All eyes are on Michael Jung as he’s poised to claim the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing this weekend. If he adds the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton CCI**** title to his 2015 Land Rover Burghley and Rolex Kentucky CCI**** wins, he’ll pick up a $350,000 bonus from Rolex.
And he’ll be only the second rider to achieve that goal—the first was Pippa Funnell who earned a $250,000 paycheck for winning the Rolex Grand Slam in 2003 (the prize money was increased in 2008). Funnell rode Primmore’s Pride to the top of Rolex Kentucky, then topped Badminton on Supreme Rock, and polished it off with the Burghley win on Primmore’s Pride—all in 2003.
At Burghley, Funnell had won the dressage, but was 8 seconds slow on cross-country. So, Zara Phillips went into the show jumping in the lead at that point. The Chronicle’s coverage of Funnell’s Grand Slam win included:
Funnell, the reigning European Champion, had said that if there was one horse she’d choose to show jump for the big prize, it would be Primmore’s Pride, by Mark Todd’s Mayhill and out of a Ben Faire mare who was ninth at Badminton. While his scopey jump might lose him precious seconds cross-country, it gave Funnell the clear show jumping round she needed. When Toytown faulted at just one fence, Primmore’s Pride went down in history as the horse to give Funnell eventing’s ultimate prize.
Pippa Funnell on Primmore’s Pride at Rolex Kentucky. Photo by John Strassburger“By God this feels good,” said a shaky Funnell as she collected her check and another Rolex watch to add to the one she won at Kentucky.
After winning Kentucky with the 10-year-old Primmore’s Pride and then Badminton for a second time with Supreme Rock, Funnell had a nervous anticipation of Burghley all summer. “I haven’t felt human for the last two or three weeks,” she said.
After winning Badminton in 2002 and then Kentucky this spring by the narrowest of margins, Funnell might have already wrapped up the Grand Slam, has she won Burghley last autumn. She almost did, save for 12 cross-country time penalties, again collected with Primmore’s Pride.
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This year, Funnell was more confident in going for it, but was still frustrated to finish over the time. “Normally I don’t sleep well before cross-country, but Friday night I slept very well,” she said. “Although on Saturday night, after I’d jumped around clear and felt an enormous weight lifted from me, I didn’t sleep at all. I kept re-riding the course, thinking ‘Why did I get 2.4 points?’ And wondering if this was going to go down to the wire again.
With four advanced horses, it was assumed her first choice to ride for the Grand Slam title would be her Olympic, World and European Championship mount and two-time Badminton winner, Supreme Rock. But he had to be withdrawn two weeks before the event with an injury. Then, on the even of the competition, she had to withdraw her intended second ride, Cornerman.
“I’ve aged 10 years in the last two weeks and another five today, and I never, ever want to go through it again. I owe everything to these horses,” said Funnell.
Make sure to follow along with all the action at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton CCI**** as COTH’s Lisa Slade is on-site as Germany’s Michael Jung makes a bid for the Rolex Grand Slam. We’ll be reporting on www.coth.com and Facebook.
