was held on grass [before the event added an all-weather arena] and it was very, very wet and I had that in the back of my head today. Based on that, I had to ride him positively and a bit quicker than I normally would, just to give him confidence that he could jump out of the ground.”

Blenheim Horse Trials results: “I’m over the moon”

Daisy Berkeley secured her best CCI4*-L result since winning this class on Springbok IV in 2006, finishing runner-up with Diese Du Figuier.

“He’s a very good little horse,” said Daisy of this 11-year-old gelding who rose from sixth after the cross-country. “I knew I had to keep motoring with him because the distance was long at the first part of the treble and I’d seen some horses struggle with it, so I just turned the corner and trusted his carefulness as I was very forward to it.

“He jumped beautifully but I did nearly get jumped off at the first fence as I couldn’t grip the saddle in the rain and I thought ‘if I get jumped off after everything we’ve done this week, that would be a disaster!’”

Daisy explained that the decision to compete Diese Du Figuier, who she co-owns with her mother Caroline Dick, Camilla Case and Martha Ivory, came as a result of being unable to complete at Blair Castle last month.

“Coming to Blenheim hadn’t been my original plan – we went to Blair and he was third after cross-country, where he gave me a beautiful round and then he had a bruise, which meant he was too sore to showjump. We re-routed here and I would have been chuffed to bits with a top 10 placing and now I’m over the moon.”

On being the highest placed British rider in this class, Daisy, who is 52, joked: “Probably the oldest too!”

“When I was walking the cross-country, I was thinking ‘I might add a stride here’, but then I thought, actually, just grow a pair and ride him for the distances and trust him to be a good horse and he really was a good horse. It’s lovely to come back here and have a podium finish.”

When asked about the possibility of taking this horse five-star, Daisy said: “I think he would cope but this old lady [referring to herself] might not. I was so nervous before the cross-country – although as soon as I was on him, I was fine, but it’s the build up and I don’t know if my nerves could take it.

“I like watching other people jump round five-stars, but who knows? If he keeps doing what he’s doing, then maybe – my husband might have something to say about it though!”

Germany’s Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice, who led the dressage on 22.8, dropped from second after the cross-country to third after lowering the middle part of the treble – they also picked up .4 of a time-fault to complete on 33.2.

“The whole competition here has been amazing, but the ending was not so good,” said a dejected Jérôme, who, with this 14-year-old gelding, has enjoyed great international success, including finishing seventh individually at last year’s European Eventing Championships. “He got a bit careful warming up because there was water everywhere and then he was not quite sure. He slipped a lot yesterday and he remembered that. He wants to be careful and the ground was slippy again today. In the end I have to be happy though and he kept trying for me.”

The USA’s Jenny Caras capitalised on a fast double jumping clear with Jerry Hollis’ Sommersby to rise from equal 23rd after the first phase into eventual fourth, adding 2.4 cross-country time-penalties to a 32.2 dressage, with the time-faults costing her second place.

“I was hoping to be top 10 – I wanted to do the most competitive test I could and I knew he was capable of finishing close to whatever score he started on,” explained Jenny. “I wasn’t sure where that would leave me, but he’s done what he needed to do and I’m just a little bit annoyed about my time penalties now.”

German rider Calvin Böckmann and the incredibly consistent The Phantom Of The Opera further cemented themselves as a combination that should never be overlooked when finishing fifth.

The 23-year-old, who co-owns this striking chestnut gelding alongside Jason, Liam, Roger and Simone Böckmann, endured something of an up and down week. They entered cross-country day in sixth after a 25.8 dressage, and were it not for activating a frangible device for 11 penalties during their cross-country, could have been challenging for at least second place today. As it was, they came into the showjumping in 13th and an immaculate clear round meant they leapt up the leaderboard.

“In general, I’m very happy with my placing – of course, I’m still gutted thinking about the 11 penalties, but my horse has done so much for me this year and had brilliant results and it wouldn’t be fair if I wasn’t more than grateful and proud and happy about this result,” explained Calvin, who was the alternate for his national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics with this 13-year-old. “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, but I’m very happy and looking forward to maybe coming back here next year.”

The next two places in the Blenheim Horse Trials showjumping results were filled by Alex Bragg, who dropped from fourth to sixth after picking up 8.8 penalties in the showjumping with Ardeo Premier, and Tom McEwen, who finished seventh with James and Jo Lambert’s promising 10-year-old mare Isa, a relatively new ride, who is one to be noted for the future.

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New Zealand’s Tim Price and Happy Boy have cemented their place at the top of the Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country results with a clear round, clocking just 1.6 time-faults around a track where only one combination finished inside the optimum time.

Happy Boy, a 12-year-old owned by Susan Lamb and Therese Miller, hasn’t been seen competing internationally since retiring across country at Saumur in May and his 2023 season was plagued with bad luck.

“He’s had a bit of an unlucky last 12 months with bits and bobs like he tied up at one point and then suffered from travel sickness at Luhmühlen,” explained Tim after his dressage, which left him equal fourth.

Tim opted to take the long route at fence 15abcd, the James Hallam Insurance Brokers water complex, which prevented him from finishing inside the optimum time around the David Evans-designed track.

“I was deciding all the way up to fence 15 about going long. He hasn’t had the smoothest 18 months with things getting in the way of play, so step one was to get him back on track with a good round and step two was to make good decisions based on him being a bit of a cheeky chappy sometimes,” said Tim, who also holds eighth after the cross-country with his own, Diane Brunsden, Peter Cattell and Lucy and Ben Sangster’s Chio 20.

“I found Happy Boy was galloping so well and got into three-day event mode, as opposed to ducking and diving at one-day events. The clock was looking good but he was also travelling so well, I was in two minds about taking the direct route, because he can sometimes wobble and it’s one of those jumps where as a rider, you didn’t have the opportunity for plan B – you have to jump the element in the water and then channel your horse through, so the decision I made I think was a good one because I was up on the clock and I thought he would run home too.”

Dressage leaders Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice have slipped to second after notching six time-faults and they now sit 1.8 penalties behind Tim and Happy Boy.

“I heard there was a lot of trouble with people having the MIM Clip at fence 19a [The Subaru Quest; a rail, ditch, arrowhead],” commented Germany’s Jérôme. “I was on my minute markers but then after coming out of the top water [fence 15], he needed a bit of time, so I let him breathe and he recovered and jumped well through fence 19.

“I then tried to be fast coming home but I wasn’t fast enough. The ground was a bit slippery for him, so I lost a bit of power, strength and balance through his body.”

Ireland’s Ian Cassells really impressed with a smooth round aboard 11-year-old Kellys Quality, who is owned by Patrick Murphy, and is contesting his first CCI4*-L.

“He’s a bit inexperienced and his natural shape is quite downhill,” said Ian. “He can be quite strong, so I have to be strict with myself to go forward galloping and then really get my body up but keep my reins long to allow him to use his neck and I have to really trust him that way.

“His owner is amazing – I’ve had this horse for five years, he was bought for under €10,000 out of Goresbridge sales and this is the first time that Patrick has had a horse at this level, so I’m really happy for him and for his trust in me.”

