Australian quartet set for Badminton

Australia will be represented by four riders at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials this week including Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sam Griffiths and his top mare Paulank Brockagh.

Remarkably, it will be the sixth consecutive year the combination has started at Badminton with the best performance since their 2013 debut a victory in 2014.

Sam has not competed Paulank Brockagh since the Pau CCI4* in October last year. The 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare has a big year ahead with selection for the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon in September high on the agenda.

Like Sam, UK based Paul Tapner will be lining up at his sixth consecutive Badminton (12 altogether) and is also a past winner of the prestigious event in 2010. This year the 42-year-old will be riding Bonza King of Rouges. They will be putting a frustrating run out at Belton International behind them and focussing on previous good starts this season with 5th at Gatcombe in the AI and 7th in the OI at Oasby. They also finished in the top 20 at Burghley last year.

Lissa Green, who is the daughter 1992 Olympic Eventing gold medallist David, will also fly the flag for Australia at Badminton this week. Her mother Lucinda won Badminton a record six times on six different horses, a feat no other rider has ever come close to matching.

Lissa made her Badminton debut last year on Malin Head Clover and had to withdraw before the jumping phase. This year she will be riding her 14-year-old gelding Hollyfield and is coming off the back of a very strong performance at Belton International, jumping a classy double clear in the CIC. Some of her other notable performances last year included 4th at Cappoquin (Camphire) CCIand 5th at Belton in the CIC**.

Warren Lamperd and Silvia are first-timers at Badminton this year. They last competed at Burghley in 2017.

All the action begins tomorrow and you can watch it via our partner Horse & Country TV.
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Equestrian Australia would like to wish all horses and riders the very best of luck!

Article courtesy of Equestrian Australia