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Funnell
Completes Sweep of Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing
British
Rider Makes History With Win at Burghley
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LEXINGTON,
KY—September 8, 2003—Pippa Funnell of Great Britain
became the first rider in history to win the Rolex Grand Slam
of Eventing when she rode Primmore’s Pride to victory at
the Burghley Masterfoods Horse Trials in England.
Following
back-to-back wins in the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event last April
and the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in May, Funnell
completed the sweep of the three CCI**** events at Burghley to
win $250,000 and a Pink Gold 18-carat Datejust Rolex watch. The
payoff was the largest in eventing history.
“I
never want to go through such an emotionally-draining experience
again,” said Funnell who received her award from Great Britain’s
Royal Highness, the Princess Royal. “After cross country
I felt like a huge weight was off my shoulders and then I just
felt that what was meant to be would be.”
Funnell
is a two-time defending European champion and she helped Great
Britain win team Silver Medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and
2002 World Equestrian Games. She won the Rolex Kentucky Four Star
in late April on Primmore’s Pride and the Badminton Four
Star in England in early May on Supreme Rock. She completed the
historic sweep on Primmore’s Pride and now looks forward
to defending her European Championship in just two weeks at Punchestown,
Ireland.
“This
is an amazing accomplishment and Pippa is a most worthy champion,
“ said the U.S. Equestrian Team’s James R. Wolf, who
helped create the Rolex Grand Slam. “The level of competition
at these three events is the highest the sport has to offer. For
any rider to win all three consecutively is an unbelievable achievement.
Olympic champions like Blyth Tait and David O’Connor have
come close, but this is the first time a rider has managed to
pull it off. This is a great moment for Pippa and for our sport.”
The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization
that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest
possible standard to represent our country in major international
competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development
of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides
the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest
potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908)
234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org
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