Home News Laura Collett and London 52 make history with Badminton win

Laura Collett and London 52 make history with Badminton win

Laura Collett at Badminton Horse Trials 2022

After a super-exciting weekend of eventing, the unstoppable duo took first place with a record-breaking score of 21.4

The competition was fierce at this year’s Badminton Horse Trials – the event hadn’t run in two years and all the riders were hungry for a win. But it was Laura Collett and her Olympic horse London 52 who took the top spot right from the start with a sensational dressage test, that scored them a personal best of 21.0. The pair then had a flying cross-country round finishing clear and inside the time. Which just left them with showjumping, the audience were on the edge of their seats as the pair took to the ring, but they were hoof-perfect, leaving all the poles up and just picking up 0.4 time faults giving Laura and London 52 a final score of 21.4. Adding to their impressive record, they’re also the fifth combination in history to secure the win after being in the lead following the cross-country phase.

“I have no words,” said Laura after finishing her showjumping round. “He’s just such a superstar, I’m so lucky.” She left the arena full of emotion and with her arms wrapped around London 52’s neck.

Finishing in second place on a score of 26 was Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. It was the horse’s first ever five-star competition and Ros was immensely proud of him, saying: “He’s only a 10-year-old but such a professional every time he goes into the ring.” The combination had an incredible cross-country round, making the very tricky course look easy.

Oliver Townend finished third and fifth with his two beautiful greys Swallow Springs and his Olympic horse Ballaghmor Class. And in fourth was 2019 Badminton winner Piggy March with her pocket-rocket mare Vanir Kamira, who had an unlucky pole down in the showjumping.

Badminton saw Laura achieve a childhood dream she’d held since she was just three years old, watching Pippa Funnell and Supreme Rock win the prestigious event. The final day of the competition really brought home what a fantastic couple of years she’s had with London 52 after securing her first 5* win at Pau in October 2020, followed by Olympic team gold at Tokyo 2020, and now she’s finished Badminton Horse Trials 2022 on a record-breaking score of 21.4 – the lowest ever result at this event. Another sensational achievement to add to her ever-growing record.

Final results

  1. Laura Collett and London 52 on 21.4
  2. Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo on 26.0
  3. Oliver Townend and Swallow Springs on 29.7
  4. Piggy March and Vanir Kamira on 30.1
  5. Oliver Townend and Ballaghnmor Class on 30.3
  6. David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed on 33.6
  7. Kitty King and Vendredi Biats on 34.0
  8. Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue on 36.3
  9. Tamra Smith and Mai Baum on 36.5
  10. Richard Jones and Alfies Clover on 38.4

Who was your favourite pair competing at Badminton? Did you think Laura and London 52 were going to win from the start? Pop a comment down below and let us know!

Photo credit: © Badminton Horse Trials 2022

 

 

 

 

 

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