Equestrian Life June 2017

eventing
Photos by Tim Wilkinson
Her biggest supporters, Imogen Murray
with her Mum, Kim and Dad, Dean
Two Badminton
debuts could hardly
have gone better
Competing at the Mitsubishi
Motors Badminton horse trials is
a dream come true for all event
riders. But this year, over the four days
of 3rd - 7th May, dreams did come true
for two riders based within the East
Midlands as Frances McKim reports
with pictures from Tim Wilkinson.
Faced with what was billed as one
of the most difficult cross-country
courses for years and rubbing
shoulders with the best riders in the
world, anyone riding here for the
first time could feel more than a little
intimidated. But this only seemed to
invigorate both Rosalind (Ros) Canter
and Imogen Murray.
Strictly speaking this wasn’t the debut
for Louth-based Ros, as she did take
part last year with the same horse,
Allstar B (Alby), but was forced to
withdraw after the dressage. Having
successfully completed the 4* event at
Burghley in both 2015 and 2016, Ros
must have arrived in a positive state
of mind, all set to conquer Badminton.
And conquer she did, as unexpectedly
to everyone else, she finished the
competition as the highest placed
British rider in 5th place – sandwiched
between Sir Mark Todd’s two rides.
What an achievement!
Ros was once again riding Alby, the 12
year-old 17.00hh bay gelding jointly
owned by Vale View- based trainer,
Caroline Moore. Having started off
Alby’s eventing career, Ros took
over the ride in 2013, as Caroline
now spends the majority of her time
coaching and is British Eventing
National u18 and junior team coach.
Naturally, she coaches Ros along with
Ian Woodhead for flat work.
After a very respectable dressage test
for 44.9 penalties, Ros was laying in
equal 20th spot. But on cross-country
day the leader board changed out of
all recognition as competitors fell by
the wayside – of the 81 combinations
that set out, only 49 completed and
of these only two finished within the
time. Drawn at number 46, Ros had
the benefit of watching some of the
early riders tackle the course, but
this may only have heightened her
Ros with her trainer, Caroline Moore. Photo
by Frances McKim
Imogen Murray IVAR GOODEN
jump one of only 11 clear rounds
Under severe pressure Ros Canter
ALLSTAR B jump a clear round
nerves having seen so many encounter
problems. Not to be deterred Ros and
Alby rode a very sensible and fault
free round, only collecting 9.6 time
penalties – a score which was good
enough for her to appear on the score
board for much of the day in second
place. However, at the end of the day
she was laying sixth.
On Sunday, the final day, a clear,
copybook show jumping round meant
Ros finished the competition in fifth
place. After which a very relieved Ros
said: “Alby felt so brave throughout
the competition. This result has
certainly been years coming.” Her
success not only earned her £21,000
prize money, but she also won the
Butler challenge bowl for the best
British rider plus the Lawrence Rook
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