Isabel Hurley

EVENTING stars William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson are to return to the sport’s toughest competition, Badminton Horse Trials, having narrowly cheated death and paralysis last season.

British rider Fox-Pitt confirmed that he had been cleared by a specialist to return to competitive action just last week (March 18th), while New Zealand’s Nicholson made a winning return at Aldon, England, last weekend.

Both are entered for the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials on May 4th-8th, with Parklane Hawk (Fox-Pitt) and Nereo and Avebury (Nicholson).

Fox-Pitt suffered severe head trauma when he and his horse Reinstated fell at an owl hole in the WBFSH world championships for young horses at Lion D’Angers last October. The rider was kept in intensive care for almost 10 days in France before being flown home to continue his recovery.

Nicholson, meanwhile, was extremely fortunate not to be paralysed in his fall from Cillnabradden Evo at Gatcombe Park last August.

Surgeons told him his neck injury would have caused paralysis in 98% of cases.

Flying the flag for Ireland will be Aoife Clark (Wasting Light), Sarah Ennis (BLM Diamond Delux), Joseph Murphy (DHI Topstory and Sportsfield Othello), Jim Newsam (Magennis), Michael Ryan (Dunlough Striker and Ballylynch Adventure), Patricia Ryan (Tullineaskey Hi Ho), Camilla Speirs (Portersize Just A Jiff) and Sam Watson (Horseware Bushman).

More excitement is on the cards with the return of top New Zealand event rider Blyth Tait after a 13-year absence with two rides, Bear Necessity V and Xanthus III. Previous winner Jonathan Pagent brings Clifton Promise and Clifton Lush while Mark Todd has two rides in NZB Campino and Leonidas.

German Olympic champion Michael Jung will field La Biosthetique Sam, accompanied by two-time Badminton winner Ingrid Klimke, Andreas Dibowski, Bettina Hoy and Andreas Ostholt.

British entries include former world champion Zara Phillips Tindall with her Irish-bred Olympic graduate High Kingdom; previous winners Pippa Funnell and Oliver Townend.

The Americans are headed by multiple medallist Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Buck Davidson and Lynn Symansky.

FONTAINEBLEAU

Meanwhile four Irish riders from the 11 competing at Fontainebleau, France, are contesting the Nations Cup. Clare Abbott and Euro Prince (ISH) scored 55.3 in the dressage phase, while Cathal Daniels with Rioghan Rua (ISH) scored 59.5. Jonty Evans and Cooley Rorkes Drift (ISH) scored 47.9, while Austin O’Connor and Kilpatrick Knight (ISH TIH) scored 52.7.

As we went to press, Germany’s Michael Jung and Fischerrocana FST held the lead on 35.9.

Competing as individuals, Ireland’s Camilla Speirs and Portersize Just A Jiff scored 53.0 while Tony Kennedy and Wisteria Lane were on 59.0 and Sarah Ennis and BLM Diamond Delux scored 50.6. Jayne Doherty and The Only One were on 54.1, Joseph Murphy and Westwinds Hercules scored 60.2

Cross-country and show jumping action will take place on Saturday and Sunday.