AS the week of the 75th anniversary edition of Badminton unfolded, one brilliant winner’s story after another came into focus through the rays of perfectly timed sunshine.
Oliver Townend wins the Rolex Grand Slam. William Fox-Pitt lands his 15th fivestar and retires. Tim Price finally coaxes a showjumping clear from Vitali to hold on to victory. Emily King becomes a second-generation five-star winner on her first completion and fifth start here. An unknown Irish amateur debutante trounces everyone. Bubby Upton makes a victorious comeback from a potentially career-ending injury less than a year ago.
And yet, one after another, these stories faded away. In their place, galloping round in the winner’s rug when all was said and done, were New Zealand’s Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier, owned by Chris and Michelle Mann and her rider.
No one expected Caroline to win. Data analytics experts EquiRatings put her victory chance at 2% before the event.
“It never entered my mind that we would win it – you get to an age where you start slowing down a little bit and said Caroline, 51, admitting that at one point in the buildup she had told her groom Tristan Hudson never to let her enter again.
It is 14 years since Caroline, who is based in Suffolk, won Burghley in 2010 with the much-loved Lenamore; she has never been on a fivestar podium bar that result, although the cheeky, popular grey gave her plenty of top 10s.
“You always come here and hope to get your double clear and everyone go home safe and happy, but to win it is just unbelievable,” she declared.
Esta historia es de la edición May 16, 2024 de Horse & Hound.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 16, 2024 de Horse & Hound.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
City Of Troy hailed as greatest ever
The megastar colt silences his critics with an emphatic Derby success and there's plenty to celebrate for the Gredley family in the historic race
Head in the Games
Caring for elite horses is something a world leading groom takes in their stride, but how do they tackle their day job when their charge is an Olympic competitor? Bethany Stone asks those all-important questions
Horserail continues to set the pace
More than 25 years on since launching its unique plastic fencing, Horserail is still making strides in the equestrian fencing market with its innovation
Changes through the ages
Horse management has unquestionably revolutionised over the past 14 decades – but is it always for the better? Catherine Austen charts the changes
'A great joy thousands of soldiers'
Throughout World War II, the Horse & Hound team never missed publishing the magazine, despite the editor being killed in a bombing, sport being decimated and the printers being shelled. Former H&H deputy editor Pippa Cuckson discovers a Blitz-spirit mentality that held the magazine together and boosted morale in those dark years
'Every Whitaker is successful in one way or another
As part of H€9H’s 140th anniversary, we've been celebrating Britain’s eminent rider families with a series of interviews. In our fourth and final instalment, we meet four of the Whitaker dynasty: Michael, John, Jack and Robert
Cover in glory
The great and the good of the equestrian world remember the first time they featured in H&9H. Luz Wollocombe speaks to the superstars
A tricky start
Health problems in the first phases of life require prompt attention. Equine nurse Samantha Feighery RVN discusses common disorders in newborn foals
'Every Finnish person is mad about the Olympics'
Six-time Olympian Kyra Kyrklund discusses competing behind the Iron Curtain, sleeping in the stable and coping when calamity strikes
Private investigator
Sean Memory is a retired detective now assisting the National Trainers Federation, dealing with online and in-person abuse
