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Rare fall for Harry Meade as Badminton cross-country concludes – but he holds podium position on another ride

Pippa Roome Pippa Roome

    • The dramatic closing stages of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country today (9 May) included the unusual sight of a fall for Harry Meade and the retirement of 2024 Badminton winners Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier.

    Harry’s third ride of the day, Cavalier Crystal, has been third at Burghley Horse Trials three times and was fourth here last year, so a strong performance was expected of Charlotte and Peter Opperman’s mare.

    However, the pair came unstuck at Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard (fence 22ab), where the mare stood on herself and was unable to get her legs up at the angled rail after the open ditch. She dived through the rail, breaking the frangibles and firing Harry off.

    Harry explained: “Cavalier Crystal was sensational – she was almost my banker. She was up on the clock, giving me at least a good a ride as Annaghmore Valoner.”

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    Harry continued: “Then she jumped into the farm yard combination and stood on herself – she’s got quite a deep cut on her pastern. She basically pulled herself over. She’s a lovely horse who was desperately trying to do her job.

    “I’ve had 18 rides here – 17 amazing rides – and that was best of all of them until then, but the sport keeps us all grounded, quite literally.”

    Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier seemed to slightly misjudge their stride to jump up onto the bank at the LeMieux Village (fence 18ab). One of the mare’s hindlegs didn’t land cleanly and she was then unable to take on the jump on the top, leaning on the house with her chest and activating the frangible device. Caroline popped her over the alternative and then pulled up and walked home.

    Although Harry Meade is out of the running on Cavalier Crystal after his cross-country fall, he holds second in the overnight standings at Badminton on Annaghmore Valoner, who earlier went clear inside the time.

    “Annaghmore Valoner is a lovely mare who has historically lacked self-belief and been quite an introvert, a worrier. I always run her in a very relaxed, lobbing way round one-days, which means I can bring her out on a day like today and she can cruise with that relaxation,” said Harry. “She made it feel pretty easy.”

    Overnight results after Badminton cross-country

    Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo lead the way at the end of the day after their superb round today and they will start showjumping tomorrow with a fence in hand. If they can win, Lordships Graffalo will make history as the first horse to triumph here three times.

    Ros’s position remains unchanged from the dressage, but behind her, the leaderboard has changed significantly.

    Harry Meade moves up from equal 11th to second on Annaghmore Valoner and Sarah Bullimore from 19th to third with her incredibly promising home-bred Corimiro, who also went clear in the time today.

    Katie Magee’s fault-free round has elevated her from 26th to fourth with Treworra.

    Ireland’s Lucy Latta breaks the British run by holding fifth on RCA Patron Saint and New Zealand’s Tim Price sits sixth on Falco. Both were a few seconds over the time today.

    Thirty-four of the 59 starters (58%) jumped clear over Eric Winter’s track today, with seven (12%) inside the time.

    Aside from the top four, the clears in the time came from France’s Gaspard Maksud (Zaragoza, equal 11th), New Zealand’s Tayla Mason (Centennial, 13th) and the home side’s Holly Richardson (Ballyneety Silver Service, 22nd).

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    Pippa Roome
    Pippa Roome

    H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
    Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
    Pippa Roome

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