Piggy French joins Badminton’s hall of fame

Before the jumping, the last trial of the competition, Great-Britain’s Oliver Townend was about to sign the lowest score in Badminton’s history. With Ballaghmor Class, he had a comfortable lead : more than one fence down. But Badminton always has surprises in store for spectators starting with New Zeland’s Christopher Burton. On Cooley Lands, he was the only athletes realizing a double clear round this year. This means that he managed to keep his score from the dressage. With his performance, he put a lot of pressure on his opponents. But despite the facility he concluded his round, the pair had to settled for a third place with Cooley Lands. We find again Christopher Burton at the fourth place with his other horse Graf Liberty.

Leader of the competition before the jumping with Ballaghmor Class, Olivier Townend had a shot to test the track a first time on Cillnabradden Evo, the horse with the best grade in the history of Badminton after the dressage on Thursday. With one fence down, the pair obtained a sixth place.

In a very tense atmosphere and before the second shot of Olivier Townend, her compatriot and ex-partner Piggy French signed the eleventh and last clear round of the day. On Vanir Kamira, she finished her cross country trial only two seconds late to be in time. After her performance on the jumping, Oliver Townend knew he could win. He was one fence down and three seconds ahead of his followers. But after a fault on the tenth fence, all eyes turned to the timer. And against all expectations the pair was really slow. So slow that they lost their victory for a second.

This seventh CCI 5*-L of Vanir Kamira was finally the one. The fourteen-year old mare offered her first victory to her rider Piggy French, after second place in Burghley in 2017 and an elimination in Badminton last year. Team gold medalist at the Wolrd Championship in 2018 with Quarrycrest Echo, Piggy French was also second in Badminton in 2011 on Jakata and silver medalist at the European Championships in 2009 on Some Day Soon. This week-end she did not only win, she joined the legend of Badminton.

All results here: