When Marlborough schoolgirl Lottie Turnell bought her horse Drumbore Sibon (Henry) last year, she never imagined the pair would qualify for the LeMieux BE100 Grassroots Championships at Badminton—one of the country’s most prestigious equestrian venues.
The competition represents the pinnacle for riders competing at BE100 level. Lottie will line up on Wednesday in the Grassroots Championships, held on the same day as the five-star event horses undergo their vet inspection ahead of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials, which begin on Thursday.
Over the past year, Lottie and Henry have focused on building a strong partnership. Their rapid progress and consistent results have now earned them a place at the highly regarded event.
“I have never had a horse like him. We started at 80cm, then moved up to 100cm, and now we’ve qualified for Badminton. It’s so exciting,” said Lottie.
“Eventing is my first love and my dream is to keep going with horses. I would like to groom for a professional and learn that way,” she added, as she prepares to sit her A-level exams at St John’s next week.
The pair head into the championships in strong form, having secured two fifth-place finishes and a sixth in their last three events.
Lottie’s success runs in the family. Her grandfather was Andy Turnell, arguably the most stylish jump jockey of his generation and later very successful trainer, as was his dad – Bob Turnell, Lottie’s great grandfather. Bob Turnell trained at Ogbourne Maizey, taking over from the great Sir Gordon Richards in what is now Emma Lavelle’s Bonita Racing Stables.
Jan Perrins
Tea, Coffee and Biscuits – good reasons to drop in before the Kennet Valley Annual Parish Meeting on Monday 11 May
