Paget Wins Badminton On Debut

Badminton Final Day

Paget Wins Badminton On Debut

Jonathan Paget has pulled off a stunner, winning the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in dramatic form this morning aboard Clifton Promise, with Andrew Nicholson third.

Paget is just the second first-timer to win Badminton, following in the footsteps of Sir Mark Todd who won his debut on Southern Comfort II in 1980.

The 29-year-old former brick layer, was all class as he calmly rode a beautiful clear round aboard Frances Stead’s New Zealand thoroughbred in the showjumping, putting all the pressure onto the Olympic, World and European champion Michael Jung (GER) on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.

It looked like Jung had it in the bag as he rode into the final fence where they uncharacteristically dropped a rail, giving Paget the win. But it almost wasn’t to be – earlier at the final horse inspection, Promise was held by the ground jury and had to be represented.

Paget has been quietly working his way to the top. The London Olympics team bronze medallist was last year second at the four star in Pau and sixth at the Rolex Kentucky four star. He also spent some time this past winter at Jung’s Germany stable where he trained with the highly-regarded rider.

“I was just thinking one fence at a time,” said Paget of his showjumping round, admitting that the victory hadn’t really sunk in. “I came here knowing I had two great horses and that I could win . . . both horses did everything I asked of them and that was enough.”

Paget said he’d been coming to four stars with victory in his eyes.

“It didn’t matter which one it was, I just wanted to win.”

He, owner Frances Stead, the Kiwi riders and supporters did not watch Jung’s showjumping round and when the cheer went up they figured the German had won. But it was quickly followed by a groan . . . and then the celebrations began.

Paget finished Badminton on his 39..7 penalty point dressage score, with Jung adding four faults to finish on 40 and Nicholson on 40.2 for third.

Nicholson and Nereo (owned by Libby Sellar) did everything they could to win not just Badminton, but also the Rolex Grand Slam – the rider who wins Burghley, Kentucky and Badminton consecutively – but it just wasn’t to be. Despite a beautiful clear round, they just couldn’t get past either Jung or Paget. The illusive Badminton title remains tantilising out of reach for the world’s number one ranked rider, who is also leading the HSBC FEI Classics Series.

Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance coach Erik Duvander said the well-deserved win was something Paget had been building up to for a while.

“I believed strongly that Jock could win – they’ve come into the competition with the horse in top form and I never doubted he could pull it off,” he said. “Many say they would rather win Badminton than the Olympics . . . in the eventing world, Badminton is the glory one to win.”

He also had plenty of praise for Nicholson.

“He is just such a machine.. It was so tight at the top that any of those five or six could have won with a little luck on the day. Andrew really is the ultimate sportsman.”

Nicholson, who has completed Badminton a record 30-plus times, was also 11th on Avebury (owned by Mark and Rosemary Barlow and Nicholson), with Paget 14th on Clifton Lush (owned by Lucy Allison and Frances Stead).

Caroline Powell was 21st on Onwards and Upwards (owned by Cameron and Mary Crawford and Powell) and 33rd on Boston Two Tip (owned by Alan Bell and Powell).

Results (final) -

Jonathan Paget (NZL) Clifton Promise (owned by Frances Stead) 39.7 1, Michael Jung (GER) La Biosthetique-Sam FBW 40 2, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Nereo (owned by Libby Sellar) 40.2 3, Sandra Auffarth (GER) Opgun Louvo 42.5 4, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Parklane Hawk 44 5, Stefano Brecciaroli (ITA) Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve 46.8 6, Vittoria Panizzon (ITA) Borough Penny Z 47.3 7, Aoife Clark (IRL) Master Crusoe 47.6 8, Astier Nicolas (FRA) Piaf de B’Neville 49.3 9, Christopher Burton (AUS) Holstein Park Leilani 10, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Averbury (owned by Mark and Rosemary Barlow and Nicholson) 51 11, Jonathan Paget (NZL) Clifton Lush (owned by Lucy Allison and Frances Stead) 52.2 14, Caroline Powell (NZL) Onwards and Upwards (owned by Cameron and Mary Crawford and Powell) 56.8 21, Caroline Powell (NZL) Boston Two Tip (owned by Alan Bell and Powell) 67.6 33, Lucy Jackson (NZL) Animator II (owned by Nigel and Ann Taylor, Kathy Brown and Jackson) 71.1 41, Megan Heath (NZL) St Daniel 71.7 44, Mark Todd (NZL) Major Milestone (owned by Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell) 76.2 48. Mark Todd (NZL) Ravenstar (owned by Team Rutledge) withdrawn before showjumping

Lucy Jackson (NZL) Willy Do (owned by Gillian Greenlees and Jackson) withdrawn before cross country.

For full results head to http://results.badminton-horse.co.uk/results/2013_results/final_results.aspx

ENDS

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