NZ’s Paget wins Badminton Horse Trials

New Zealand’s Jock Paget has triumphed inward an extraordinary climax to Britain’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, quaternary leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.

Paget, who is the commencement Badminton debutant to win since swain Kiwi Mark Todd won on Southern Comfort inward 1980, had been at keen pains to tell people that he had thus far never jumped clear inward the finale of a CCI4*. But this time, he as well as Clifton Promise were quietly flawless, every bit indeed they had been throughout the entire contest inward which the spotlight had been focussed on the tussle betwixt Jung, Nicholson as well as Fox-Pitt.

In an close unbelievable scenario, the unremarkably faultless Michael Jung (GER) as well as La Biosthetique Sam, leaders after commencement 2 phases, hitting the really finally rail of the contest as well as dropped to 2d place.

The Rolex Grand Slam challenge evaporated inward a split-second when William Fox-Pitt (GBR) as well as Parklane Hawk hitting the finally business office of the treble at scrap 7 to driblet from 3rd to 5th place.

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) had already jumped clear on Nereo to rising ane identify to third, but when Paget produced his foot-perfect round, Nicholson had to stimulate got that the Grand Slam request was over for him too.

Nicholson, who has the considerable consolation of extending his Pb inward the HSBC FEI Classics, admitted that the dollar signs flashed yesteryear his eyes when Fox-Pitt hitting a fence. “I for sure saw a lot of coin for a moment,” he laughed.

He has at ane time completed Badminton 33 times – to a greater extent than than whatever other passenger – but it was alone his 2d fourth dimension inward the overstep three. “But I stimulate got thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend,” he said. “It’s been really exciting, which is keen for the sport, as well as keen for New Zealand where eventing has fifty-fifty been getting ahead of the rugby inward the news.”

Of Paget, he said: “He’s a keen man child – a keen rider. It’s keen for New Zealand to stimulate got someone similar Jock inward the wings here. It’s skillful for the likes of me as well as Mark who are getting on a fleck to stimulate got ones similar him from our dry soil making us really alarm as well as really focused.”

After the disappointment of non winning, Nicholson said: “Yeah, it’s non the commencement time. I’ll live dorsum again. I’m really happy amongst my horses’ performances. I only recollect it has been keen for the whole sport all calendar week – I stimulate got thoroughly enjoyed beingness business office of the ‘razzamatazz’ as well as the buzz of it all as well as I was only pleased that I could play my business office until the end.

“It would stimulate got been dainty to win the $350,000 but I didn’t stimulate got it to start with, thus I haven’t lost it, stimulate got I! Perhaps I’ll endeavour as well as win Burghley as well as larn the ball rolling again!” Nicholson said.

William Fox-Pitt, who finished 5th on Parklane Hawk, said: “Luck wasn’t quite on our side but he has performed thus good all calendar week amongst a reasonable amount of pressure level from both me as well as externally – horses tin dismiss alone alternative upward on that a piffling fleck as well as he has responded thus good as well as to come upward out as well as perform similar that is exciting as well as rewarding.”

Of missing out on the Grand Slam, he said: “I couldn’t stimulate got won Badminton as well as the Rolex Grand Slam, amongst the 2 going together, but finishing 5th is great. It is a large relief – it volition live dainty to supply to life every bit normal – amongst the telephone non ringing all the fourth dimension as well as people wanting interviews!

“It has been an exciting experience as well as I am really fortunate to stimulate got been able to taste it as well as hope it has done a lot for the sport as well as a lot for Rolex as well as a lot for Badminton.”

Equestrian Sports New Zealand high functioning charabanc Erik Duvander said the well-deserved win was something Paget had been edifice upward to for a while.

“I believed strongly that Jock could win – they’ve come upward into the contest amongst the Equus caballus inward overstep shape as well as I never doubted he could push clitoris it off,” he said. “Many tell they would rather win Badminton than the Olympics … inward the eventing world, Badminton is the glory ane to win.”