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country results: riders capitalise on speedy rounds

Debbie and Neill Nuttall’s 11-year-old Ardeo Premier built on several top-20 finishes at four- and five-star level with Alex Bragg to clock the equal second fastest round of the day for 0.8 time-faults. This was enough to propel them from 25th after the dressage to fourth.

“It rode exactly as I walked it apart from I saw a horrendous stride in the main arena to the box brush, where I floated a bit to it and he was very good to me to go through there clear,” admitted Alex. “He’s not the fastest horse in the world, but if you can stay on your minute markers, you’re always in with a chance. He’s super smooth and speedy through the combinations and I’m so pleased with how he’s grown up.

“Although he did Luhmühlen five-star, the reason for coming here was to see if he would be suited to a domestic five-star and I think now he could have a Badminton in him.”

Aaron Millar and Count Onyx were the sixth combination on course and this 10-year-old CCI4*-L first-timer, owned by Alexandra Van Tuyll added just 2.8 time-faults to their 29.4 dressage to now sit in fifth.

Daisy Berkeley and her own, Camilla Case, Martha Ivory and Caroline Dick’s 11-year-old gelding Diese Du Figuier were another combination to catch the eye, adding 4.8 time-faults to a 27.9 dressage to sit just behind Aaron in sixth.

Zara Tindall appears to have a strong five-star prospect in her stable in the form of her own and Judith Luff’s Classicals Euro Star. This 10-year-old grey gelding finished incredibly strongly, just adding 3.2 time-faults to their 30.4 dressage to go into tomorrow’s final showjumping phase in seventh.

“He’s had a bit of an up and down year with having issues jumping a ditch rail, corners and skinnies, which all happened at intermediate level,” explained Zara. “But I’ve realised he likes these bigger tracks. He’s got all the potential and he’s so quick and has a lot of jump and gallop, which is so exciting.”

Gemma Stevens, who was second after the dressage with Jalapeno III had a very unfortunate run out at the final combination on course when the mare didn’t seem to lock onto the final narrow element after a big table on a turning line. Heartbreakingly this is where Gemma and this mare fell when in contention last year. They did however complete this time, notching just 5.2 time-faults to leave them in 28th after the Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country results.

New Zealand‘s Jesse Campbell and Diachello, who were third after the first phase, jumped clear up until having a sticky jump into the second water at fence 15, which then made their distance and line to the angled brushes in the middle of the water impossible to achieve, meaning they ran out. Jesse opted to retire after this.

The only rider to finish clear inside the 10min 12sec optimum time was Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy aboard Christopher and Sarita Perkins’ MGH Mr Messack, who stopped the clock with nine seconds to spare. They go into tomorrow’s showjumping in 15th.

From the 75 cross-country starters in this class, 46 jumped clear and 64 completed.

The final horse inspection for the CCI4*-L gets underway at 8am with the showjumping to follow.

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Daisy Berkeley (née Dick) is best known for her partnership with Spring Along (pictured at Badminton), with whom she won team bronze at the 2008 Olympics as well as world team silver and European team gold. Here, the Olympic medallist reflects on appreciating every moment with the horses and people you love, and the importance of feeding the best you can afford, as told to Pippa Roome

I have millions of riding icons, but perhaps the greatest is Lucinda Green, who was a huge help to me years ago when my career was treading water. She used to invite a few riders to these fun play sessions at her yard. She’d build funny obstacles on weird distances and made us leave the horse alone to work it out – it improved the horse’s footwork and reminded him to use his brain.

So many people overdrill horses, taking away their instinct for self-preservation. We’re all going to mess up at some point, so it’s a massive benefit if the horse can look after us – if I throw the reins at the horse and say, “Can you sort this out?”, they do, touch wood.

I didn’t plan to model my lower leg position on Lucinda’s, but looking at pictures, it seems I did. When I was in my teens and early 20s, I used to go everywhere flat out – if one person got the time, it was me, riding like crazy right up my horse’s neck. Now I ride with my heels right forward and although it looks exaggerated, I can stay in the plate more often than not.

“If in doubt, kick on”

I’m late for everything except competitions. I always set my alarm clock and leave loads of time – if you’re late you’ll be stressed, that stress goes to the horse and you underperform.

The last thing I remember before I compete is to keep the horse in front of the leg. You’re doomed otherwise – you’ll probably sit on the first showjump, come to a grinding halt at number one on the cross-country and your dressage will look pretty sad.

I can hear my father, Grand National-winning jockey Dave Dick, saying, “If in doubt, kick on”. I have an extreme Pony Club kick and a positive ride will get you out of all sorts of situations.

I wish I’d appreciated when I was 16 that nothing lasts forever – horses or people – and you should enjoy every moment with the ones you love. That definitely applies to my father and, on the horse side, to my young rider medal-winners, Headley Bravo and Little Victor, who took me right up to five-star.

I didn’t realise how lucky I was; some people spend a lifetime looking for that breakthrough horse. By the time I got Spring Along, I appreciated him from the moment I sat on him.

The horse I wish I could have back now is The White Sergeant. He was a beautiful Irish-bred by Step Together and I’ve never sat on a more talented horse. My showjumping trainer at the time, Nigel Goddard, said he reminded him of the double Olympic silver medallist Gem Twist.

The catch was that he suffered from corns which we couldn’t eliminate, but with the continuous improvements in farriery and veterinary medicine since then it would be different now.

Feed the best

Use the best quality feed, supplements and forage that you can sensibly afford. My horses are notoriously quite chubby! It’s tough to make ends meet in eventing, especially at the moment, so people try to be clever and buy cheaply, but you end up feeding more of the bad stuff, so it’s a false economy. I’m lucky to have an amazing supplements sponsor in Equiform, who have been with me 16 years.

I like to bring out my horses’ personalities as much as possible and to keep their routine varied, so they enjoy their work. We do a lot of work up and down hills, we jump ditches and odd places in the hedgeline. Sometimes if life has been a bit boring, we take them up the hill for a bit of a buck.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 10 December 2020

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Emilie Chandler keeps top spot in the CCI4*-L at the Land Rover Blair Castle Horse Trials after a fast cross-country round today (Saturday, 24 August).

Emilie and Maria Doel’s Gortfadda Diamond led after dressage by 1.5 penalties and extended their margin to 13.1 penalties after the only cross-country round with fewer than 10 time-penalties in this class. They added 3.2 to their 31.8 dressage score today.

“He was very good and kept his eyes on the line all the way round,” she said. “He never tired — he kept galloping all the way to the end and gave me a fantastic ride.”

Speaking about tomorrow’s showjumping, Emilie added: “He’s an out and out event horse — good at all three phases, but of course it depends how much today has taken out of him.”

Rosa Onslow has moved up from fourth after dressage to sit second overnight with Diamond Sundance, after finishing with 11.2 time-faults today.

Simon Grieve holds third in this class with Mr Fahrenheit III, who had 13.2 time-penalties across country.

A new face leads the CCI3*-L — Eleanor Hope rose from 13th after dressage with a clear round in the time today on Limestone Romeo. Eleanor turns 20 tomorrow.

“The course was big and long, but he was just point and shoot today — he’s a willing horse and always tries his best,” she said.

