7 stories you need to read about Bicton five-star’s final day: a surprise proposal, a nosebleed and the future of eventing

Britain’s only five-star of 2021 concluded today with the Chedington Bicton Horse Trials showjumping. Here are seven things you need to know about the final phase…

1. Gemma Tattersall achieved her first five-star win, riding the 11-year-old home-bred Chilli Knight, owned by Chris Stone.

• Find out whether Gemma always knew Chilli Knight would be a winner at this level

2. And then, her boyfriend Gary Stevens proposed to her…

• Read more about the surprise proposal

3. William Fox-Pitt gave us an update on his ride Oratorio II’s condition after his nosebleed on the cross-country course yesterday.

• Check out what William told H&H about pulling up yesterday and how the horse is doing today

4. Pippa Funnell showjumped clear to take second on Barbara and Nicholas Walkinshaw’s 12-year-old Billy Walk On.

• Learn what Pippa said about the importance of five-star competitions in eventing

5. One horse was withdrawn after yesterday’s cross-country and not presented at the Bicton Horse Trials final trot-up.

• Find out which horse was withdrawn and what his rider said

6. Piggy March slipped from first after cross-country to third with two fences down on Trevor Dickens’ 2019 Badminton Horse Trials winner Vanir Kamira, who is now 16 years old.

• Find out what Piggy said about Vanir Kamira’s performance today

7. Today’s Bicton Horse Trials showjumping course involved 12 numbered fences, with a double at fence five and a treble at fence nine. There were five clear rounds over the track.

• See pictures of all the showjumps

You might also be interested in:

A proposal after prize-giving: Gemma Tattersall gets engaged after winning Bicton

William Fox-Pitt updates on Oratorio’s condition after nosebleed on Bicton cross-country

Gemma Tattersall takes her first five-star win at Bicton: ‘It’s been a massive road to this point’

Runner-up Pippa Funnell reflects on Bicton: ‘I wouldn’t want to be in the sport without five-stars’

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Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.