An international extravaganza (From Gazette Series)

An international extravaganza

THE Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials take place next week (May 5-8) and have one of the most international entry lists in the history of the event.

Riders from 15 nations will compete for the richest eventing prize in the world and the coveted Mitsubishi Motors Trophy.

The entry list boasts four previous winners - Rodney Powell, riding Liquid Ice, Mary King on the late Caroline Pratt's Call Again Cavalier, double winner Pippa Funnell with Supreme Rock and Primmore's Pride and last year's champion William Fox-Pitt with Tamarillo and Ballincoola.

Olympic Gold medal winner Leslie Law will be attempting to win on Shear L'eau and Shear H20, while Jeannette Breakwell's veteran Over to You bids for his sixth completion.

Overseas riders include Australians Matt Ryan (Bonza Puzzle and Royal Dragoon) and Gatcombe-based Andrew Hoy (Mr Pracatan and Master Monarch) and Croatia's Pepo Puch, Portugal's Carlos Grave and Jaroslav Halta from the Czech Republic - all Badminton debutantes.

The event is also likely to see a new record set. New Zealander Andrew Nicholson aims to go ahead of Lorna Clarke with the most completions of the event - currently they stand on 22 each.

Local interest will focus on Chipping Sodbury rider Nick Gauntlett, who will be competing at his first Badminton on Pam Davidson's and his own Arthur's Word.

The 27-year-old rider will also be hoping to beat off competition for the Cotswold Life Trophy, awarded to the best British rider from Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset and Worcestershire.

Stroud-based rider Yoshiaki Oiwa (JPN) on Voyou Du Roc will also be competing at his first Badminton.

With Dressage on Thursday and Friday, everything can be lost on Saturday with one mistake on the demanding cross country course. At least 200,000 spectators are expected to flood to the Duke of Beaufort's estate to watch the cross country.

Going against the tradition of changing direction, the route of the cross country course will follow much the same track as last year's event, starting and finishing in the main arena. However, 11 influential new fences have been added to this year's course to make it a challenging test.

Sunday's show jumping phase will be crucial. One fence down could mean the difference between winning and coming second. Can William Fox-Pitt make it a double of victories? Or will a new Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials champion be crowned?

For more information visit www.badminton-horse.co.uk.