The only other fault-free rounds in the class came from Victoria Wilson (Dont You Know) and Ashley Harrison (Zebedee IX), who hold second and third. Dressage leader Astier Nicolas (Lumberton) dropped to 11th with a run-out at the corner out of the Malcolm Lochan.

Polly Stockton has moved up to first place in the CCI2*-L after a penalty-free round on Cressida Legge and Mafra Smithers’ Sir Alfred III.

The rider finished the day on the same score as second-placed Josephine Schnaufer of Germany with Ronaldo IV, but Polly has the upper hand because she crossed the line closer to the optimum time.

Hayden Hankey sits third in this class on Cartown Galaxy.

“I was four or five seconds up on the clock all the way, so could look after her down the hills,” he said.

The dressage leader, Emma Murray on Wainthropp, dropped out of the running in this class with a fall at the seal out of the first water combination, the Malcolm Lochan.

The three “long” classes all finish tomorrow with the showjumping phase.

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Berkeley keeps four-star short lead

In the CCI4*-S class, Daisy Berkeley showjumped clear to retain her lead with Ballinteskin Cooper S, who is owned by Roxana Janet White and Mary Scott-Gall, as well as Daisy and her mother Caroline.

Behind her, Sam Ecroyd also went clear for second on Davinci III, while Astier Nicolas — who had been equal second with Sam after dressage — dropped to fourth with the second part of the double down on Babylon De Gamma. Wills Oakden has moved up from ninth after dressage to sit third, courtesy of his clear on Oughterard Cooley.

The competitors in this class conclude their competition with cross-country tomorrow.

More news from Blair on horseandhound.co.uk over the weekend, plus full report in next week’s magazine (dated 29 August).

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Daisy Berkeley leads the CCI4*-S at the Land Rover Blair Castle Horse Trials after the culmination of the dressage today (Friday, 23 August).

The British Olympian put in an assured test on the 10-year-old Ballinteskin Cooper S, who is owned by Roxana Janet White and Mary Scott-Gall, as well as Daisy and her mother Caroline. The pair scored 30.4, which puts them just 0.1 of a penalty ahead of the chasing pack.

“I’m really pleased — although I got a fly in my eye after the half pirouette and when I tried to get it out, he jogged,” said Daisy. “But I would rather have him a bit sharp than lazy. It’s no fun when they are lazy and he has more presence when he’s sharp.”

Daisy rode Ballinteskin Cooper S here last year, running slowly across country to be sure of a qualification, but had not been at the venue since 2011 before that.

“I love Blair — the ground is amazing and the hills are always testing,” she said. “It’s like trotting on one of those waxy surfaces.”

France’s Astier Nicolas (Babylon De Gamma) and Britain’s Sam Ecroyd (Davinci III) sit in joint second behind Daisy, having both scored 30.5.

The showjumping for this class takes place tomorrow, with the cross-country on Sunday.

Astier also leads the CCI3*-S, riding SARL Ecurie Jean Louis Bouchard’s Lumberton, who the rider described as “very cool bloke – very laidback in all three phases”.

Chandler heads four-star long

Emilie Chandler heads the small CCI4*-L, which has just nine starters, riding Maria Doel’s Gortfadda Diamond, another 10-year-old. The pair scored 31.8.

She said: “He is a really classy horse who has just stepped up to this level this season. The loudspeaker crackled really loudly during our test, which unsettled us both, but I’m thrilled to be in the lead, even if it wasn’t our best test.”

Overnight leader Emma Murray held her lead through the final session of CCI2*-L this morning, finishing the day as the only international competitor in any class to have broken the 30-barrier after she scored 28.6 yesterday on her husband Shaun’s Wainthropp. The Aberdeenshire rider took over the horse when Shaun broken his collarbone in May.

“Blair is my favourite event so I thought we’d come here and have a nice time,” said Emma. “She’s good at dressage – we are going to the British Dressage National Championships at Stoneleigh at elementary level in two weeks’ time – but I didn’t expect to be out in front.”

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All the competitors in the “long” classes run across country tomorrow and showjump on Sunday.

More news from Blair on horseandhound.co.uk over the weekend, plus full report in next week’s magazine (dated 29 August).

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Elite event riders Tom McEwen and Daisy Berkeley have paid tribute to Strike Smartly, a horse who “always had a smile on his face” who has had to be put down aged 12.

The grey Irish sport horse gelding died last weekend (6 January) as a result of complications caused by colic.

Tom, who rode “Paddy” to victory at Chatsworth CIC3* and Cappoquin CCI3* in 2017, as well as completing the horse’s first Badminton on 2018, described him as “one in a million, who would give his heart to everything he did, asking for nothing in return except his food”.

“Last year at his first Badminton he scored three 10s in his dressage and thoroughly enjoyed his cross-country round,” he said. “We are sure that he would have had a huge future in this amazing sport of eventing.

“He will leave a deep hole in Team McEwen. However, he will be even more acutely missed by his owner Penny Barker who rode him regularly and followed his successes with a passion.

“I feel privileged to have been allowed to ride such an amazing horse and the team were honoured to have looked after Paddy who was the most genuine, kind and honest person, we think we will ever meet. We are all heartbroken.”

Daisy, who had Paddy as a four-year-old and competed him up to three-star level until Tom took the reins in 2017, said the news was “devastating”.

“He had his life ahead of him,” she told H&H. “He was a wonderful character, with a terrific sense of humour; I’m heartbroken for Fred [Barker] and Penny because they loved him.”

Daisy said Paddy did not show vast talent as a five-year-old but “at six, he really started to show he could become something”. She praised his extravagant movement, and genuine nature, adding that although he was somewhat lacking in straightness as a youngster, “after that, he’d do everything he could to jump within the flags”.

Continues below…

Tom McEwen tops Blair CCI3* after cross-country: ‘Strike Smartly was phenomenal’

The young British rider stayed penalty-free today across country to hold onto his lead in the CCI3* class with a

Strong performance from Tom McEwen keeps Britain in WEG eventing medal hunt

Britain's third rider put in a great test, marred by just one wobble near the end, to keep Britain near

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“He was an absolute sweetie on the ground too,” she added. “He never had his ears back; always had a smile on his face, there wasn’t a bad bone in his body.

“Tom developed a really good relationship with him; he looked a million dollars with Tom,” she said. “The world was their oyster; who knows what they would have done.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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British eventer Daisy Berkeley is among eight riders voted onto the FEI technical committee as a “voice for athletes”.

Representatives are expected to be “key ambassadors” for their respective discipline.

Others include Brazilian Olympic gold medal-winning showjumper Roderigo Pessoa and dressage rider Anna Paprocka-Campanella, who won over Britain’s Laura Tomlinson.

“They will play a vital role in the governance of equestrian sport, acting as a voice for all our athletes and actively shaping the FEI’s global development,” said FEI secretary general Ingmar De Vos.

Daisy told H&H she was “surprised and excited” to have been voted in.

“I want to make sure the sport progresses with a decent amount of rider input — we are after all the hub of the sport. I aim to be the mouthpiece of riders and voice the opinion of us all,” she added.

It was the first time in the 93-year history of the FEI that athletes were able to vote.

