In blustery conditions the 49th Burghley Horse
Trials attracted 80 of the world’s best
horses and riders, representing 12 nations from
Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and North
America.
After the opening Dressage phase Oliver Townend
on Carousel Quest led the way but with just
12 penalties separating the top 25, the competition
was wide open as 77 contenders prepared for
the crucial Cross Country phase. Despite incurring
three point two time penalties, he narrowly
retained the lead but with just one show jumping
fence in hand over Australia’s Sam Griffiths
on Happy Times and two in hand over New Zealand’s
Caroline Powell on Lenamore and America’s
Phillip Dutton on Truluck. Championship Highlights
plus Winner’s Analysis & Final Results.
Presented by Clare Balding.
Approx 98 mins.
Available now on DVD at £15.99
HSBC
FEI European Eventing Championships
In the build up to the 30th running of these
Championships the Germans were clear favourites
to lift the team title having already secured
World and Olympic Gold. Great Britain have won
the last seven European team titles but few
expected them to lead after the dressage and
then sweep all before them, despite Badminton
winner Flint Curtis not being on top form.
Kristina Cook (GBR) won Silver in the Europeans
in 1993 on Song & Dance Man and a brilliant
Bronze in Hong Kong last year in the Olympics
on Miners Frolic. Despite her concerns re the
cross country course not suiting her long striding
majestic thoroughbred she would lead from start
to finish on Miners Frolic to claim her first
Gold although the winning margin in the end
was less than a second from the ‘find’
of the event, Piggy French (GBR) and Some Day
Soon.
Extensive highlights of the cross country are
sandwiched between highlights of the dressage
and the show jumping finale. Approx 80 mins.
EV Production.
60
Years of Badminton
Available now on DVD at £14.99
Equestrian Vision, the leading producer and distributor
of equestrian DVDs in the UK, has just launched
the fabulous new DVD, 60 Years of Badminton, which
goes back to the first black and white footage
of this thrilling event, spanning from the early
days to the BBC’s coverage of today’s
competition.
60 Years of Badminton is a historical programme
and charts the visual history of the world’s
premier 3 day event. In this DVD, interviews
with the Duke of Beaufort, event director Hugh
Thomas and 6 times champion Lucinda Green help
tell the story of Badminton, which is rich in
sporting achievement as well as in tradition.
The programme concentrates on the riders who
have made headlines at Badminton, both winners
and participants and Lucinda Green’s amazing
6 wins are given a special chapter. The Princess
Royal’s participation on Doublet and Goodwill
in the 1970’s are also given a special
mention. Ginny Leng, Ian Stark and Mark Todd
made the headlines in the 80’s and 90’s
and Pippa Funnell caught everyone’s attention
in the 21st Century with the unbearable tension
in the show jumping arena as she and Supreme
Rock won their second title on their way to
the Rolex Grand Slam.
This DVD highlights so many
great moments that have taken place at Badminton
over the last 60 years and is narrated by Jamie
Hawksfield. Approx 43 mins at RRP £14.99.
Badminton
Horse Trials 2009
Equestrian Vision, the leading
producer and distributor of equestrian DVDs
in the UK, has just launched the official Mitsubishi
Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2009 review DVD.
This DVD shows extensive highlights and fantastic
coverage of all 3 phases of this top class eventing
competition.
Eighty one combinations started this competition
in the dressage phase on the Thursday and 10
countries were represented. The number of first
timers at Badminton this year reached a record
number of 24 riders. The windy conditions on
the first two days made the dressage test more
demanding for the riders and in the tightly
packed leader board, Karin Donckers (BEL) lead
the way in this phase. The perfect weather and
ground conditions prepared the riders well for
the cross country course, with 55 combinations
completing without jumping penalties and 16
going inside the time. In the third and final
phase, William Fox-Pitt put the pressure on
the top 3 with an immaculate clear and only
Oliver Townend and Flint Curtis could resist
his challenge to win their first Badminton title,
with William Fox-Pitt and his ride, Idalgo taking
second place and Sam Griffiths (AUS) riding
Happy Times taking 3rd place.
This DVD features expert commentary from Mike
Tucker and is narrated by Jamie Hawksfield.
Approx 100 mins at RRP £19.99
