Philippa Hendry and her own 11-year-old Flyer Des Coupeaux came out on top as the winners of the 2026 BE100 LeMieux Badminton Grassroots Championships today (6 May).

The pair have a phenomenal record together, having won 21 of their British Eventing (BE) starts since 2021, and they kicked this year’s competition off in superb style, scoring a Badminton Grassroots record in the first phase, with a 19.8 dressage. They then followed this up with a rail down in the showjumping, plus one time-fault, and then a faultless clear across country.

Philippa credited a change in her dressage preparation for helping her deliver a much stronger performance than in this class 12 months ago, where they still scored a creditable 27.4 to ultimately finish fifth.

She said going into the competition that she knew “the horse”Fly” was capable of producing a “really, really good test”, but that making it happen had previously been a challenge. This time, she worked with dressage trainer Rob Waine, who helped her in the warm-up for the first time, and she felt that made a huge difference. 

Having someone talking her through the process helped settle her nerves, and in turn kept the horse more relaxed. She explained that last year Fly had been tense in the dressage, whereas this time he felt much calmer and easier to ride, allowing them to show a more accurate test. 

“I didn’t get stressed,” she said, adding that the support in her ear from Rob while warming up helped her stay focused and ride more consistently in the first phase. 

The improvement in the first phase set them up well for the rest of the competition. and Philippa said that the cross-country was “enjoyable and straightforward” on a horse she trusts.

“It’s an absolute privilege to go round that track on a horse like that,” she said, highlighting the confidence she has built up with him over time. 

The partnership goes back several years. She bought Fly as a three-year-old from Ireland after spotting him in a photo and immediately feeling he was the right type. Although she initially hesitated about buying without seeing him in person, she decided to act quickly when she heard there was other interest and secured him with a deposit. 

That early decision has proved fruitful and Philippa said she has always believed in Fly’s ability.

Away from competition, Philippa runs Marlow Valley Vineyards in Buckinghamshire, balancing her riding alongside running a business. She indicated that juggling both requires commitment, but that competing remains an important part of her life. 

“It absolutely means the world,” Philippa said of her win, adding that the result was especially rewarding given how long she has been involved in the sport. 

Emily Proud and Ballyj Ed finished second on their 27.1 dressage, while young rider Ollie Rowlands was third on Project Pony’s Loughan Silver Shadow on their 29 dressage.

Image: © Tim Wilkinson

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