YOUNGEST RIDER FINISHES IN TOP 20

WE all think Laura Collett is a younger rider, but she was almost starting her affiliated eventing career by the time the youngest competitor at this Badminton was born. Alice Casburn, 20, sported a “2002” necklace on cross-country day for the year of her birth.

Her ride Topspin is a second generation home-bred – out of a mare called Capriati – and has previously won a puissance with Alice, clearing 1.80m. She brought him home with just 4.8 time-faults across country and one showjump down (pictured, above) for eventual 19th and won three special prizes – the Worshipful Company of Saddlers’ saddle for the best under-25, the Silver Jubilee Plate for the best owner-rider and the Glentrool Trophy for the greatest rise after dressage, having shot up 52 spots.

“My Mum’s not a teary person and she’s bawling her eyes out,” grinned Alice after cross-country, referring to her mother Caroline (née Sizer), who completed Badminton three times and also won the Glentrool Trophy. “The feeling at the finish line was amazing. I can see why people keep going and going in this sport until they physically can’t – the adrenaline is addictive.”

Felicity Collins’ mother Vicky also completed here, on Welton Molecule. Felicity (pictured below aboard RSH Contend

Or), has bravely battled mental demons to return to five-star after problems on her debut at the level at Pau 2019, but built on 10th in the small-field oneoff five-star at Bicton last year with 21st here and a double jumping clear.

“He was my junior and young rider horse, but I hope now people are starting to realise how special he is, a bit of a freak,” said Felicity, 24, of her ride RSH Contend Or, with whom she won three under-21 medals.

“I was coming to fences thinking, ‘Surely we can’t take off here’ and he was like, ‘I can do it.’”