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 | |  Sunday, 5 May, 2002, 17:38 GMT 18:38 UK Emotional Funnell wins Badminton  Funnell had always dreamed of winning Badminton
Pippa Funnell produced an inspired display on Supreme Rock to win the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday. Funnell held on for victory and led home a British top three for the second year in a row at the country's most prestigious equestrian showpiece. The 33-year-old had a narrow lead after the dressage and cross country stages. And she clung on in the final event, the showjumping, to take the title from William Fox-Pitt, who was second on Tamarillo.
An emotional Funnell was full of praise for Supreme Rock after achieving her ultimate sporting dream. "He was brilliant, she said. "He's such an amazing horse." And, her voice cracking with emotion, she told BBC TV: "Growing up, Badminton was the thing I most wanted to win." Hoy falls back Funnell, from Surrey, had expected to be put under pressure to produce a clear round by Andrew Hoy and his grey Darien Powers. But, after clear rounds by Law and Fox-Pitt, Hoy made an uncharacteristic four mistakes and slipped down the standings to finish eighth.
But she and the 14-year-old Supreme Rock, owned by the Pitt-Lewthwaite syndicate, rose superbly to the occasion. They managed a clear round and a time fault to secure the world's richest eventing prize of �35,000. "I knew Andrew had made mistakes," said Funnell, "but showjumping is Rocky's worst phase. "He knew it was important - that horse was human today." Andreas Dibowski was fourth on Ginger to record Germany's best ever placing. New Zealand chemist Kate Lambie, a pupil of Mark Todd, was fifth on Nufarm Alibi with Greek Olympic rider Heidi Antikatzides sixth on Michaelmas. Final standings after showjumping: 1 Pippa Funnell (Gbr) Supreme Rock 37.81 | |
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