NICHOLAS IS THE FIRST FRENCH WINNER
French phenomenon Nicolas Touzaint became the first Frenchman ever
to win The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. Tears of both
relief and disbelief flowed down his face as he and Hildago De
L’Ile performed several fast victory laps and the French National
Anthem was played here for the first time. “Just to compete at
Badminton is a dream and I never for one moment imagined I could
win – although I had hoped to finish in the top five,” said
Nicolas. “Many have doubted this horse but now he is a true
Champion.”
Just as yesterday’s cross country, show jumping proved equally
influential – prior to the top ten Mary King and Imperial Cavalier
was the only combination to have jumped clear without time
penalties over Jon Doney’s course. Former British team members
Sharon Hunt and Tankers Town in eighth place after cross country
really put the pressure on the top after the pair jumped clear –
immediately followed by the New Zealand combination of Caroline
Powell and the feisty grey Lenamore. Oliver Townend (GBR) and
Georgie Davies (GBR) both dropped out of contention with three
fences down a piece while fourth placed William Fox-Pitt and
Ballincoola added just four faults to their score sheet.
For British rider Lucy Wiegersma and Shaabrak it was so close. The
Devonshire based combination had an early four faults and the
capacity crowd held their breath as she negotiated the remaining
fences – holding her nerve to leave them standing. The four faults
gave Nicolas Touzaint a margin for error which he used at the final
element of the treble combination. Determination was written over
the 27-year-old’s face as he practically lifted Hildago over the
fences. While the 13-year old Selle Francais began to flatten down
the final line a supreme effort over the last left them with just
the four faults on their card to finish just 1.4 penalties ahead of
Lucy and Shaabrak. “When I had the third fence down I really
thought that was it – there is still quite a way to go at that
stage and I was surprised at how tacky the ground was,” said Lucy,
“But I am delighted with him he has jumped his heart out.”
After a dressage test that left them in 17th place William Fox-Pitt
was delighted to find himself in the top three with
Ballincoola.
