Andrew Nicholson wins Burghley British Bred Breeders prize with homebred horse
3rd October
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2012 breeder's prize for the highest placed British bred horse has been awarded by British Breeding to Andrew Nicholson and his homebred Burghley winner, Avebury, owned by Mr Mark Barlow and Mrs Rosemary Barlow. A cheque for £1000, which comes from the proceeds of the annual British Breeding Breeders Awards Dinner held every January, was sent to Andrew immediately after the event in recognition of this 12 year old grey gelding by renowned event stallion Jumbo, out of 2008 British Breeding Breeders Dinner outstanding broodmare award winner, Bairn Free (by Bairn (USA)).
Andrew bought the thoroughbred, Bairn Free, out of training, she won and was placed in Novice events with Andrew (under the name Memento) and was then put in foal. "I really value a good amount of thoroughbred blood in an event horse" said Andrew. "When the cross country gets longer, at 3* and above, the thoroughbred blood is what you need to make both the distance and the time". Andrew sold Bairn Free to Mark Chamberlayne in 2001, she has proved to be a consistent brood mare with several progeny who are competing at the highest levels. Andrew has a full brother to Avebury, the 10 year old Tristar II who has won at advanced level and also finished 11th at Bramham 2012. Mark Chamberlayne owns and bred the nine year old gelding Tomaz Gudanov by Barishnikov who is competing successfully with Dan Jocelyn at 2* level. Sadly Bairn Free died in 2006.
Avebury's sire, Jumbo, is an International Advanced Eventer who has sired Badminton, Burghley, Bramham, Blenheim, Saumur and Rolex Kentucky winners, including dual 4* winner, Headley Britannia. He stands at the Grafham Stud in Devon for owner Carolyn Bates. He was the top sire of eventers for the 2011 season and stands 5th top eventing sire of all time.
Having won the Land Rover Burghley Horse trials, British bred Avebury now has 1,341 British Eventing points and has provided Andrew with his first 4* win for 12 years.
Breeders' Awards Dinner Chairman, Desi Dillingham, said "we are delighted to be able to offer this prize. British breeders are really beginning to reap the rewards for the talented horses they are consistently breeding".
For more information on this and other awards available for breeders of British bred horses please visthe BEF's British Breeding pages
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