Was this the most dramatic Badminton yet?

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Last year was criticised for being too much of a combined training competition – but the same could certainly not be said for the 2014 renewal of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

A new era

Even before the event got underway, people were expecting Giuseppe Della Chiesa’s new look cross-country course to cause some anguish. When the recent warm weather gave way this week to typical British showers and gales, the challenge ahead loomed even larger.

But few would have predicted just how difficult the course would prove to be. Paul Tapner, who lay second after dressage, thought there would be only five clear rounds within the time – in the end, there were none. It was one of the most drama-filled cross-country days in decades.

Legends toppled

There was very much an all or nothing feel to today’s proceedings, with only 35 completing – and of these, 23 went clear.

With five horses having been withdrawn after dressage – including Cool Mountain (William Fox-Pitt), Annie Clover (Nicola Wilson), Frog Rock (Annabel Wigley), Onwards And Upwards (Caroline Powell) and Highland Ford (Richard Jones) – there were 41 combinations who didn’t complete, while a further two (Gemma Tattersall and Ludwig Svennerstal) did complete but were later eliminated.

Of these 43, 18 retired while 25 were eliminated. Compare this to 2013, when only 13 of the 65 horses failed to complete.

Then there was the toppling of the eventing giants – Fox-Pitt and Nicholson, last year battling it out to try to win the Rolex Grand Slam, both hit the deck today, as did the 2011 Badminton winner Mark Todd.

A spread

Course designer Giuseppe Della Chiesa was still smiling after the cross-country came to an end. “The expectation was that the course was strong, but I would have liked to have had some more finishers,” he said. “The first combination in the water rode better than expected, whereas the keyhole jumped nicely last year and this year caused no end of trouble. It was a true four-star course.”

Cross-country leader Paul Tapner, perhaps unsurprisingly, said: “It’s been a truly amazing day of action with an amazing course. I’ve enjoyed the end result.” Second placed Tim Price also gave credit to Giuseppe for producing a spread of problems across the course.

Fence by fence

And a spread there certainly was. The first two fences were straightforward and designed to get competitors going without asking many questions – and sure enough everyone jumped clear over those.

Fence three, the John Whitaker Keepers Brush, is a big hedge with a gaping hedge in front. It can be daunting for those walking the course, but generally jumps very well – but this year Emily Galbraith’s Timing took exception here and were eliminated at this point.

Fence four went without mishap, but then came the first of the big problems…

Step by step

The Savills Escalator at five was a large roll-top going down to two skinnies on a downward slope. Here we saw a number of run outs, including Viktoria Carlerback (SWE) and Volt Af Kallstorp, who retired four fences later at the Lake, and Tina Cook and De Novo News, who continued on to complete the course.

Flying Finish, who was lying fourth with Lucinda Fredericks, was pulled up at this fence after going lame; and Jonelle Price and The Deputy also incurred 20pen here and retired.

Dani Evans, making her Badminton debut, parted company with her horse at this stage and was eliminated.

Unpinned

Fences six and seven, the Team GBR Silver Birch, did not see any actual refusals or run outs, but both Bill Levett and Rebecca Howard got 20pen at the latter jump for breaking the frangible pin – a safety device that causes the top rail to collapse if hit with force.

Eight jumped well for everybody except Denmark’s Peter Flarup, whose horse Calista E fell and was eliminated. Fence nine, The Lake, saw two falls – which perhaps wasn’t as many as the large crowds gathered there had expected to see.

Those to get soggy at The Lake were Neil Spratt and fellow New Zealander Tim Price – now lying second on his early ride Ringwood Sky Boy – who came off Wesko in the water. Mark Todd had a steering issue on Leonidas II and ended up almost swimming in the deep end, but got back on track to complete.

Carolyne Ryan Bell had a run out here and were later eliminated, while Michael Owen decided to call it a day after his run out at the boats.

It wasn’t Bill Levett’s day, as he had a refusal at fence 10 (the straightforward KBIS Garden Table) on Silk Stone, who was later eliminated at fence 15 (Vicarage Vee) for a third cumulative refusal.