He also had plenty of praise for Nicholson.

“He is only such a machine. It was thus tight at the overstep that whatever of those v or half-dozen could stimulate got won amongst a piffling luck on the day. Andrew genuinely is the ultimate sportsman.”

Ironically, Jung, who won his Olympic gilt medal cheers to a last-fence error yesteryear Sara Algotsson-Ostholt (SWE) at Greenwich Park finally summer, has been preparation Paget during the wintertime as well as he was amused yesteryear the proposition that he powerfulness stimulate got done likewise skillful a job. “I’ll live preparation amongst Jock now,” he joked.

The German, a pop novel confront at Badminton, was sporting inward defeat. “Sam was jumping amongst a lot of ability as well as I thought I had a skillful draw to the last, but perchance I was going likewise fast,” he said. “I am withal really pleased amongst my 2d identify as well as to live at my commencement Badminton.”

Eight nations were represented inward the overstep 12 inward ane of the most international line-ups seen at whatever CCI4*, as well as 65 of the 84 starters completed the competition. There were 20 clear jumping rounds without fourth dimension penalties.

Ten years ago, Paget, 29, had non fifty-fifty ridden at an international event. He was an apprentice stonemason inward Sydney, Australia, when he commencement started riding. “I knew when I came to Badminton that I had 2 keen horses as well as that I could win, but didn’t genuinely recollect I was going to,” said the small-scale Paget, who was also 14th on Clifton Lush.

“Until now, I’d made a few piffling mistakes at CCI4* marker but I kept knocking at the door. When I was a teenager, I watched Badminton on video, but the thought of winning it was for sure a distant dream.

“I was only thinking ane scrap at a time,” said Paget of his showjumping round, admitting that the victory hadn’t genuinely sunk in. “I came hither knowing I had 2 keen horses as well as that I could win … both horses did everything I asked of them as well as that was enough.”

He, possessor Frances Stead, the Kiwi riders as well as supporters did non lookout adult man Jung’s showjumping circular as well as when the cheer went upward they figured the High German had won. But it was chop-chop followed yesteryear a groan … as well as and then the celebrations began.

“I’ve spent fourth dimension amongst Michael as well as he is such a perfectionist. When he gets to the finally scrap yous would never hold off him to stimulate got it downwards as well as I heard the crowd cheer as well as I thought he’s a champion – he deserves it. And as well as then I heard the “arrghh” as well as I thought ‘shoot, I recollect I’ve only won!” Paget said.

Of his clear round, he said: “It’s the commencement fourth dimension the Equus caballus has finished on his dressage score at a 3 twenty-four sixty minutes catamenia event. He’s ever been the type of Equus caballus that pulls something amazing out when yous demand him the most as well as that’s what he did. I don’t recollect it ever feels slow amongst the pressure, but he was amazing – he was jumping everything every bit difficult every bit he could similar he does as well as he never made a error – he was perfect.”

Paget finished Badminton on his 39.7 penalization indicate dressage score, amongst Jung adding 4 faults to goal on xl as well as Nicholson on 40.2 for third.

Paget – known inward the sport every bit Jock – started riding at the historic catamenia of xviii in Sydney, Australia, his identify unit of measurement having moved from New Zealand inward 1986. He started preparation amongst Kevin McNab inward Queensland as well as progressed from never having jumped a scrap to competing at CCI3* marker inward 2 years.

After the 2007 equine flu outbreak inward Sydney, Paget returned to New Zealand as well as started riding Frances Stead’s Clifton horses. His commencement CCI4* was Kentucky inward 2010 where he was finished 7th as well as was after selected for the Kiwi squad for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games inward 2010, where he ane time to a greater extent than finished 7th individually on Clifton Promise.

Paget has been based inward Dunsfold, inward the southward of England, working closely amongst Todd as well as Nicholson, since Feb 2011. He was business office of the bronze medal New Zealand squad at the London Olympic Games inward 2012, finishing 10th on Clifton Promise.

