Oliver Townend and BALLAGHMOR CLASS

BALLAGHMOR CLASS (Results)

Gender: Gelding
Foaled: 2007
Height: 16.2
Sire: COURAGE II
Dam: KILDERRY PLACE
Sire of Dam: Not known
Owner(s): Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan
Groom: Charlotte Holifield
Blood: N/A

Oliver Townend

Oliver Townend is a British event rider who is widely regarded as one of the greatest eventers of all time. He has won numerous championships at both the national and international level, including team gold at the 2007, 2009, and 2017 European Championships, and individual and team gold at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Townend was born in 1982 in Scapegoat Hill, West Yorkshire, England. He began riding horses at a young age, and his talent for eventing was quickly evident. He won the junior newcomers showjumping at the Horse of the Year Show with Cool Mule aged 11, rode in the pony European Eventing Championships aged 13, and left school at 16 to pursue riding and selling horses professionally.

Townend quickly rose through the ranks of the eventing world. He won his first CCI5* event in 2006, and he was named British Eventing's Young Rider of the Year in 2007. He has since won numerous CCI5* events, including Badminton Horse Trials in 2009 and Burghley Horse Trials in 2009 and 2017.

Townend has also represented Britain at the World Equestrian Games on three occasions, in 2006, 2014, and 2018. He won team gold at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, and he was a member of the British team that won team silver at the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

In 2020, Townend won individual and team gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. He rode Ballaghmor Class to victory in the individual event, and he was part of the British team that won team gold.

Townend is currently ranked number one in the world by the FEI. He is known for his incredible horsemanship and his ability to get the best out of his horses. He is also known for his competitive spirit and his determination to win.

In September 2023 Oliver Townend and BALLAGHMOR CLASS won the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, in Stamford, England, with a finishing score of 33, to net a record £110,000 first prize. David Doel and GALILEO NIEUWMOED was 0.7 penalties behind in second place and Harry Meade and CAVALIER CRYSTAL were third. Overnight leaders Tim Price and VITALI started their showjumping round with one fence in hand over second placed BALLAGHMOR CLASS but eventually had three poles down to finish in fourth place overall.

Townend currently rides a number of horses, including:

• Ballaghmor Class: A 16-year-old gelding that Townend has ridden since he was a six-year-old. Ballaghmor Class is a multiple CCI5* winner, including victory in the Defender Burghley Horse Trials in 2023, and won individual gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
• Cooley Rosalent: A 10-year-old gelding that Townend has ridden since he was a four-year-old. Cooley Rosalent is a multiple CCI4* winner, and he won team silver at the World Equestrian Games in 2018.
• As Is: A 12-year-old gelding that Townend has ridden since he was a six-year-old. As Is is a multiple CCI4* winner, and he was on the British team that won team gold at the European Championships in 2017.

Townend is a true legend of the eventing world. He is one of the most successful event riders of all time, and he continues to dominate the sport.

Notable Results for Oliver Townend and BALLAGHMOR CLASS

2023

Burghley CCI-L 5* - 1st
Burgham CCI-S 4* - 2nd
Badminton CCI-L 5* - 2nd

2022

Blair CCI4*-S - 13th
Burgham CCI4*-S - 2nd
Badminton CCI5*-L - 5th

2021

Tokyo Olympic Games CCI4*-L - 5th
Lexington CCI5*-L - 1st

2020

Burgham CCI4*-S - 1st

2019

Burghley CCI4*-L - 3
Burgham CCI4*-S - 2nd
Badminton CCI5*-L - 2nd