Caroline Powell Captures Her First Badminton Victory with Greenacres Special Cavalier
In a spectacular finish at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials 2024, Caroline Powell, aboard the Irish-bred, 11-year-old mare Greenacres Special Cavalier—owned by Chris and Michelle Mann—clinched her first victory at this iconic event.
12th May 2024
Caroline Powell Captures Her First Badminton Victory with Greenacres Special Cavalier.
The duo impressively rose from sixth place after a stellar clear round in the cross-country phase, marking one of only four clears in that segment. Greenacres Special Cavalier, sired by Cavalier Royale and bred by Michael Callery in Ireland, has been with Caroline since she was a youngster. Reflecting on their journey, Powell remarked, “You can have a good horse like Lenamore and then disappear. Cav has had her tricky moments, but to be here winning Badminton, it's a dream come true.”
At 51, Powell was ecstatic about her unexpected win. "I wasn't ready for that. I thought landing third would be fantastic, but winning is just awesome. It's a significant accomplishment at this stage in my career," she shared.
The competition saw other notable performances. Ireland’s Lucy Latta, in her Badminton debut, secured second place riding RCA Patron Saint owned by Leslie Crampton, becoming the highest-placed Irish rider since 1965. Alex Bragg, from Somerset, made a remarkable leap from 60th to third place, the best result for a British rider on Quindiva, owned by the Roe family.
Reflecting on his performance, Bragg noted, "Being in the top ten was my dream. It’s unbelievable to achieve this at a local event that's seen its share of ups and downs for me."
This year’s trials were not without their dramatic shifts. Early leaders Tim Price and William Fox-Pitt faced challenging show jumping rounds, dropping significantly in the rankings due to pole knockdowns.
The trials also celebrated high finishes for newcomers and veterans alike, including Emily King in fourth place, and Tom Jackson who finished fifth. Caroline Powell, a former groom for Ian Stark and a decorated rider with past triumphs, including a Burghley win in 2010 on Lenamore, described her victory with Greenacres Special Cavalier as a realisation of a lifelong dream. "After winning with Lenamore, and now with Cav, it shows the journey and resilience in this sport," Powell remarked.
As the equestrian community looks forward to next year’s event, Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier will savour their well-earned title as Badminton 2024 champions.
