Oliver Townend riding Ballaghmor Class for GREAT BRITAIN during the cross country phase of the Badminton Horse Trails presented by Mars Equestrian, held at Badminton House in the village of Badminton near Malmesbury in Gloucestershire in the UK, on the 7th May 2021
Oliver Townend’s bid for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing is over after he withdrew his sole ride, Ballaghmor Class, from this week’s Mars Badminton Horse Trials (8-12 May). Oliver said he was “gutted” to withdraw “Thomas” and explained that the 17-year-old gelding had an abscess earlier in the season and consequently missed a couple of runs and gallops. “This morning (7 May) he went for his final gallop and with the 11min 30sec cross-country course combined with the possible soft ground we don’t feel he’s at his normal five-star fitness right now.” Oliver added that Thomas is “fit and well” but it was simply not in his best interest to run this week. More withdrawals were announced ahead of the first horse inspection, which gets under way at 4.30pm today (8 May), including one of Laura Collett’s rides, Bling, James Rushbrooke and Milchem Eclipse, Rose Nesbitt and EG Michelangelo, and Ireland’s Joseph Murphy and Barrichello.
Denis Lynch and stallion Dark Chocolate 48 in action at the CSI5* Verona, Italy.
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)
Dark Chocolate, ridden and produced by Ireland’s Denis Lynch, was the top lot at the Aloga showjumping horse auction in Belgium this week. The 10-year-old grand prix stallion was sold for €2.3 million (£1,975,000) for a European-based student of Cian O’Connor, with aims of the young rider European Championships this year. Dark Chocolate was the leading eight-year-old in the seven- and eight-year-old final with Denis at the Dublin Horse Show in 2022 and has enjoyed multiple placings at five-star level.
Martin Fuchs (SUI) riding Leone Jei in the CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix during the Royal Windsor Horse Show In Partnership with Defender, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 1st - 5th May 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon / RWHS)
Martin Fuchs’ Leone Jei demonstrated his superb talent once again, when he won the Rolex grand prix at the Royal Windsor Horse Show last weekend. “I knew after I walked the course that the jump-off would suit us very well and if I do a good job, then normally he’s going to jump two clear rounds,” said Martin, who won the class last year on Connor Jei. “I knew that I had to risk everything, having some of the fastest riders in the world coming after me. If I do the same amount of strides as the others I can be a bit slower but his energy and ability enables me to leave out strides where other horses aren’t able to.”
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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.
