British horse trials received a huge boost over the weekend, with the home side fielding the top three at Badminton and no serious injuries to any riders or horses at a time when the sport has been under the media spotlight following the death of six riders in Britain over the past 12 months.
Mary King, winner here in 1992 with King William, rode another Irish export to victory yesterday in her first run at Badminton since 1997. Star Appeal, the I'm A Star gelding that won Punchestown five years ago, galloped into the overnight lead with a confident cross-country clear on Saturday and King held her advantage with a foot-perfect show jumping round yesterday.
Yesterday's show jumping caused some upsets, with only three of the top 20 maintaining their overnight scores. Badminton debutant Brook Staples was part of that elite trio to move up from ninth to fourth overall, slotting in behind Leslie Law's Bramham winner Shear H20 and the 1991 Badminton winner Rodney Powell with Flintstone.
Ireland's Virginia McGrath, one of just two riders to take on the difficult corner at Tom Smith's Walls, had a superb ride on The Yellow Earl and, despite losing a shoe immediately before the show jumping, hit only one rail to collect u £1,000 in a personal best 18th place.
Badminton horse trials (final placings) - 1, Britain's Star Appeal (Mary King), 37.8 penalties; 2, Britain's Shear H20 (Leslie Law), 46.8; 3, Britain's Flintstone (Rodney Powell), 50.4; 4, Australia's Master Monarch (Brook Staples), 55.2; 5, New Zealand's Eyespy II (Mark Todd), 59.2; 6, Britain's Primitive Control (Caroline Pratt), 59.4; Irish placings - 18, The Yellow Earl (Virginia McGrath), 84.4; 57, Sweet Icon (Sarah Daly), 232.2.