However, the number that did was remarkably low. In showjumping, out of 2,399 eligible only 31 voted. In eventing this was just 32 riders out of 3,271.

Mr De Vos admitted it was “disappointing”.

“It’s important that our athletes have a voice in the decision-making process, and they always have had, but this was the first time athletes had the opportunity to vote for their FEI Athlete Representatives in the most democratic way possible through direct elections”, he added.

“We used all possible channels to inform the athletes about these elections to obtain as high a rate of participation as possible, so it was disappointing that we did not have greater response. However, we understand that many of the athletes are now very focused on the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games coming up later this month.”

Representatives

Eventing — Daisy Berkeley (Britain)

Showjumping — Roderigo Pessoa (Brazil)

Dressage — Anna Paprocka-Campanella (Italy)

Driving — Bartolomiej Kwiatek (Poland)

Endurance — Valerie Kanavy (USA)

Vaulting — Lukas Klouda (Czech Republic)

Reining — Gennaro Lendi (Italy)

Para equestrian — Laurentia Tan (Singapore)

First published in Horse & Hound magazine on 31 July 2014

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Three British riders have applied to represent their disciplines on the FEI technical committee.

For the first time only athletes are allowed to vote.

Laura Tomlinson (dressage), Daisy Berkeley (eventing) and Joanna Attenborough (driving) are among the 26 athletes from 10 nations in the running for the online elections.

All candidates must have competed in 1 of the past 2 senior FEI World Championships or Olympic Games and have a clean record.

Representatives are expected to be “key ambassadors” for their respective discipline. There is 1 representative per each of the 8 disciplines, and they change every 4 years.

“They play a vital role in the governance of equestrian sport,”said FEI secretary general Ingmar De Vos.

They will also form the FEI athletes’ committee when the technical committees require feedback and input on areas relevant to all FEI athletes. 

Laura Tomlinson said she was motivated to apply, having witnessed the sport progress over the past 2 Olympics.

“I would like to make sure the riders are well represented in the run-up to the next Olympics and that the progression remains in the interest of the riders and horses,” she said.

Joanna Attenborough was approached by the FEI to stand as a driving representative.

“I’ve been involved in the sport for more than 20 years, have lived in 4 European countries,”she told H&H.“I feel I have the skills to represent all the nations of athletes in my sport, both professional and amateur.”

Voting is now live until 1 June. The elected athletes will be announced on 17 July. 

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The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course has been unveiled ahead of this year's event (2-6 May 2013)

Following last year’s cancellation due to waterlogging, this year’s course is similar to the one built for 2012, with a few minor adjustments.

Course designer Hugh Thomas offers expert insight into the challenges facing riders as he walks through the course with Daisy Berkeley in the official Badminton coursewalk video.

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s Badminton preview issue, on sale 25 April.

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British Open course-designer Mark Phillips has put the finishing touches to this year’s course at the Festival of British Eventing in Gatcombe Park, so what can riders and fans expect?

Daisy Berkeley, British Open winner in 2010 joined H&H Editor Lucy Higginson in the Land Rover Discovery 4 to find out. The current reigning champion shares her thoughts about the challenging fences on the course in our exclusive video course walk.

And to celebrate the relaunched Land Rover Discovery 4, we have got an Ifor Williams two-horse trailer worth over £4,700 to give away. Enter this competition

Visit H&H at Gatcombe

If you are going to the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcome this weekend, don’t forget to stop by the H&H stand (stand 73) for fabulous special offers and great prizes. Subscribe to H&H magazine and receive a free Masta rug while saving 30%. You can also pic up the latest issue for just £1, enter our competition to win a GFS Pessoa Event saddle, and enjoy instant win prizes with our popular tombola. The H&H team look forward to seeing you there!

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Daisy Berkeley’s popular event horse Spring Along has died of a suspected heart attack at Gatcombe Horse Trials.

The 18-year-old bay died instantly while jumping the two steps up to palisade, fence 23ab on the 25-fence open intermediate course. Daisy was not seriously injured.

Spring Along was having his first run of the season, having finished last season on a high by winning the British open championships at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe. Daisy then announced she was pregnant with her first child, stopping competing soon afterwards.

The Irish-bred by Pallas Digion will be mourned not only by Daisy and her mother, his joint-owner Caroline Dick, but also by his legions of fans. Spring Along was one of the most popular event horses of the past decade, known for being a great character, his consistency cross-country and his occasional naughtiness in the dressage.

Daisy bought Spring Along as a five-year-old from Lucinda Fredericks. As well as his 2010 British open win, he won the CIC*** at Barbury in 2009 and was third and best of the British at Badminton last year. He also represented Britain four times, helping the team to gold at the 2007 Pratoni European Championships, silver at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen in 2006 and bronze at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong.

Spring Along was recently the subject of one of Horse & Hound’s “stripped bare” features, published in the eventing special (10 March issue), when Daisy revealed that although he was entered for Badminton, she would only take him if she felt he was capable of a top-10 placing and that that would probably have been his last three-day event.

Full report from Gatcombe in this week’s Horse & Hound (31 March issue).

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Daisy Berkeley and Spring Along, one of the most popular combinations in the sport of eventing, won the British Eventing Open Championship at Gatcombe today and became national champions.

Daisy and the 17-year-old Spring Along whizzed round Gatcombe’s hilly cross-country, adding just 0.8 of a time-fault to their dressage score of 32.7 to rise from eighth to first.

“This is a lovely title to hold,” said Daisy. “It’s nice to have him on a roll of honour; he’s given me so much.”

Daisy also announced that her first baby is due early next year, and therefore this would be Spring Along’s last event of the season.

Listen to Daisy Berkeley’s interview

Joe Meyer finished second on Sanskrit, going inside the time across country and finishing on his dressage score of 36. Gemma Tattersall was third on King’s Gem – she added just 0.4pen to her 38.4 dressage mark. Fourth were Mary King and Apache Sauce, and fifth were Caroline Powell and Lenamore, who also went inside the time on the cross-country.

Oliver Townend led after dressage and showjumping on Ashdale Cruise Master, but didn’t run across country, and neither did second-placed Paul Tapner and Inonothing, who head to Hartpury next weekend.

Smith & Williamson Intermediate Championship

Ruth Edge won the Smith & Williamson Intermediate Championship on Applejack II. It was Ruth’s fifth Gatcombe title. She led after dressage on the Belgian-bred son of Calvados, but dropped a place with one pole down in the showjumping. Bill Levett decided not to run One Two Many NJ across country however, and Ruth’s 3.2 time-faults were enough to push her back into the lead.

“His dressage test [26.9] was probably the best he’s done, and I thought having a pole down in the showjumping would cost me, but in the end it didn’t,” said Ruth. “He was fantastic across country — he’s getting faster and really starting to take me.”

Second, on a score of 34.6, was Paul Sims on Power Of Dreams. Paul has only recently started riding again after suffering a blood clot in his chest in February.

“I have to thank my whole team for keeping things going,” he said.

Caroline Powell and Thornfield Jones were third on 36, just ahead of Oliver Townend and ODT Sonas Roviato.

