OLIVER Townend became the first British rider and just the fourth person in the history of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day-Event to defend his title on Sunday evening when winning for a second year in-a-row with the Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Master Class.

The 14-year-old gelding, who Townend has since he was a four-year-old, was bred in Co Wicklow by John Hagan. He is by the late Belgian Warmblood stallion Ramiro B out of the Master Imp-sired mare The Swallow.