Lucinda Fredericks and her game little mare, Headley Brittania, seemed destined to win the Badminton CCI**** (England) from the outset.
Fredericks (left) , who rides for Australia, had just one rail down to finish with the win—the first time in 56 years that a mare has won Badminton. This pair was also the winner of the 2006 Burghley CCI**** (England).
A clean, fast cross-country go for Kim Severson and Winsome Adante put them just .2 penalties behind Fredericks, but two rails down at fence 12, the triple combination, gave the leader some breathing room.
It was Severson’s first Badminton run. “Obviously it is a fantastic thing to come to Badminton and jump around, but for us it was more about getting us back together as partners,” said Severson (right). She was unsure about what the pair would attempt next.
Although Severson and “Dan” are three-time Rolex Kentucky winners and Olympic individual silver medalists, they had a fall at Burghley two years ago and an unlucky run-out at the World Equestrian Games last August.
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Severson’s rails opened the way for Germany’s Andreas Dibowski and FRH Serve Well to move into second place with a double clear round. Sarah Cohen and Hide and Seek II were the highest placed British combination, finishing in ninth.
Gina Miles and Jan Byyny both jumped double clear rounds on McKinlaigh and Task Force, respectively. Miles finished in 15th place, while Byyny ended in the 36th position.
Other impressive performances included Jeanette Breakwell’s 14th placed finish with 19-year-old Over To You. They finished Badminton a record seven times over the years.
Photos by Anthony Trollope/EWB News
