Oliver Townend - Equi

Oliver Townend
Oliver Townend announced his arrival at four star
level with an impressive Badminton debut in May
2005, completing a clear round cross country
within the time to finish in 12th place with
Topping. As a result he was named as one of the
riders to represent Great Britain as an individual
at the European Championships at Blenheim in
September 2005. In 2006, Oliver bettered this
with new ride Flint Curtis for third and
subsequent
selection
for
the
World
Championships.
Then in 2007, Oliver was chosen to go to the
Europeans again, only this time as part of the
British Senior team on Flint Curtis. The team brought home team Gold for the seventh
consecutive year. Oliver has since gone on to enjoy further success with Flint Curtis
winning his first 4* competition at Badminton this year after a nail-biting show jumping
round.
Yorkshire born and bred, Oliver inherited his love of horses from his parents. His
mother Eve showed side-saddle at county level and his father Alan competed
successfully in three day eventing. Oliver’s early success was gained on a 14.2hh pony
Cool Mule, with whom he won a class at the Horse of the Year Show and represented
GB on the Pony Eventing Team at the European Championships. As a teenager he
produced Gold Ringer to Grand Prix level show jumping and advanced eventing and
won a show jumping Home International Young Rider gold medal with Kilkenny
Diamond.
Oliver moved to South Leicestershire to work for Kenneth Clawson, where he gained
invaluable experience as stable jockey for three years, then moved to Lubenham, just
outside Market Harborough. Oliver is now based in Ellesmere, Shropshire at his very
own yard. Fiercely competitive, he has earned a reputation for getting results with
difficult horses, including his Badminton ride Topping. He is backed by Toggi, Subaru,
Dodson & Horrel, Lincoln, TRM Ireland, MacWet, and has also benefited from being on
the World Class Elite squad.
RIDER BIOGRAPHY
Name
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
School(s) attended
Marital Status
Children
Occupation
Qualifications
Parents’ occupations
When/why first started
riding
Equestrian sporting
relatives (PLEASE GIVE
NAMES)
Relatives successful in
other careers/sports
Name of first
horse/pony
First competitive riding
experience
First affiliated event
Trainer(s)
Non-equestrian training
Worst injury
Most admired rider(s)
Most admired
sportsman/woman
Qualities looked for in
an event horse
Least favourite part of a
three day event
Favourite eventing
venue
Best advice given
What other career
would you have chosen
Who would you like to
have dinner with?
Ideal holiday
Favourite colour
Favourite number
Favourite item of
clothing
Favourite meal
Favourite drink
OLIVER TOWNEND
15/11/82
Huddersfield
Scapegoat Hill J & I, Salendine Nook High School
Single
None
Event rider
GCSEs
We run the new farm together
Aged seven - parents both rode competitively
Father, Alan Townend and mother, Eve Townend
None
Bramble
Unaffiliated local shows
BSJA (locally)
Judy Bradwell, Ian Woodhead
None
Broken arm, broken collarbone
Mark Todd
A P McCoy
Athletic with a good brain
Final veterinary inspection
Gatcombe
Keep smiling
None
Zara Phillips, Sienna Miller and Cameron Diaz maybe?
Somewhere hot with good mates and good wine!
Blue
13
Shirt
Scampi and chips
Beer!
Favourite TV
programme
Favourite book
Favourite film
Favourite actor(s)
Favourite actress(es)
Favourite band/singer
Favourite TV soap
character
Favourite place in the
world
Favourite car
Major results
None
None
Snatch
Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant
“All the Pretty Blonde Ones!”
