AUSTIN O’Connor has finished third at the 2023 Badminton Horse Trials to become the first Irish rider on the podium for 40 years. Riding the Irish-bred gelding Colorado Blue, O’Connor had two fences down on the final day to slip from second to third behind eventual winner Ros Canter with Lordships Graffalo and Oliver Townend who finished second with the Irish Sport Horse Ballaghmor Class.
As the rain poured down at the Gloustershire venue, O’Connor and the Jaguar Mail-sired 14-year-old gelding, bred by Kate Jarvey, were second last into the arena and had a fence in hand over Oliver Townend.
Despite a slight rattle at the first fence, they were foot-perfect until the last line, when the grey knocked both parts of the penultimate double. They also picked up 1.2 time penalties to finish on 51.9 and slip behind Townend into third place. The last Irish rider to finish on the podium at Badminton was legendary racehorse trainer Jessica Harrington who was third in 1983 with Amoy.
Last to go with the title all but secured, Ros Canter had four fences in hand and the 2018 world champion duly delivered, adding just 1.6 time penalties, to win her first five-star with the 11-year-old gelding Lordships Graffalo who finished second at the event last year. They completed with a winning margin of 15 points on a final score of 35.3.
Ros Canter riding Lordships Graffalo \ Badminton Horse Trials
Townend completed on 50.3 with the Noel Hickey-bred 16-year-old grey Ballaghmor Class who is by Courage. It was his fourth Badminton completion and second time to finish runner-up; he has never been outside the top five.
Ros Canter held the lead from pillar to post, scoring 22.1 in the dressage arena and producing the second fastest time of the day across the country, only slower than Austin O’Connor.
Speaking straight after, Ros, who becomes only the fifth person to win both the world championship individual title and Badminton, said: “People say it’s fulfilling a dream, but I don’t know if I even dreamt I could do it. It will take a long time to sink in.
“I felt very un-calm and uncool when I came into the arena, but Lordships Graffalo jumped really well outside so that gave me confidence and I knew I could take my time. I felt my calmest when I got into the arena and I had a job to do. It was quite a long wait today, I was trying to not to think about what could go wrong.”
Speaking of the brilliant British-bred Grafenstolz-sired gelding who is owned by Michele Saul, Ros added: “He’s the ultimate event horse; it’s what he lives and breathes for. He’s a busy little character when he’s not being ridden, so this job fits him perfectly. We all love him to pieces, we love his character and how hard he tries, and most importantly he loves his job.
“It’s a bit of a relief as well, I’m extremely excited for everyone who has put so much into my career so far. It takes an army. It is what dreams are made of but it is going to take a little while to sink in.”
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