A hollow feeling

The big traditional brush fence at the Shogun Hollow jumped well, but the Brush Oxer there at fence 12 saw Seumas Marwood’s horse Wild Oats refuse, while the legendary Mark Todd took an unlikely spill here on NZB Campino to land on top of the jump. It provided a nice mounting block, at least, but that wasn’t much of a consolation for Todd, who’d been lying fifth equal after dressage.

Then came Fence 13, the Outlander Bank. Always a bit of a thriller for the crowd – a steep step up with a ditch in front and then one stride to an owl hole, then a slope down to a single arrowhead – it normally jumps well but this year caused carnage.

Mary King slithered through the owl hole for the save of the day on Imperial Cavalier (on whom she later retired, after refusing at the Mirage Pond). The Outlander Bank caused six riders to pick up 20pen here, while Clare Lewis and Sidnificant incurred 40pen. Peter Atkins had two refusals and retired; Sophie Jenman was eliminated after three refusals.

Wild Oats and Seumas had another 20pen here and opted to call it a day, Sarah Stretton fell, and Denis Mesples had a bit of a bumpy landing through the owl hole, landing on his horse’s neck and just about staying on over the arrowhead before tipping out the side door.

New design

The Gatehouse New Pond was a new addition for 2014 and rode really well – except for a certain Andrew Nicholson, who fell here on last to go Nereo, much to the shock and surprise of the crowd.

The climb up to this fence was quite considerable and is likely to have played a large part in emptying the tanks of so many of today’s horses.

The PHEV Vicarage Vee was terrifying to look at, but didn’t cause as much trouble as might have been expected. Aside from Bill Levett, Natalie Blundell parted company here with Algebra, who decided to jump into the ditch next to the second element instead of going over the actual fence. Four others had refusals here but went on to complete the course.

It’s a Mirage

The Mirage Pond caused lots of problems. Tom McEwen retired Dry Old Party after a refusal here, and he had another refusal on his second ride Diesel but then went on to complete. There was a dramatic fall from Jodie Amos and Matt, while first-timer Harry Dzenis came to grief here with Xam and was eliminated.

Sarah Ennis and Rebecca Howard were both eliminated after a third cumulative refusal, while Sarah Cohen and Louisa Lockwood both retired here after refusals.

There was a breather at fence 17, the FEI Classics Stick Pile, which jumped perfectly but Andrew Nicholson decided to call it a day here with Quimbo. Few would have predicted that Nicholson would not be appearing on the final day, with both of his rides out of the competition.

On the mound

The Swindon Designer Outlet Mound saw nasty looking falls down the hill for Sarah Bullimore and Selina Miles, while Pippa Funnell – who finished sixth on first ride Billy Beware – came off Redesigned. Paul Sims had a refusal here on Glengarnock but went on to complete.

Fences 19 to 21 went without mishap, then came Huntsman’s Close. By this stage of the course, horses were getting tired and mistakes crept in. Clark Montgomery retired Universe here and did the same after a refusal at the same fence on dressage leader Loughan Glen. Francis Whittington, much to the disappointment of his supporters, called it a day at this point. Pathfinder Izzy Taylor had her only stop here at 22b.

The huge second corner there at 23 was problematic. Giovanni Ugolotti retired after refusing twice, while Jim Newsum did the same after one refusal. Louisa Milne Home had her only jumping penalties here on the grey King Eider. Sara Algotsson Ostholt and Emily Llewellyn both had falls at this point.

The unluckiest riders of the day were Ludwig Svennerstal and Gemma Tattersall. Both completed clear but were later eliminated by the ground jury for jumping the wrong sides of the flags in Huntsman’s Close.

Final twist

From the HorseQuest Quarry (24-26) to the final Mitsubishi Finish at 30, every horse and rider jumped clear – all except one.

This final section of the course saw an unlikely fall for William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk, William’s one remaining ride in his bid to win a second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam. Having schooled Parker round for a steady clear, William took a tumble at the sizeable but straightforward Countryside Hedges, four from home.

A last twist in what was a very dramatic day of cross-country.

For full results click here

Update: Lucinda Fredericks’ horse Flying Finish was sound again later that day. Nicola Wilson was given 20pen later for breaking a frangible pin at the Vicarage Vee and withdrew Beltane Queen before the final trot-up. Wendy Schaeffer had been given 20pen for a refusal but had this removed after appealing.