1. An 18.3hh event horse qualifying for a prestigious showjumping final
Rachel Williamson and her striking four-star eventer Kill Bill JX have earned a place at The Wright, Johnston and Mackenzie LLP Young Masters final at the Royal Highland this summer after qualifying at Morris Equestrian. Rachel has owned “Alex” since he was a three-year-old and said she almost sold him owing to his size, but decided to keep him and try eventing. The pair went from BE100 to three-star in a season, and she hopes to qualify him for a four-star long, with five-star the ultimate aim. Rachel is using the young masters classes as “practice rounds”, instead of jumping Alex at home. “He is a big slow coach but we’ve been practising some fast work on the beach, so he’s come out a bit faster this year,” she said.
Tokyo , Japan - 1 August 2021; Shane Rose of Australia riding Virgil during the eventing cross country team and individual session at the Sea Forest Cross-Country Course during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Australian medallist Shane Rose remains in hospital following surgery last week, but “continues to improve each day”. Shane sustained a broken femur, fractured pelvis and ribs, and concussion in a cross-country schooling accident on 14 March. A spokesman for Shane said he is “very thankful for all the love and support”, and will be in hospital for the “coming days”. Shane will be on bed rest for at least a month and then begin rehab, with the Paris Olympics still on the agenda. “Shane and Virgil are qualified and hopeful that Shane will be able to return to the saddle, prove his fitness and gain selection as a part of the Australian eventing team,” said the spokesman.
The International Eventing Officials Club (IEOC) has spoken of its disappointment after the FEI terminated its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the organisation. This means the IEOC is no longer recognised as the official organisation representing eventing officials’ views. The FEI said there had been a “breach of trust and general breakdown of the relationship” – while the IEOC said it had been in discussion with the FEI about issues affecting officials, and about the MoU terms, but was unable to resolve the issues amicably.
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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
