Raising the game
Horse & Hound|March 07, 2024
Fourteen years after the grassroots championships moved to Badminton, Pippa Roome examines how they have developed and their place in the sport
- Pippa Roome
Raising the game

"BADMINTON prospect" is seen on numerous for sale ads - but over the past 14 years, we've become accustomed to checking whether this refers to an equine athlete destined for the five-star competition or the grassroots. Either will be worth their weight in sticky pound notes to the right rider.

The grassroots championships moved from Aston-le-Walls to Badminton for the 2010 event, giving the country's best BE90 and BE100 combinations a run at one of the most prestigious venues in Britain.

Hugh Thomas, then Badminton's event director, said: "To be able to host the championships for the grassroots riders alongside our international event will be quite a challenge but we very much look forward to making them feel part of our Badminton family."

The event was sponsored by Badminton's headline supporter Mitsubishi Motors - and was for a while rebranded the Mitsubishi Motors Cup, with winners given a car for a year - while more recently Voltaire Design has taken on the title sponsorship.

Event organiser Ollie Bush says that not a great deal has changed in terms of the layout, with the stables and first two phases across the road from the main site, and organisation. She modestly describes herself as a "minor cog in a big wheel" of the "united team effort" of the organisation.

The big change since that first running has been the timetable. In 2010, the grassroots cross-country took place alongside the first day of five-star (then four-star) dressage (on the Friday), causing consternation as some top horses were upset by whistles and galloping hooves.

この蚘事は Horse & Hound の March 07, 2024 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は Horse & Hound の March 07, 2024 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

HORSE & HOUNDのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
Super Sonic steps up
Horse & Hound

Super Sonic steps up

Oakley Nash lands a 128cm double with \"wild\" project pony and a determined 138cm rider is in flying form

time-read
2 分  |
March 06, 2025
Townend takes two
Horse & Hound

Townend takes two

A familiar face and a potential future star triumph for Oliver Townend, as the eventing season gets under way

time-read
4 分  |
March 06, 2025
Last-minute dash ends in triumph
Horse & Hound

Last-minute dash ends in triumph

A change of plan leads to victory and a home-bred star proves that talent runs in the family

time-read
1 min  |
March 06, 2025
William's the Lad
Horse & Hound

William's the Lad

It's back-to-back victories in the hunt race he sponsors for a delighted – and generous – William Fox Grant

time-read
3 分  |
March 06, 2025
Saving Britain's in-hand show tradition
Horse & Hound

Saving Britain's in-hand show tradition

Kim Wilson investigates how Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain is tackling the decline of in-hand classes and working to secure the future of youngstock

time-read
4 分  |
March 06, 2025
'This unspoilt hunting heaven
Horse & Hound

'This unspoilt hunting heaven

A visit by the RS Surtees Society to Northumberland provides a showcase for the Percy hounds and their hunting country

time-read
6 分  |
March 06, 2025
Local hero is all heart
Horse & Hound

Local hero is all heart

A Borders team lifts Scotland's richest hurdle for the second year with a gutsy six-year-old and a £1,000 purchase richly rewards a patient owner

time-read
2 分  |
March 06, 2025
Access all areas Gavin Cromwell
Horse & Hound

Access all areas Gavin Cromwell

The former farrier is sending his strongest team of Cheltenham Festival runners yet. Jennifer Donald meets the team behind a remarkable success story

time-read
7 分  |
March 06, 2025
Saffron Cresswell
Horse & Hound

Saffron Cresswell

The young event rider, who suffered a serious spinal injury in a fall last year, talks to Pippa Roome about her journey so far and what the future holds

time-read
8 分  |
March 06, 2025
Daphne
Horse & Hound

Daphne

This contrary mare may spin like a top and be uncatchable in the summer, but she's \"terrifyingly brave\" and absolutely brilliant in the hunting field

time-read
2 分  |
March 06, 2025