Lexington, KY- The 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials came to an exciting conclusion Monday with the final show jumping phase. The CCI4* held annually in Gloucestershire, Great Britain boasted one of the strongest fields outside of championship competition. It was New Zealand’s Jonathan Paget and Frances Stead’s Clifton Promise who collected the winner’s spoils in their first attempt at the prestigious competition; they finished on their dressage score of 39.7.

Leading the American charge was Tiana Coudray (Ojai, CA) and Jatial’s LLC’s Ringwood Magister finishing in 17th place. The pair completed the dressage in equal 10th place with a score of 43.3 and two time penalties on the cross country kept them in 10th heading into the show jumping. Two rails for an additional eight penalties left them in 17th place at their first Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Also making their Badminton debuts were Clark Montgomery and Colleen Rutledge. Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and wife Jess Montgomery’s Universe moved up from 48th following the dressage to finish 27th by way of clear jumping and 6.4 time faults on the cross country and faultless jumping in the final phase. Rutledge (Frederick, MD) and her own Shiraz became the only combination to complete all five CCI4*s in the Northern Hemisphere. They moved up from 77th following the first phase and just added four time faults across the country, six rails in the show jumping meant they finished in 57th on a score of 91.2.

Adding to the weekend’s excitement was the potential for a rider to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing for only the second time in history. In an unprecedented situation New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain where both vying for the $350,000 prize. Nicholson had won the 2012 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and the 2013 Rolex Kentucky-Three Day Event presented by Land Rover just one week ago and needed the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials to complete the Grand Slam. While Fox-Pitt was in the running after winning the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Due to excessive rain in 2012 the Badminton CCI4* was cancelled, necessitating Fox-Pitt to win the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials for his Grand Slam. However, it was not meant to be as Nicholson finished third and 11th with his two entries and Fox-Pitt fifth and 53rd on his two rides.

Learn more about the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials here. 
Learn more about the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing here. 
Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.