His other CCI4* results include 2 5th places at Burghley, inward 2011 as well as 2012, on Clifton Lush, plus 6th at Kentucky as well as 2d at Pau finally yr on Clifton Promise. He is at ane time 2d on the HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard.

Clifton Promise is a 14-year-old New Zealand bred thoroughbred gelding, yesteryear Engagement (by Alydar) as well as out of Darn Style (Cautious Style x Darnley Flight). His racing advert was Bachelor Boy, as well as he was unplaced inward v starts.

Nicholson, who has completed Badminton a tape 30-plus times, was also 11th on Avebury (owned yesteryear Mark as well as Rosemary Barlow as well as Nicholson), amongst Paget 14th on Clifton Lush (owned yesteryear Lucy Allison as well as Frances Stead).

Caroline Powell was 21st on Onwards as well as Upwards (owned yesteryear Cameron as well as Mary Crawford as well as Powell) as well as 33rd on Boston Two Tip (owned yesteryear Alan Bell as well as Powell).

Training bursary for Sarah Ennis

Ireland’s Sarah Ennis, who finished 38th on Sugar Brown Babe as well as won the $1,000 HSBC Training Bursary for the most successful first-time CCI4* completion, has been competing internationally for 20 years but had never been to Badminton before.

In 2012, she was 2d at Tattersalls CCI3* as well as was longlisted for the Irish Gaelic squad for the London Olympic Games. She also won the spill Ballindenisk CIC3* (IRL) on BLM Diamond Dulux as well as was 3rd on Sugar Brown Babe.

Ennis, 38, lives inward Dunboyne, Co Meath, as well as runs Stellor Sport Horses. She is married as well as has a three-year-old son.

Sugar Brown Babe, an Irish Gaelic Sport Horse, is an 11-year-old mare yesteryear Porsch, owned as well as bred yesteryear Miriam Murphy.

Compatriot Aoife Clark produced an impressive present jumping functioning to goal 8th overall. Piloting the Irish Gaelic Sport Horse Master Crusoe, the 31-year-old from Naas was lying 16th after dressage on Friday. The combination climbed 4 places on Sat to concur twelfth seat overnight, as well as on Mon collected only ane fourth dimension fault on the challenging finally stage to secure an 8th seat on the leaderboard.

Clark, who finished overall 7th at the London Olympics finally yr amongst Master Crusoe, was ane of 8 Irish Gaelic riders who qualified for this year’s Badminton event.

Carlow’s Sam Watson finished only exterior the overstep 20 amongst the Irish Gaelic Sport Horse Horseware Bushman, 4 faults inward present jumping leaving him inward 22nd overall.

Elizabeth Power also seat inward a rigid present jumping performance, ane scrap downwards amongst the Irish Gaelic Sport Horse September Bliss giving her a 26th place.

Other Irish Gaelic places included Joseph Murphy inward 52nd, Jim Newsam inward 55th as well as Michael Ryan inward 63rd. Peter Hannigan was eliminated during the cross dry soil phase.

Leading the U.S.A. accuse was Tiana Coudray as well as Ringwood Magister, who finished inward 17th place. The brace completed the dressage inward equal tenth identify amongst a score of 43.3 as well as 2 fourth dimension penalties on the cross dry soil kept them inward tenth heading into the present jumping. Two rails for an additional 8 penalties left them inward 17th identify at their commencement Badminton.

Also making their Badminton debuts were Clark Montgomery as well as Colleen Rutledge. Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) as well as Universe moved upward from 48th next the dressage to goal 27th yesteryear agency of clear jumping as well as 6.4 fourth dimension faults on the cross dry soil as well as faultless jumping inward the finally phase. Rutledge as well as her ain Shiraz became the alone combination to consummate all v CCI4*s inward the Northern Hemisphere. They moved upward from 77th next the commencement stage as well as only added 4 fourth dimension faults across the country, half-dozen rails inward the present jumping meant they finished inward 57th on a score of 91.2.