Don’t miss H&H’s full report on all the action from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe in next Thursday’s magazine, on sale 12 August

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Event rider Daisy Berkeley is being sponsored by new online horse feed merchant, eFeed.co.uk

eFeed.co.uk was launched in April, claiming to offer highly competitive prices on feed thanks to bulk purchasing. It is a sister company to White Horse Bedding.

Daisy Berkeley — née Dick — is to work with eFeed.co.uk to ensure it offers “unrivalled customer experience” in its quest to reduce the monthly feed bill for horse owners.

“The large range of stock, convenience and speed of ordering and delivering, combined with the fantastic value of products on offer make using eFeed.co.uk a ‘no brainer’,” said Daisy.

Company director Stuart Fitzgerald said Daisy has joined the team to help introduce riders to the service — and to encourage feedback.

“People are fairly resistant to trying eFeed.co.uk as it’s not what they’re used to, especially if they haven’t been personally referred to it,” he explained.

“We also lack feedback — and want Daisy to put feelers out for feedback, as well as give us feedback on our ordering and delivery process.”

Due to a number of requests for one or two bags of feed rather than a bulk order, eFeed.co.uk will next week launch a “single bag service”, according to Fitzgerald.

“We hope that will prove popular among the more leisure riders, rather than competition yards wanting to buy in bulk,” he said.

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I don’t like to be thought of as a name-dropper, but I hope those of you who were following our live written dressage coverage at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials today appreciate that I had to leave the Princess Royal to re-join you after lunch.

Don’t worry, I don’t generally rendez-vous with royalty. But this was at a World Horse Welfare lunch — Badminton’s official charity this year — where I was placed on a table with Jane Holderness-Roddam (lady-in-waiting and twice Badminton winner), among others.

Suddenly, just as the main course finished, the Princess stood up (we all leapt to our feet too) and asked Jane to swap places with her. The timing could scarcely have been worse from my point of view — it was 1.45pm and I had to leave at 1.55pm to re-start H&H Live. Gulp.

Anyway, I excused myself politely and HRH took it with what I’m sure is her customary grace.

It was a good lunch — I sat between Penny Thornton (former World Horse Welfare trustee and Polly Lochore, who rode at four-star as Polly Hely-Hutchinson) and Jane H-R told us a funny story about the time she won on Warrior in 1978, when a whole grandstand took off due to the wind.

Badminton final scores

Jane has a particular interest at this year’s Badminton as she and her husband Tim own Alexander Peternell’s ride Tiger’s Eye II, who did his dressage today. The grey looked fitter than I’ve ever seen him before, and all credit to Alexander who is riding despite a nasty fall a few weeks ago which left him with damaged ligaments in his knee.

Sitting alongside H&H dressage editor Sarah Jenkins doing our live written dressage commentary today has been a laugh — much more relaxed than last year when I pretty much had smoke coming out of my ears trying to keep the coverage updated on my own.

The horse who impressed me — other than the leaders — was Daisy Berkeley’s Spring Along, 10th on 48pen. It’s the first time he’s broken the 50-barrier at four-star level since Badminton 2006, as since then he’s tended to get tense and naughty. Today, he held his composure well. Daisy was riding him in a double bridle, which seemed to be successful for her at some events last year and obviously still continues to work its magic.

Tomorrow, I can’t wait to see H&H columnist Tina Cook take to the big stage with Miners Frolic (at 2pm) and I’m also looking forward to seeing Sarah Bullimore’s exciting 11-year-old Salerno (11.26am). Join us at 9.15am for more live updates.

First day’s dressage report.

Don’t miss H&H’s 15-page special report in the issue dated 6 May, including day-by-day analysis, comments from Carl Hester and Mark Phillips and much more.

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Lucy Wiegersma scored her first Blenheim Horse Trials victory this afternoon when she secured top spot with Granntevka Prince.

By the time she entered the arena last as the overnight leader, others’ mistakes had given Lucy a fence in hand.

She used this up when Granntevka Prince took the front rail off a big blue oxer, but stayed clear over the remaining obstacles.

“He is a good jumper — he’s won £400 or £500 show jumping through the last few winters — but he’s going through a not so good stage at events through being a bit tense, but I think he’ll grow out of it,” said Lucy.

“I tried to keep it quiet and ride tight lines, and then when I had that one down [fence eight] I thought the time was going to be an issue and I’d better motor on.”

Emily Baldwin also held her place with one fence down on Drivetime, while Izzy Taylor was the big beneficiary of this phase when her clear round elevated her from sixth overnight to third on nine-year-old mare Briarlands Matilda.

“She’s a class horse — so brave but really careful with it,” said the former young rider individual bronze and team silver medallist.

Daisy Dick (Spring Along) and Andrew Nicholson (Mr Cruise Control) both dropped a place to fourth and fifth with four penalties, while amateur rider Melanie Wilder jumped clear on Minuteman to move up two places to sixth.

CCI*** FINAL RESULTS

1.Lucy Wiegersma on Granntevka Prince (GB) 49.4

2.Emily Baldwin on Drivetime (GB) 50.5

3.Izzy Taylor on Briarlands Matilda (GB) 53.9

4.Daisy Dick on Spring Along (GB) 54

5.Andrew Nicholson on Mr Cruise Control (GB) 54.2

6.Melanie Wilder on Minuteman (GB) 54.6

Full results

Final CIC*** report

Don’t forget to buy Horse & Hound next week for a full report from Blenheim.

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Lucy Wiegersma leads the CCI*** at Blenheim Horse Trials after today’s cross-country.

Lucy and Granntevka Prince lay fourth after dressage on 45.4, but they put in one of only six clear rounds inside the optimum time to move up to first place.

“He was just magic,” said Lucy. “I was a bit embarrassed to be so far under the time [nine seconds] — I set my watch to five seconds early, as I always do, and forgot I’d done that [so I was nine seconds faster than I expected].

“You get a feel for how to ride this place — you have to allow them to travel up the hills at their own speed. But he’s nippy and as I came to the stone houses [Cotwold Life Boxes, fence 19ab] I realised how much horse I had left underneath me.”

Granntevka Prince is a Grannex-sired nine-year-old who was bred by his owner, Geraldine Mills, and he was British Eventing six-year-old champion in 2006.

Emily Baldwin keeps the second place she held after the first phase by adding eight time-penalties to her dressage score of 38.5 with Drivetime.

“He’s not the greatest galloper and he wastes time in the air, so I have to be strict with myself when I’m walking the course about riding the tightest lines, and that’s what I did here,” said Emily.

“I was really pleased with him — I was a bit worried about how he’d cope with the hills, but when I got in the arena I was surprised how fast I was still going and he had a turn of speed coming home.”

Daisy Dick’s clear inside the time has moved her up from 21st after dressage to third with Spring Along, who was re-routed here after being pulled up after a run-out at the troublesome fence six at Burghley last week.

“Spring Along was amazing, I couldn’t fault his round,” said Daisy. “He loved it — it’s the third time he’s been here and it suits him, being a stamina test.”

Devastating late stop for dressage leader

This was the first time the Blenheim track has been ridden in a clockwise direction and Eric Winter’s course generally rode well, with faults spread around different fences, no holds and no serious injuries.

