Lucinda Fredericks (pictured) raised the winner’s trophy at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials this afternoon.
Lucinda had just one show jump down to claim the £55,000 first prize, having led throughout the competition with her Burghley winner Headley Britannia.
“I never believed I could bring the trophy home,” said the 41-year-old. “It was a schoolgirl dream, but it’s a lot of hard work and you’ve got to stick at it.
“I’ve sold so many young horses and had advanced horses sold from under me, and I’ve finally managed to keep a horse I’ve bonded with. I’m proud to have stuck at what I wanted to do as a young girl and I’ve been rewarded with two huge wins.”
American triple Kentucky winner Kim Severson was just 0.2 of a penalty behind Lucinda heading into the final phase. But she lowered two fences to give Lucinda that much-needed rail in hand and drop to third.
“My recent placings haven’t been so stellar with Winsome Adante, so I came here just hoping to get round and not have a fall or anything,” said Kim. “I mainly wanted to get over this hump and for us to get back together as a partnership.”
Germany’s Andreas Dibowski was perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the show jumping shake-up, moving from fourth to the runner-up spot. He jumped clear with FRH Serve Well to complete a one-two for mares.
German dentist Hinrich Romeike also lowered two fences to fall from third to sixth with Marius Voigt-Logistik.
Sarah Cohen finished best of the British in ninth on Hide And Seek II, with Over To You ending his final Badminton as second best British horse in 14th. He and Jeanette Brakewell are the only combination to have completed Badminton seven times together.
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Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full 18-page magazine report, including fantastic photographs capturing the best of the action, a run down on the problem cross-country fences and former Badminton winner Ginny Elliot’s view on Lucinda Fredericks’ winning ride, on sale 10 May ’07.
