Latest news with #OliverTownend
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Canter wins Badminton Horse Trials for second time
Olympic gold medallist Ros Canter won the Badminton Horse Trials for the second time in her career on Lordships pair, who claimed the title in 2023, regained it following a clear round in the Canter was second after the dressage and cross country elements behind compatriot Oliver Townend, who won the 2009 Townend, last out on board Cooley Rosalent, knocked down a rail in the showjumping finale to slip to second who was part of the British eventing team to win gold in the Paris Olympics last summer, dedicated her victory to her coach and mentor Caroline Moore, who died two months ago."This was for Caroline Moore, she was by my side my whole career," Canter told Horse and Hound."I'm so pleased I managed to make her proud. It's the first time I've done anything without her. Not only was she my trainer and mentor, but also the best friend."
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Superstar' horse eyes first Badminton Horse Trials win
The Olympic gold medallist pairing of Ballaghmor Class, ridden by Oliver Townend, could become the outright most successful British combination in eventing history at Badminton this pair have already enjoyed a distinguished career, claiming four five-star titles and leading Team GB to an historic Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo 18-year-old gelding has not been placed outside of the top five on his last four visits to Badminton, finishing runner-up you can watch highlights of the 2025 Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday, 11 May (BBC Two and iPlayer from 13:45 BST).Townend, who has had the horse he calls "Thomas" in his yard since a four-year-old, told BBC Sport: "There's no other way to describe Ballaghmor Class apart from being a part of the family. "He's very shy to start with but I think he's become quite aware that he's a superstar now."When the wagon goes down the road to a competition and he's not in it, he's banging the stable door down. Thomas is what you'd call a professional, a proper competition horse."The "quirky" horse first gained attention in winning the Burghley Horse Trials on his debut at the level in 2017. He has since achieved success at Kentucky, Burghley again and Maryland last 42, has won nine five-star level events, including Badminton in 2009 on Flint Curtis."For me to try to show the world how good he is, is my main job but, so far so good. By the time he finishes everybody will realise quite what a special horse we've seen," he is also riding Ballaghmor Class' stablemate Cooley Rosalent in a bid to claim his second Badminton title and 10th five-star Olympic champions Laura Collett, Ros Canter and Tom McEwen are amongst the challengers, alongside the reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham.