Dressage leader Allison Springer had a devastating 20 penalties late on course at The Joules Blackberry Brushes (fence 26ab) with Arthur, while fence 13ab put paid to the chances of both Neil Spratt (third after dressage on Upleadon) and Pippa Funnell (fifth after dressage on Ensign).

The direct route through the fence — named the The My Wine Club’s Butt & Barrel Bar (pictured above) — consisted of a big table, followed by a left-hand curving line to a corner on three to five strides. Neil had a fall at this fence, while Ensign ran-out at the corner.

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s show jumping, Lucy Wiegersma does not have a fence in hand over Emily Baldwin, so if Emily jumps clear, the Lucy will have to also leave all the fences intact to win her first Blenheim title.

“He is a good jumper, although I don’t think he’s jumped a clear at an event his year,” said Lucy. “He’s saving it up for here!”

CCI*** RESULTS AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY

1.Lucy Wiegersma on Granntevka Prince (GB) 45.4

2.Emily Baldwin on Drivetime (GB) 46.5

3.Daisy Dick on Spring Along (GB) 50

4.Andrew Nicholson on Mr Cruise Control (NZL) 50.2

5.Will Faudree on Pawlow (USA) 50.9

6.J-P Sheffield on Crown Farm Consort (GB) 52.9

Full times and results

Report of today’s CIC*** action

Stay up to date with more reports from Blenheim tomorrow on www.horseandhound.co.uk and buy Horse & Hound next week (17 September issue) for a full report.

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The main class at Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials this weekend hosts a fascinating field from first-time CCI*** horses — and riders — to some highly experienced campaigners.

At the experienced end of the scale, fans will be delighted to have another chance to see Daisy Dick and Spring Along in action this autumn. During our H&H Live coverage of the dressage at Burghley Horse Trials last weekend 30% of readers thought this pair would win that event, and at times the figure went up to 50%.

Sadly that wasn’t to be — Spring Along didn’t perform his best dressage test and was then one of 28 horses to fall victim to the tough angled hedge at Discovery Valley (fence six). Daisy retired him, and he’s down to start as number 77 at Blenheim — an event that his rider won in 2006 on Springbok IV, and the venue for the 2005 European Championships when Spring Along made his British squad debut, finishing 11th. Back at Blenheim for the first time since then, can the cheeky 16-year-old go 10 places better?

J-P Sheffield and Crown Farm Consort are also Burghey refugees — a fall at the Leaf Pit (fence four) ended their campaign there, but if they can repeat their impressive dressage test, it’s all to play for.

A personal tip

Drawn number 41 is my personal tip for Blenheim Horse Trials: Emily Baldwin on Drivetime. This pair have never quite got it all together on the same weekend at four-star — their best efforts are 15th at Pau in 2007 and 11th at Luhmuhlen this year — but they will be operating well within their comfort zone at this level and have outstanding CIC*** form this year, with wins at Belton and Hartpury.

If you are betting on horses with four-star form, don’t forget Louise Skelton’s Partly Pickled. Louise picked up her best yet four-star placing — 16th — at Burghley last weekend with Pickle’s full brother Bit Of A Barney, and this year-younger sibling was fifth at Bramham last year and won the CCI*** at Blair in 2005.

Pippa Funnell brings a horse at each end of the mileage barometer. This is a favourite event for her own and her mother Jenny’s Ensign (ninth at the 2005 Europeans, second in 2006), while the eight-year-old Redesigned — winner of the British Eventing (BE) six-year-old title in 2007 — makes the step up to CCI*** level.

Lucy Wiegersma brings another former BE six-year-old champion, the 2006 winner Granntevka Prince, who was so unlucky to fall near the end of the course at Boekelo, the Dutch CCI***, last year.

The other graduate of young horse classes who shouldn’t be overlooked is Irish Jester. Winner of the CCI** at Blair last year, he’s had an easy season while his rider Sarah Cohen adjusted to motherhood, but he’s certainly got the talent.

On the young horse front, also watch out for Nick Gauntlett’s stallion Chilli Morning, reigning British intermediate champion Westwood Mariner with the in-form Polly Stockton and last year’s winner of that class, NZB Land Vision, under the maestro Mark Todd.

Finally, if you’ve been following H&H’s online diarist Alex Hua Tian this season, don’t forget he’s got two horses entered (Magenta and Jeans).

New at Blenheim Horse Trials

Blenheim runs a CIC*** this year for the first time, which means twice the action for fans, as this class will show jump at the end of Saturday after the CCI*** finish their cross-country, and then take to the park for cross-country during the lunch break on Sunday.

The entry list has been limited to 40 starters and the focus is on eight- and nine-year-olds, so perhaps you can spot a future medallist.

One of the greatest disappointments about Blenheim being abandoned due to the wet last year was the fact we didn’t get to see how Eric Winter’s new-look cross-country course rode. It’s still there for this year — running in the opposite direction to normal for the first time since the event started in 1990 — and hopefully the team will have better luck with the weather than in 2008.

Blenheim Horse Trials website

Keep up with all the news from Blenheim Horse Trials with daily updates on www.horseandhound.co.uk and don’t forget to buy H&H next week (17 September issue) for a full report.

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

Autumn has well and truly arrived at Burghley but it will take more than a few gusts and squalls to put a dampener on the atmosphere here.

No one seems to have thoughts of a global recession in the tradestands which are heaving with people buying everything from horseshoe sculptured dogs to glittery cupcakes.

The first day’s dressage has been memorable more for the grim than the glorious — you don’t often see riders turning in 80-something scores at a four-star event, but grandstands groaning in the wind did little to help the causes of poor Nicola Malcolm (McFly) and Laura Shears (Wulstan Rock On). Mind you, the latter looks a determinedly forward going sort for cross-country day based on the way she tanked off with her rider down the final centreline.

Tomorrow’s dressage features some real schoolmasters of the elite eventing circuit; horses I’ve been following with pleasure for several years: Spring Along (first to go, so make sure you’re at the arena for 9.30am if you want to see him and Daisy Dick, pictured), James Robinson’s faithful campaigner Comanche, and the lovely Lenamore, to name but a few.

Third last — and definitely worth catching — is Mary King on her mare Kings Temptress. This is the first British four-star she has tackled on one of her home-bred horses, and with Mary having produced her from day one, I’ll bet she turns in a good test whatever the atmosphere.

The going seems likely to be nigh on perfect for on Saturday, and though Mark Phillips has honoured his promise to “fry” the mushrooms that produced so many ugly moments last year, this course, as ever, will take lots of jumping.

It took me ages to work out that the two almost adjacent skinny hedges at 23b and 24a in the main arena are meant to be jumped one after t’other, on an acute angle. Just a bit slow on the take up — what can I say? I’ve been pre-novicing lately!

Report of today’s action

Replay today’s action and follow the competition live tomorrow with H&H online’s up-to-the-minute written commentary, starting again tomorrow at approximately 9.20am. Visit www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghleylive.

Keep up with all H&H’s online Burghley coverage at www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley2009 and don’t forget to buy H&H next week (10 September) for our 10-page Burghley special report.

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Daisy Dick and Spring Along beat a highly competitive field at Barbury International Horse Trials at the weekend. So often the bridesmaid, Daisy proved a popular winner with the crowd.

