Rockley's Will Rawlin delighted by Badminton debut
Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy at Badminton pic: Maddie PerrinsNew Zealander Caroline Powell pulled off a shock victory at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials at the weekend, after Tim Price and Vitali and William Fox Pitt and Grafennacht, who were in first and second respectively, had a number of fences down in the showjumping.
51-year-old Caroline, riding Greenacres Special Cavalier, said: ‘I wasn’t ready for that. I thought third place would be great, but to win – wow. It’s awesome and it means so much – I’m not in my youth and just to get a horse to this stage is difficult enough, but to win – I can’t believe it."
Equally delighted with his 24th place was debut Badminton entry Will Rawlin from Rockley and his horse Ballycoog Breaker Boy.
"I am super proud to finally complete my childhood dream which takes what feels like a lifetime to get there. For me I was just taking each day as it comes. In the moment I felt there were a few little ‘disappointments’ in each of the stages but these were quickly changed to ‘work ons’ to take back home for the next one. I’m a perfectionist and probably pretty tough on myself!
"When I was in the field of play, I was very much focussed on the job in hand and was pleased that the crowds didn’t get to me or my horse too much. In the dressage we absolutely felt the atmosphere but tried to keep very relaxed and calm. In the cross country I channelled the noise into support to pick us up when we needed it. However, looking back it really was a big deal which I can now congratulate myself for.
"William is a horse I know in time will be a top 10 contender, with Burghley very much being my next goal in sight. There were a few moments where he picked me up and helped me out on the course and vice versa, we look after each other. When you have a horse since a 4 year old you know each other inside out which really comes through on the toughest tracks when you need it! "
Ireland’s Lucy Latta made a dream Badminton debut to finish second on Leslie Crampton’s RCA Patron Saint and former farrier and rugby player Alex Bragg from Somerset climbed stratospherically from an original 60th place after dressage to finish third and best British rider on the Roe family’s mare Quindiva.