Bloodlines at Badminton

The Czech-bred thoroughbred stallion Heraldik was good represented this year. The quondam grand prix showjumper as well as footing discover ane eventing sire was responsible for Sam Griffiths’ Happy Times (15th), Ingrid Klimke’s FRH Butts Abraxxas (16th), Kai-Steffen Meier’s TSF Karascada chiliad (23rd) as well as Andreas Dibowski’s Butts Leon (eliminated at the finally Equus caballus inspection). He is also the dam-sire of runner-up La Biosthetique-Sam.

Those at the overstep of the leaderboard correspond a various gain of bloodlines. The winner, Clifton Promise, is a New Zealand thoroughbred, every bit is fifth-placed Parklane Hawk, who is yesteryear Grosvenor out of a mare yesteryear Brilliant Invader, sire of many international lawsuit horses including 1996 Olympic gilt medallist Ready Teddy.

Of the remaining overstep five, 3rd placed Nereo was bred inward Kingdom of Spain yesteryear quondam passenger Ramon Beca as well as is yesteryear the thoroughbred Fines out of Berganza yesteryear the Hanoverian Golfi, patch Sandra Auffarth’s Opgun Louvo is French-bred Selle Francais yesteryear Shogoun II, who was an international present jumper nether Philipe Le Jeune as well as Eric Navet.

The highest placed ex-racehorse inward this year’s champaign was Tom McEwen’s ride, the 13-year-old thoroughbred Dry Old Party. He ran 7 times during his 2 years inward preparation amongst Peter Winkworth. He is yesteryear Un Desperado (sire of 3 fourth dimension gilt loving cup winner Best Mate) out of a mare yesteryear Torus. Elizabeth Power’s September Bliss (26th) also started life on the track. He was previously trained yesteryear Jessica Harrington inward Republic of Ireland as well as ridden inward races yesteryear Elizabeth’s brother, Robert. He is yesteryear Norwich (a boy of Top Ville) out of mare yesteryear Good Thyne.

Reporting: Kate Green, Diana Dobson, Colin McLelland; Rolex; Badminton Horse Trials; USEF.

» Click icon at correct to thought total results
Final results
1 Jonathan Paget/Clifton Promise (NZL) 39.7 + 0 + 0 = 39.7
2 Michael Jung/La Biosthetique Sam FBW (GER) 36.0 + 0 + 4 = 40.0
3 Andrew Nicholson/Nereo (NZL) 40.2 + 0 + 0 = 40.2
4 Sandra Auffarth/Opgun Louvo (GER) 41.3 + 1.2 + 0 = 42.5
5 William Fox-Pitt/Parklane Hawk (GBR) 40.0 + 0 + 4 = 44.0
6 Stefano Brecciaroli/Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve (ITA) 36.8 + 6 + 4 = 46.8
7 Vittoria Panizzon/Borough Pennyz (ITA) 47.3 + 0 + 0 = 47.3
8 Aoife Clark/Master Crusoe (IRL) 45.8 + 0.8 + 1 = 47.6
nine Astier Nicolas/Piaf de B’Neville (FRA) 49.3 + 0 + 0 = 49.3
10 Christopher Burton/Holstein Park Leilani (AUS) 43.0 + 2.4 + 4 = 49.4
xi Andrew Nicholson/Avebury (NZL) 45.0 + 0 + 6 = 51.0
12 Rebecca Howard/Riddle Master (CAN) 51.3 + 0.8 + 0 = 52.1

HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard (after 4 of 6 events)
1 Andrew Nicholson (NZL) xl points
2 Jonathan Paget (NZL) 27
3 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 26
4 Michael Jung (GER) 22
5 Craig Barrett (AUS) 15
6 Natalie Blundell (AUS) 12
7 Murray Lamperd (AUS) 10
8 Sandra Auffarth (GER) 8
nine Buck Davidson (USA) 8
10 Jessica Manson (AUS) 8