Michael Jackson
None
My new farm in Shropshire
My new Subaru Forrester
1st Burghley CCI**** 2009 (Carousel Quest)
5th Hartpury CIC*** 2009 (ODT Master Rose)
2nd Festival of British Eventing CIC***W 2009 (Flint Curtis)
1st Brightling Park CIC** 2009 (Three Wishes IV)
1st Brightling Park CIC* 2009 (ODT Arctic Fox)
3rd Barbury Castle CIC*** 2009 (ODT Kings Jasper)
15th & 17th Luhmuhlen CCI**** 2009 (Sportsfield Sandyman
& Golden Hue)
1st Badminton CCI**** 2009 (Flint Curtis)
8th Lexington CCI**** 2009(Carousel Quest)
1st Burnham Market CIC*** 2009 (Flint Curtis)
1st Express Eventing 2008
1st Thirlestane Castle CIC*** 2008 (Carousel Quest)
1st Strzegom CCI*** 2008 (Clover Curtis)
9th Bramham CCI*** 2008 (Flint Curtis)
17th Bramham CCI*** 2008 (Divine Inspiration)
1st Houghton CCI** 2008 (Waterview)
5th Houghton CCI** 2008 (ODT Master Rose)
18th Brigstock CIC** 2008 (Black Ace)
1st Chatsworth CIC***W 2008 (Flint Curtis)
25th Chatsworth CIC***W 2008 (Clover Curtis)
1st Chatsworth CIC*** 2008 (Golden Hue)
7th Chatsworth CIC*** 2008 (ODT Master Rose)
6th Osberton CIC** 2008 (Black Ace)
12th Osberton CIC** 2008 (Tribal Leader)
12th Badminton CCI**** 2008 (Coup de Coeur)
12th Belton Park CIC*** 2008 (Divine Inspiration)
9th Burnham Market CIC***W (Flint Curtis)
1st Burnham Market CIC*** (Coup de Coeur)
9th Burnham Market CIC** (Tribal Leader)
5th Boekelo CCI*** 2007 (Jackson D’Allez)
3rd Weston Park CCI** 2007 (Golden Hue)
Team Gold & 12th Ind European Championships, Pratoni del
Vivaro, Italy (Flint Curtis) 2007
4th & 6th Blair Castle CCI** 2007 (Opposition Alex & Divine
Inspiration)
1st Thirlestane CIC*** (Flint Curtis)
5th Thirlestane CIC*** (Jackson D’Allez)
3rd Thirlestane CIC** (Opposition Alex)
2nd Aston-le-Walls CIC** (Waterview)
7th Aston-le-Walls CIC** (Opposition Alex)
1st British Intermediate Champs Gatcombe (Daisy Crazy)
12th Gatcombe Park CIC*** (Saxon Cross)
4th Brightling Park CIC** (ODT Mouse)
5th Brightling Park CIC** (ODT Master Rose)
7th Brightling Park CIC** (Best of Spirits)
6th Barbury Castle CIC*** 2007 (Flint Curtis)
4th Bramham CCI*** U25 2007 (Eldmire Foxy Lady)
8th Bramham CCI*** (ODT Iron Brew)
2nd Punchestown CCI*** 2007 (Flint Curtis)
2nd Punchestown CCI** 2007 (Jackson D’Allez)
1st Chatsworth CIC*** 2007 (Eldmire Foxy Lady)
2nd Chatsworth CIC-W*** 2007 (Flint Curtis)
1st Burnham Market CIC*** 2007 (Flint Curtis)
2nd Burnham Market CIC*** 2007 (ODT Iron Brew)
11th World Championships, Aachen 2006 (Flint Curtis)
8th Hartpury CCI** 2006 (Saxon Cross)
1st Knaptoft CIC** 2006 (Eldmire Foxy Lady)
6th Barbury CIC*** 2006 (Measure For Measure)
2nd Burgie CCI* 2006 (Roquefort)
2nd Sansaw CIC** 2006 (Eldmire Foxy Lady)
5th Sansaw CIC** 2006 (Roquefort)
1st Floors Castle CIC** 2006 (Eldmire Foxy Lady)
4th Floors Castle CIC** 2006 (Saxon Cross)
3rd Badminton CCI**** 2006 (Flint Curtis)
3rd Burnham Market CIC*** 2006 (Flint Curtis)
9th Boekelo CCI*** 2005 (Waterbeck Basil)
43rd European Championships, Blenheim 2005 (Topping)
1st British Novice Championship, Gatcombe Park 2005 (Best
of Spirits)
2nd British Novice Championship, Gatcombe Park 2005
(Haveray Park Beau)
2nd Burgie CCI ** 2005 (Measure For Measure)
12th Badminton CCI **** 2005 (Topping)
3rd Osberton CIC ** 2005 (Jungle Diva Blue)
7th Athens Olympic Test Event CIC ** 2003 (Weston Justice)
7th Weston Park CCI ** 2002 (Newsbeat)
2nd Blair Castle CCI * 2002 (Lady Windsor)
8th Burnham Market CIC ** 2002 (Weston Justice)
9th Burnham Market CIC ** 2002 (It’s Delaney)
10th Lulworth Castle CIC * 2002 (Lady Windsor)
9th Windsor CCI YR ** 2001 (Sportsfield Occasion)
6th Windsor CCIJ ** 1999 (Gold Ringer)
Updated: 21/08/2009