Badminton winners will oppose Parsonage record bid

The last two Badminton winners, Paul Tapner and Oliver Townend, are among the field that will provide stern competition for Gary Parsonage when he attempts a record-breaking fourth win of this year’s Eventing Grand Prix at the Longines Royal International Horse Show.

New title sponsor of the competition, leading sport horse and bloodstock insurer Amlin Plus, is likely to see one of the best competitions for years, with the traditional eventing v showjumping vendetta almost secondary to Gary’s attempt to enter the record book.

David Ashby, Amlin Plus managing director and himself owner of world-class event horses, said: “The Longines Royal International Horse Show is a wonderful show and the Eventing Grand Prix has always been a personal highlight.”

Irish rider Shane Breen will lead the showjumping attack, which includes Steven Franks and Miriam Goddard, fourth and fifth in this year’s Bunn Leisure Speed Derby.

Rivalry between the two disciplines has always produced amazing performances over a course that starts and finishes in Hickstead’s International Arena, with in between a series of cross country obstacles outside the arena. A track over the Derby Bank only slightly less intimidating than the famous steep descent is also included, together with a crowd-pleasing journey through the Hickstead lake.

Ranked against them will be the legendary New Zealander Mark Todd and his countryman Joe Meyer, this year’s Luhmuhlen four star winner Sharon Hunt, European Champion and Olympic medallist Kristina Cook, Ireland’s Mark Kyle – winner in 2005 with this year’s ride, Drunken Disorderly – and Georgie Spence, holder of two team Gold medals from the European Young Rider Championships.

12.07.10