ERA at Badminton 2010

Reports

The Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials turned out to be a great event for Paul Tapner and Inonothing, taking the spoils after leading from the cross country overnight. However, with a very rainy start to cross country day, many riders found it challenging. The weather forcing the organisers into removing three fences before the riders took to the course.

With Kia Ruder on Le Prince De Bois leading from the dressage on the first, the cross country was not kind to the top five overnight with four of them either eliminated or retired and Ruder himself dropping down to 29th after a stop. The opportunity left the door open for Paul Tapner to go into the overnight lead after a clear cross country jumping performance and just 0.4 time penalties (only four riders competed within the optimum time!). Mary King on Imperial Cavalier moved into second and debutant Simone Deitermann on Free Easy NRW found herself in third place at her first Badminton.

Final day show jumping went roughly according to the order with various minor changes to the top ten going into the top three. Sadly, it was not to be the dream for Dietermann, three fences down meant she dropped to 12th place. However, this gave Andrea Dobowski on Euroridings Butts Leon and Daisy Berkeley on Spring Along the chance to move into 2nd and 3rd respectively.

And so with the crowd routing for her, Mary King was heading for a fantastic clear before tapping a pole on one of the final fences, the mistake dropping her to 4th. And so all Paul Tapner was a clear round, he duly delivered with the crowd holding its collective breath. And so it was Paul Tapner and Inonothing who became Badminton 2010 Champions, Paul dedicating the win to his hard working team.

Pictures

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