Oliver Townend, a handsome twenty-seven-year-old from Great Britain, will be heading to Kentucky next month with eyes on winning the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.
To win the grand slam, a rider must win the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, all in succession. Townend has two down, one to go.
The prize money for the Rolex Four Star Championship is $250,000. But, be the second in history to win the grand slam and the prize is upped to $350,000. The grand slam has only been won once before by Great Britain's Pippa Funnel in 2003.
A surprise to some that Townend isn't riding his Burghley mount, Carousel Quest, or his Badminton winner, Flint Curtis, but rather a horse he's only had for just over two months, Ashdale Cruise Master. Seemingly, this striking gray gelding has the confidence of Townend based on his two previous performances at the Burghly four-star with his former rider, Emily Gilruth.
With a triple crown win at stake, not to mention the money on the line, this Rolex event will be fun to watch. The video below is a highlight clip from his Badminton win, which includes the famous Mitsubishi truck jump!
Highlights of Oliver Townend's win at Badminton 2009.
Comments
Great article and fantastic photo and video.
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