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Interview with the UK's Oliver Townend following his showjumping round at Rolex, placing him 8th overall
Oliver Townend With an enviable string of horses there are few competition days when Oliver is not in action - last year that included steering five horses around ToppingBurnham Market's advanced track the day after standing on the winners podium at Pratoni. 2007 was Oliver's best season to date - he clocked up a massive 1886 British Eventing points.
Oliver's father rode at Burghley and his mother showed side saddle at County level so not surprisingly success came early for Oliver in the form of a place on the Pony Eventing team and countless show jumping victories. Horses were there to sell on though, producing an inevitable lack of horse power.
Three years as stable jockey to British Team Trainer Kenneth Clawson followed. When Oliver eventually set up on his own he had just a few pounds in his pocket but an unquenchable thirst for winning.
The Hon William Russell's Topping (pictured) provided Oliver's first crack at Badminton, and he made the most of it by finishing in 12th place. This earnt them an individual place at the European Championships, Blenheim in 2005.
Flint Curtis took over the top slot in 2006 after placing third at Badminton, his first four star event. Oliver remained on the British Squad, riding Flint as an individual at the Aachen WEG the same year, before earning his first team place - and a European Championship gold medal - at Pratoni last September.
This year Coup de Coeur has joined the team, giving Oliver a great ride round Badminton, despite Oliver nursing a broken collar bone.
