Since its inception in 2010, the British Eventing seven-year-old champions have been crowned in the CCI3*-S championship at Osberton International Horse Trials, near Worksop, which has, unsurprisingly, thrown up some horses who have gone on to achieve great things in the eventing world.
With the event running again this week (29 September – 3 October), we take a look back at the 11 previous winners, what they went on to do and where they are now…
British Eventing seven-year-old champions: 2010-2020
2010 champion — Borough Pennyz
This grey mare doesn’t really need any introduction. In 2010, which was a particularly wet year, she was only one of two combinations to finish on her dressage score with rider Vittoria Panizzon. Since then she has amassed 1093 British Eventing (BE) points, finished seventh at Badminton in 2013 and was eighth individually at the 2013 European Championships.
2011 champion — DHI Zatopek B
DHI Zatopek B, who was ridden by John-Paul Sheffield, didn’t event again in the UK following his win at Osberton, when he joined the ranks of British Eventing seven-year-old champions. He was sold to the United States and can now be found competing under Vienna Allport, with whom he has jumped clear around CCI2*-S tracks.
2012 champion — Rehy USA
Rehy USA, who was ridden by Tom McEwen, went on to finish second in the under-25 CCI3*-L at Tattersalls in 2014 and was sold to the USA later that year. He is still in the US now, and since his arrival there, has enjoyed success at two-star level with a selection of riders, including Will Coleman and Meghan O’Donoghue.
2013 champion — Belco HRS
This gelding, by Hold Up Premier, won by over eight penalties under Tom How when he took this title, which added to his five- and six-year-old titles too. He beat a number of current five-star horses in the process, including Xavier Faer, Quality Purdey and Talent. When Tom gave up eventing, Piggy French (now March) took over the ride, winning two open intermediates and the CCI3*-L at Weston Park. Tom’s sister Sophie then campaigned Belco predominantly in open novice classes and in the summer of 2019 he completed some grassroots events with Jonathan Procter.
2014 champion — Ceylor LAN
Campaigned by Kitty King, Ceylor LAN was another horse to beat some now very established five-star horses in the 2014 championship, including Ballaghmor Class, Ivar Gooden, Cooley SRS, Call Me Maggie May and Charles RR. This came after he had already scooped the five- and six-year-old titles in 2012 and 2013. He then went on to win the CCI4*-L at Tattersalls and finished third in the CCI4*-L at Blenheim in 2015 as an eight-year-old. Consistent results at four-star level meant they were selected to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games, where they finished 30th. Ceylor LAN and Kitty then finished fourth in the five-star at Luhmühlen in 2018. Unfortunately, he had most of 2017 off through injury and was entered for Badminton in 2019 but was withdrawn due to injury and so had most of the 2019 season off too. In 2020, he came out well after the Covid-19 lockdown that put paid to the early part of the season and won two advanced classes in August and this season he has been placed in advanced classes and was ninth in the CCI4*-S at Bicton.
2015 champion — Caja 20
This chestnut mare went on to win Blenheim’s eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S as an eight-year-old. Ridden by Willa Newton, Caja has since finished third in the CCI4*-L at Tattersalls in 2017, which was enough to see them long listed for the European Championships at Strzegom. A year later they jumped double clear in the CCI4*-S at Millstreet in August 2018 and won an open intermediate section at Burnham Market in September 2019.
2016 champion — Lauries Laudatio 2
Willa Newton won again in 2016, this time on Lauries Laudatio 2, who beat some very smart horses. These included Billy Walk On, who finished second under Pippa Funnell, Vendredi Biats and Kitty King, who were third and Little Fire and William Fox-Pitt. After his win with Willa, Lauries Laudatio 2 was sold to young rider Fab Parkin, and together they have campaigned predominantly at BE100 under-18 level, stepping up to novice level successfully in 2019. In 2021, Lauries Laudatio 2 has competed at novice and two-star level with Willa.
2017 champion — Cola III
Ridden by young rider Bubby Upton, Cola went on to finish second in the young rider CCI3*-L at Houghton in 2018 and consequently represented Great Britain at the young rider European Championships in Fontainebleau. In 2019 they won a CCI3*-S section at Belton, finished second in the young rider CCI3*-L at Houghton and then won team gold and individual silver at the young rider European Championships in Maarsbergen. In September 2019 Cola stepped up to four-star level, finishing with a clear cross-country round in the eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S at Blenheim. In the short 2020 season after the Covid-19 lockdown, Cola finished ninth in the CCI4*-S at Burgham and then moved up to CCI4*-L level for the first time, completing Burnham Market’s class at the level with a clear inside the time across country. In 2021 Cola and Bubby won the advanced under-25 at Cirencester Park, and were fourth in the CCI4*-L under-25 at Bicton, among other top 10 four-star placings.
2018 champion — Corouet
Sarah Bullimore and Corouet, who is out of Lily Corinne, one of Sarah’s five-star horses, via embryo transfer, finished in the top seven at both of his advanced starts the year after his Osberton win. In 2019 he also completed the eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S at Blenheim with a clear cross-country and the following season he was eighth in the CCI4*-S at Burgham and third in the CCI4*-L at Burnham Market. In 2021, this diminutive event horse has impressed with several top 10 four-star placings, which earned him an individual spot at the European Eventing Championships where he and Sarah won a bronze medal.
2019 champion — Sportsfield Top Notch
Piggy March and Sportsfield Top Notch won their first two runs of 2020 – open novices in March and July, either side of the Covid-19 lockdown – and then achieved two top-five CCI3*-S placings in August and September. In 2021, Sportsfield Top Notch clocked up some solid three- and four-star form and successfully stepped up to national advanced level too.
2020 champion — HH Moonwalk
Tom Jackson was successful in 2020, only this time the championships were held at Thoresby Park owing to Covid. HH Moonwalk was originally produced by Laura Schroter, and Tom took over the ride in 2020. In 2021, HH Moonwalk won the CCI3*-S at Kelsall Hill, plus an intermediate too. He also successfully stepped up to advanced level and completed the CCI4*-S eight- and nine-year-old class at Blenheim.
Don’t miss the full report on the British Eventing seven-year-old champions crowned at Thoresby in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out on 7 October
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