Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo (‘Walter’) have achieved what no rider and horse combination have ever pulled off before — a third Mars Badminton victory.
And they didn’t just win the biggest three-day event in the world — they did it in spine-tingling style that moved so many viewers to tears.
The history-making duo led from day one and came so close to finishing on that dressage score, with just two showjumping time-faults to add.
Ros managed this even after a poor night’s sleep, because the 15-week-old baby she is exclusively breastfeeding, Seneh, needed her mum’s attention for 180 minutes in the small hours of this morning.
“I’m absolutely kind of stunned; it probably won’t sink in for a bit,” said Ros, who is always remarkably well composed and today was no different.
“I try not to let myself get involved in all the things people have been saying about him [Walter] being the first one to do it three times, so I think that will sink in a bit later.
“But gosh, I’m just in awe of how he jumped today. It was probably one of the best rounds he’s ever jumped, and probably one of the best rounds I’ve ridden as well. So I’m delighted that we were able to pull it off at the right time.”
Ros explained that her second daughter is normally a very good sleeper.
“Seneh is normally a very good sleeper, but last night she was up between one and 4am, and so I’m pretty exhausted,” she confessed.
“Chris [her husband] will drive us home, so hopefully I’ll sleep and she’ll [Seneh] sleep on the way home.
“We’ll celebrate at some point, but it definitely won’t be tonight.”
Ros also heaped praise on her family and support team — including long-term groom Sarah Charnley — for their enormous role in helping Walter, who is co-owned by Archie and Michele Saul — perform at his best.
“I didn’t even sit on Walter until the end of February, it was my team who did all the fittening work,” said Ros. “Just before and just after you’ve had a baby, you’re just not there, and I trusted them completely.”
Tim Price finished second aboard Falco — the horse he fondly refers to as ‘Grandpa’ as he has no top teeth due to a dental disease that affects ageing horses.
Harry Meade piloted Annaghmore Valoner into third.
Full report to follow.
Main image by Tim Wilkinson