The competition was close fought, with the lead changing hands repeatedly on Sunday. Daisy’s faultless show jumping performance was followed by a foot-perfect cross-country round, just one second over the time, to assure her victory over Andrew Nicholson riding Nereo and Ireland’s Sam Watson with Horseware Bushman.

A change of bit for the dressage appeared to rectify the issues the partnership had in the dressage at Badminton in the spring. They finished this phase in fouth place on 49.0pen.

“I know he can do a lovely test,” she said. “I just have to have him in the right frame of mind.

“I got it right on Thursday, thanks to the facilities at Barbury, as I could use the gallops to give him a spin that morning before my test. I rode him in a double bridle for the first time and it worked a treat – it gave him something more to think about.”

Ireland’s Elizabeth Power lead after dressage with Kilpatrick River, but they had a fence down in the show jumping to hand the lead to Lucy Wiegersma riding her young horse, Simon Porloe. Meanwhile Daisy and 16-year-old Spring Along produced a fantastic clear round Di Boddy’s tricky course.

On the final cross-country phase it became obvious that Capt Mark Phillips’ track required fast and accurate riding for riders to be anywhere near the optimum time of 6:25. Going in reverse order of merit, the first highlight was when Nicola Wilson and the nimble Opposition Buzz made the time. They were the first ever combination to do so in Barbury’s five year history, which was testament to the excellent ground conditions.

Some 35 horses later, Irish youngster Sam Watson matched that feat with Horseware Bushman to take the lead on 54.2, followed by Andrew Nicholson, lying seventh, with the promising young Nereo to put added pressure on the final few riders.

Daisy gave it her best shot to make the time with Spring Along – missing by just one second for 0.4 of a time penalty but this was good enough to give them the lead. This left it to leader Lucy Weigersma, who coaxed a fantastic educational round from Simon Porloe, but couldn’t match Daisy’s speed, handing her victory and a cheque for £4,000 plus the Barbury International Challenge Trophy.

A delighted Daisy said: “I’m annoyed with my time penalty but I know exactly where I lost time – just one too many pulls but it did feel really fast – he was like a rocket! He really deserves the win today; it’s about time as we’ve been second so many times. He’s feeling so well – more like an eight year old and he was brilliant today.”

Don’t miss H&H’s full report from Barbury, on sale Thursday 16 July

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Daisy Dick has a comfortable lead in the CCI*** dressage at Bramham International Horse Trials, scoring 41.6 on Springbok IV.

She has 3.2pen in hand over Thursday’s top combination of local Yorkshire girl Nicola Wilson and Master Banks who, with 44.8, are two marks ahead of Pippa Funnell and Ensign.

“He’s the horse in my yard you know you could lead the dressage on,” said Daisy. “Judges love him, he’s attractive and flamboyant, and he loves his public.”

The small, neat bay Springbok IV won Blenheim in 2006 and a CIC*** at Gatcombe the following year, but ripped a shoe off and damaged a tendon in the process at Gatcombe, so had 2008 off.

“It’s very nice to have him back,” said Daisy, who won the two-star at Barrocca in Portugal on him in March.

Andrew Nicholson heads the CIC*** with 44pen on Epic. Neil Spratt is second on the grey Upleadon on 46.4, ahead of Joe Meyer on Ariki (46.8), while Harry Meade is fourth on Dunauger on 47.8.

American 21-year-old Jennifer Brannigan is in pole position in the Bishop Burton College Under-25 CCI***. She collected 42.8pen on the eight-year-old Cooper in their debut at this level.

Jennifer, who works for Philip Dutton in Pennsylvania, said: “I think the cross-country looks great. He’s really fast and a good jumper — although he’s green, he’s a very careful horse.”

Second is Frenchman Maxime Livio, riding his own Jaipur II, on 43.8. Maxime, also 21 and having his first run at a British horse trials, competed in two junior and one young rider European championships on the Selle Francais 12-year-old.

“Judges like his tests – he gives you just what you want each time,” said Maxime.

Best British rider was Gemma Tattersall, third on Nyali Beach with a score of 45.6, ahead of Portugal’s Duarte Sebra (Fernhill Gloster Rebel), Olivia Haddow (Patris Filius) and Georgie Spence (Skylight) on 48.8.

Sue Benson’s course is generally thought to be a little more straightforward than in previous years, although Bramham’s hilly terrain always takes its toll. The ground is fast, but the organisers are said to be watering overnight.

CCI***

1. Daisy Dick on Springbok IV (41.6)

2. Nicola Wilson on Master Banks (44.8)

3. Pippa Funnell on Ensign (46.8)

4. Andrew Nicholson on The Light Fandango (47)

5. Andrew Nicholson on Nereo (47.4)

6. Piggy French on Some Day Soon (48)

CIC***

1. Andrew Nicholson on Epic (46.6)

2. Neil Spratt on Upleadon (46.6)

3. Joe Meyer on Ariki (46.8)

4. Harry Meade on Dunauger (47.8)

5. William Fox-Pitt on Sonate V (48.2)

6. Sharon Hunt on Tankers Town (50)

CCI*** Under-25

1. Jennifer Brannigan on Cooper (42.8)

2. Maxime Livio on Jaipur II (43.8)

3. Gemma Tattersall on Nyali Beach (45.6)

=4. Duarte Sebra on Fernhill Gloster Rebel (48.8)

=4. Olivia Haddow on Patris Filius (48.8)

=4. Georgie Spence on Skylight (48.8)

Stay in touch with all the action from Bramham on Horseandhound.co.uk over the weekend, and don’t miss H&H’s full report, on sale Thursday 18 June.

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Read the latest Daisy Berkeley news

A young rider medallist, Daisy Berkeley (n ©e Dick) made her senior squad debut as an individual at the 1997 Burghley European Championships on Little Victor, but pulled up on the cross-country.

It wasn’t until 2005 that she got another championship chance, finishing 11th at the Blenheim European Championships with her “horse of a lifetime” Spring Along.

A year later the pair were on the team at the World Equestrian Games, collecting team silver, and at the 2007 European Championships they won team gold. Daisy was called up from the reserve slot to ride for Britain at the Olympics in Hong Kong, taking team bronze.

Daisy and Spring Along won the CIC*** at Barbury Castle in 2009 and in 2010 took the British open title at Gatcombe – Daisy announced her first pregnancy after her winning cross-country ride.

Daisy’s mother, Caroline, was placed at Badminton and Burghley and her late father, jump jockey Dave Dick, won the Grand National and Gold Cup.

Daisy was born in 1972, is based in Gloucestershire and married Charles Berkeley in the autumn of 2009.

Daisy Berkeley videos

Daisy Berkeley pictures

William Fox-Pitt will be riding the 2007 Burghley winner Parkmore Ed at this summer’s Olympic Games.

Selectors have chosen Philip Adkins’ 15-year-old Parkmore Ed over William’s two other possible horses, Tamarillo and Ballincoola, following last weekend’s (4-6 July) Barbury Castle CIC***.

William finished the Wiltshire event with all three horses in the top five, with Parkmore Ed second, Ballincoola fourth and Tamarillo fifth.

