Defender Bramham International Horse Trials Cross Country Videos
Defending champion Harry Meade returns to Defender Bramham this week, once again contesting the CCI4*-L class he won in 2024. Last year Harry won on board Annaghmore Valoner but this year he has two horses entered in the 10-year-old gelding Jet Fighter and Cooley Anything You Like, both having their first 4*-L starts.
Jet Fighter was initially competed by Barnie Brotherton, who recently had a very successful Nations Cup debut at Bicton International with DHI King Nelson, and the pair, who also had a top 10 finish at Thoresby earlier this season, will be tackling their 4*-L here.
Another past Bramham 4*-L winner, Izzy Taylor will be riding SBH Big Wall, fifth here last year in the 4*-S and coming off a runner-up spot in the CCI4*-S at the recent Belsay (1) International while Oliver Townend brings a new ride for him this year, the nine-year-old Dromgurrihy Gold previously ridden by Tim Price.
New Zealand’s Vicky Browne-Cole riding Cutting Edge and Abigail Long on Henton Audacious and Australia’s Sarah Clark riding Casallia S are the three Antipodean entries in this class.
CCI4*-S and U25 Championship
Piggy March has two very strong rides in the CCI4*-S with Cooley Goodwood, a horse with four national level wins under his belt so far this year and MCS Maverick, previously ridden by Pippa Funnell, who won the CCI4*-L at Bramham in 2023. Piggy and MCS Maverick have had a couple of exploratory OI runs together but this will be their first 4* and we could see something very good, especially in the dressage!
There are multiple nations entered including Ireland’s Susie Berry with John The Bull, Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima riding Be My Daisy, China’s Alex Hua Tian with Chicko and Poseidon’s Admiral and of course Australians – Bill Levett riding Sligo Candy Cane andLissa Green on Go On Biats, and New Zealand’s Tayla Mason on Joopiter and James Avery and MBF Connection.
There are 23 entries in the Under 25 Championship which, for the first time this year is being run as part of the CCI4*-S. Keep an eye out for Tom Woodward and Low Moor Lucky, who shot into the limelight at Badminton this year, in sixth place after dressage, but had an early run-out on cross country.
Defender Bramham starts on Wednesday with the first horse inspection - stay tuned and follow along with our daily reports!
