BLAIR FIELD HEADS FOR BADMINTON...

33 horses which have previously competed at Bowmore Blair Castle International Horse Trials are entered for the 2005 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (5th – 8th May).

Ten of these horses completed the Blair CCI*** in 2004, and qualified at Blair for their Badminton runs. These include Lexi MacKinnon’s Lenamore, ridden by Caroline Powell, and Mrs Anne Barlow’s What If, ridden by Neil Fox, who finished second and third at Blair last year. Both of Caroline’s other Badminton entries have competed successfully at Blair in the past – Ballycathro finished 11th in last year’s CCI***, whilst Softly Softly III won the CCI* in 1999.

Sarra Mayberry finished Blair CCI*** in 6th place last year with Tommy Pink – an impressive feat for a 19 year old competing in her first three-star event. Sarra and the ex-racehorse now head for their first four-star attempt at Badminton, where she will be one of the youngest competitors.

Other Badminton entrants who have had success at Blair en route are Heidi Simmons and her own The Biz, who won the Blair CCI** in 2002. Nabataean Treat, third in the 2003 CCI*** with Anne-Marie Taylor, will compete at Badminton with new rider and part-owner Bumble Thomas.

Even Pippa Funnell’s great double-Badminton winner Supreme Rock completed Blair on his way up through the grades to four-star level – finishing the CCI** in 1996.

With such a strong contingent of Blair competitors heading for Badminton, maybe this year’s winner will be a Blair graduate. And don’t forget that at Blair 2005 you really will be watching the four-star horses of the future…

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