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Harry's historic 2009 performance:Winning
Edge's sponsored event rider Harry Meade has recorded his best ever result at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, finishing 10th with his long-time partner Midnight Dazzler, who, at the age of 19,
has become the oldest horse ever to complete the event.
Twenty-five-year-old Harry, who's based just five miles from Badminton at West Littleton, Wiltshire, has also become the youngest rider ever to
receive an Armada dish, which are given out at Badminton every year to riders who have completed the prestigious competition five times. He previously completed with Midnight Dazzler in 2006, 2007 and 2008,
and also twice with Birthday Night, in 2007 and 2008. The award is presented the year following a rider's fifth completion, so Harry received the award last week at the same time as he completed his sixth
Badminton.
For the fourth year in a row Harry was awarded the Cotswold Life trophy, which is given to the highest placed local rider. Last year, after he won it for the third time, Cotswold Life
generously gave the original trophy to Harry to keep, and he's got his name on the replacement at the first opportunity!
At this year's event (May 7-10) Harry and Midnight Dazzler, who's known as
Bobby at home, were one of only four combinations to finish on their dressage score. Thanks to a typically foot-perfect, fast cross-country performance and a clear show jumping round on the final day, they
leapt up the leaderboard to finish in the top 10.
Harry and Midnight Dazzler have been consistent four-star performers since the horse first arrived in Harry's yard in 2003. This was their seventh
consecutive four-star completion, their best result to date being 8th place at Burghley.
Last November, Harry was invited to join the British Equestrian Federation's World Class Development squad, a
Lottery-funded scheme for athletes considered to have medal-winning potential. Harry is also an HSBC Ambassador for the sport of eventing.
Badminton Horse Trials is one of only five four-star
(top-level) three-day events in the world and consists of dressage, cross-country and show jumping phases, performed in that order. The rider with the least number of penalties is the winner. Harry's triple
Olympic gold medal-winning father Richard won Badminton on two occasions (1970 and 1982).
For more about Harry, visit www.harrymeade.com or our
Harry Meade web page
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