Mary King will be riding Edwin and Sue Davies and Janette Chinn’s 16-year-old Call Again Cavalier.

William and Parkmore Ed and Mary and Call Again Cavalier join Tina Cook with Miners Frolic, Daisy Dick with Spring Along and Sharon Hunt with Tankers Town to make up the GBR Olympic three-day event team.

The Olympic horses will have one final outing at Aston-le-Walls on 18-19 July, although some horses may not run cross-country.

Reserve horses are Daisy’s Hope Street, William’s Ballincoola / Tamarillo and Mary’s Imperial Cavalier.

Reserve combinations are Georgie Davies and Fachoudette, Pippa Funnell and Ensign, Rodney Powell and Zinzan II, Oliver Townend and Coup De Coeur, Lucy Wiegersma and Shaabrak and Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz.

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Date of birth: 29/03/1972

Championship experience

Daisy made her senior squad debut as an individual at the 1997 Burghley Europeans on Little Victor, but pulled up on the cross-country.

It wasn’t until 2005 that she got another championship chance, finishing 11th at the Blenheim European Championships with Spring Along. Last year the pair were on the team at the World Equestrian Games, winning a team silver and finishing 12th individually on their dressage score.

Daisy also won team bronze and gold as a young rider.

Recent form

At the end of last year Daisy maintained the purple patch she started at WEG by winning Blenheim with Springbok IV, but Badminton was not a happy hunting ground for her this spring. Hope Street fell at the penultimate fence and she withdrew Spring Along, who became over-excited in the dressage and put in a disappointing performance, before the cross-country.

She then took Springbok IV and Spring Along to Luhmühlen, but had run-outs with both across country. She finished with Spring Along with 40 jumping penalties, but retired four-star debutant Springbok IV.

Daisy returned to form at Barbury Castle, where she finished eighth in the CIC*** on Spring Along and 10th on Hope Street. This result was good enough to put her on the squad for this year’s European Championships at Pratoni del Vivaro (13-16 September) with Spring Along. The pair were eighth again in a CIC*** section at Gatcombe, while Daisy also won the other CIC*** on Springbok IV.

Daisy enjoyed a good final run before the European Championships at Highclere, where she and Spring Along finished ninth in the advanced intermediate. They had a 31.7 dressage, one show jump down and a clear round cross-country with 4.4 time-penatlies.

European Championship performance 2007

Daisy and Spring Along put in one of their best dressage tests to lie 12th after the first phase in Pratoni on 42.3. They then stormed across country as the British pathfinders, and were one of only two pairs all day to successfully take the direct route through the arrowheads at the slide fence.

Daisy added just 2.8 time-penalties to rise to fifth overnight, but her two show jumps down dropped her to eventual seventh. Her score helped the British to the team gold medal.

Background

Daisy’s mother, Caroline, was placed at Badminton and Burghley and her late father, jump jockey Dave Dick, won the Grand National and Gold Cup.

Click here to see pictures of Daisy Dick

Bruce Haskell’s flying cross-country round with Sky Sport clinched the Galliers Homes Ltd CIC** at Sansaw Horse Trials in Shropshire.

Only one combination broke into the 30s in the dressage at this final CIC** — the eventual runner-up, Springbok IV, ridden by Daisy Dick. An expensive rail cost the Blenheim winner the top prize.

Louise Lyons was thrilled with third place on her own and Olivia Tappin’s Venividivici.

Just 10 managed a clean sheet in the show jumping, and the cross-country was no pushover, either, with only the winner making the time.

After a handful of falls in the CIC**, the influential double of corners towards the end of the course was modified for the later intermediate sections, leaving only the last element to be jumped.

Both intermediates went to local riders, with Emily Gilruth scoring on the former show jumper CS President and Paul Sims doing likewise with Kim Belton’s Law Choice.

Charles Owen National Pony Championship report >>

Read this report in full, plus reports from other events around the country, in this Thursday’s H&H (7 June, ’07)

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

William Fox-Pitt and Zara Phillips are among members of Britain’s 2006 eventing squad to receive a free Land Rover Discovery 3. As official vehicle to the British eventing team, Land Rover has also given Discoverys to Daisy Dick, Sharon Hunt and Oliver Townend.

The British eventing squad are looking forward to driving their Land Rover Discovery 3s

Zara Phillips, who has modelled for Land Rover in national newspapers, said: “There is a natural fit between Land Rover and equestrian sports. I am delighted to have their support not only of my own career but also for the team.”

The British team members will be driving their new cars as they prepare for the forthcoming European Championships in Italy (10-17 September 2007).

Land Rover has been associated with equestrian sport since 1980 when Land Rover supported training sessions and bursaries for young riders. The company continues as official vehicle supplier to a number of equestrian events including The Royal Windsor Horse Show, Bramham International Horse Trials and The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park.

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

Spring Along fact file

Bay gelding, 16hh, 14yrs

Owned by: Daisy Dick and her mother, Caroline Dick

Stable name: Pod

Breeding: Irish, by Pallas Digion

Breeder: Willie Macdonald

History: Spring Along was brought over from Ireland by the Sussex-based dealer Donal Barnwell. He then sold Spring Along on to Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks, who, in turn, sold him to Daisy as a five-year-old

Record: 11th and eighth twice at Badminton 2004-2006; individual 11th at European Championships 2005; finished on dressage score to win world team silver 2006

Spring Along gallery

Daisy Dick and Lucinda Green with Spring Along

Lucinda Green enjoys a canter with Spring Along

Lucinda Green is impressed by Spring Along’s jump

Lucinda Green and Spring Along enjoying themselves

Read Lucinda Green’s assessment of Spring Along in today’s eventing special issue of Horse & Hound (29 March, ’07), which also features an interview with top trainer Ruth McMullen, the best places to go cross-country schooling and advice on how to help your horse pass the final trot up at a three-day event.

 If you enjoyed this article, why not browse through our other collections featuring Lucinda Green:

Happy 60th birthday Lucinda Green

To celebrate Lucinda Green’s 60th birthday, we selected 60 pictures from the H&H archives across Lucinda’s many successful years in the saddle.

Behind-the-scenes video: Lucinda Green rides Opposition Buzz

Enjoy some behind-the-scenes footage of cross-country legend Lucinda Green riding Nicola Wilson’s world and European team gold medallist, Opposition Buzz.

Lucinda Green gets outstanding contribution to equestrianism award

Former world champion event rider Lucinda Green was presented with the Martin Collins Special Award for outstanding contribution to equestrianism at the Animal Health Trust’s (AHT) awards ceremony.

Lucinda fought off competition from Paralympic gold medalist Lee Pearson and the Whitaker family, who were all shortlisted from nominations made by H&H readers.

Lucinda said: “This is something that I really can’t believe has happened, it is the most unexpected award to have come my way in many years.”

Exclusive video: Lucinda Green riding Comberton Clancy

‘Lucinda rides’ saw six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green visit Carol Bardo’s yard near Maidenhead to ride HOYS supreme horse of the year Comberton Clancy.

See how Lucinda got on in our exclusive video (below), and pick up a copy of the magazine (24 November 2011) for more of Lucinda’s fascinating insights into riding this “happy, balanced champion”.

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