Rule Britannia
Lucinda Fredericks raised the winner's trophy at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (3-6 May, 2007) having led throughout with the talented little chestnut mare, Headley Britannia.
The victory follows Lucinda’s first major four-star win at the Burghley Horse Trials last September (2006) and comes just one week after her husband Clayton (who co-owns Headley Britannia with Lucinda) won the Rolex Kentucky four-star event in the USA.
After achieving an outstanding dressage score of 34.8 on day one, Lucinda added a mere 1.6 time penalties across-country and another 4 penalties in the show jumping to finish on 39.6 penalties, two points clear of German rider Andreas Dibowski aboard FRH Serve Well. Kim Severson (USA) and Winsome Adante claimed third place, whilst fourth went to another of Australian’s prestigious riders, Olympic gold medallist, Matt Ryan piloting Bonza Katoomba.
Sarah Cohen (nee Cutteridge) finished best of the British in ninth place with Hide And Seek II, and the legendary Over To You and Jeanette Brakewell completed their seventh and final Badminton together to finish as second best British in 14th place.
At the press conference after the event, Lucinda was full of praise for the wonderful Burghley and now Badminton winner Headley Britannia, saying that she is going to be harvested for Embryo Transfer before coming back into work again.
About Badminton
Known as ‘the world's greatest three-day event’, Badminton Horse Trials is one of the most testing competitions in the equestrian calendar. Held on an annual basis, its famous cross-country course is long and demanding and is a major test for horse and rider. The course is well built and most competitors manage to get round, if they don't fall in the water that is! Although this year unfortunately suffered the loss of two horses during the cross-country phase.
The first two days of the event (the Thursday and Friday) are for dressage, while Saturday is for cross-country when riders are required to navigate their way around 30 fences and the event accumulates on the Sunday with the show-jumping contest.
The event is based in the glorious parkland of the Duke of Beaufort's Gloucestershire home, best experienced by walking the cross-country course as the horses go round.
In addition to the horse trials, there is a great deal of shopping to be done; there are numerous stands boasting a wide range of country clothing, horse equipment, food and craft fair marquees and much, much more.
