Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championships 2011 – End Of Day One!

As the four star competitors roll into the village of Badminton for the world-famous Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse trials, the Grassroots competitors have finished day one of the 2011 Badminton Grassroots Championships.

The competition was held at Badminton for the first time in 2010 in much different weather to what we are experiencing today! The blazing sunshine has emphasised the fantastic background of the day with over BE90 and BE100 competitors performing their dressage tests.

The series aims to champion those people who want to compete at the introductory levels of Eventing – at the other end of the spectrum from Badminton’s four star competition, and includes many riders who compete as amateurs or as a hobby.

The ages and occupations of today’s competitors include overnight BE100 leader BS sport-team member Beccy Philips (with Vamiro), farmer’s wife Sally Robinson, long distance lorry-driver Susan Chappelhow (pictured), plus fifteen year old school girl Maddie Taylor. Mother of two and corporate financier, Frances Davies leads the BE90 after day one with her ride Dark Pretender.

The course has been built to represent a smaller version the International course which Hugh Thomas and the Willis Bros have achieved to much acclaim: “They really have done an amazing job with the course, it is every inch as well prepared and dressed as the four star, it looks a very fair course with fantastic views of the house, which I am sure will get a few emotions going!” said BE100 competitor Johnny Hustler, Managing Director of Archant Dialogue, publishers of the British Eventing and Badminton Life magazines.

Overnight fifth-placed rider in the BE100, Neuroscientist Scott Ralph said:“The atmosphere is just completely amazing – totally unique from any other event I have ever been to, the Badminton team have really gone all-out to make us feel as special as we would if we were in the four star competition!”

Results at the end of day one of the Mitsubishi Motors BE90 and BE100 dressage results can be found here http://www.bdwp.co.uk/bgr/

 

Source: Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials