Former world eventing champion Ros Canter is within touching distance of a first Badminton Horse Trials title after she conquered punishing cross-country conditions to take pole position.
Lincolnshire-based Canter flourished with Lordships Graffalo – Badminton runners-up behind Laura Collett last year – on a day when many combinations floundered.
Double Olympic medallist Tom McEwen described the stamina-sapping going as “horrific”, and none of the starters threatened to jump clear inside the optimum time.
Canter collected 11.6 time penalties for an overnight score of 33.7, putting her nine penalties clear of Irish challenger Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue, with McEwen’s Olympic team gold medal-winning colleague Oliver Townend third aboard Ballaghmor Class on 45.9.
Canter, who won the world crown in North Carolina five years ago, can afford to have two fences down in Monday’s showjumping finale and still land the £105,000 top prize.
Thirty combinations completed the cross-country test, with almost half the field either being eliminated or deciding to retire.
“It felt hard work in terms of galloping,” 37-year-old Canter said.
“He had to dig deep, but he is so honest and is a fantastic jumper. He is economical with his jumping, and you can’t get much better.
“A horse like him should be celebrated – I have not sat on anything like him before. Tomorrow is another day, but whatever happens, he is a star.”
O’Connor rocketed 32 places up the leaderboard after dressage, adding just 10.8 penalties to his score in pursuit of a crown that has not been won by an Irish rider since Major Eddie Boylan in 1965.
Cork-born O’Connor, who is based in Oxfordshire, said: “The horse was amazing. He is the real deal.
“It was the hardest he has had to try in a five-star event, but he is full of class. I’ve got a great team at home and they have kept him very fit.
“He is one of the best horses in the world, and I am a lot older than I look! I have ridden a lot of cross-country courses in the wet before.”
McEwen, meanwhile, lies fifth on Toledo De Kerser, just behind world number one Tim Price, with Gemma Stevens in sixth and Canter holding seventh spot aboard her second ride Pencos Crown Jewel.
Shuttle Showdown 2024: Jamaica Badminton Academy's premier tournament to energize local scene
The Jamaica Badminton Academy is set to host the much-anticipated Shuttle Showdown Tournament 2024, which is set to take place over two exciting weekends, September 14-15 and September 21-22, at the YMCA. This event promises to be a major highlight for badminton enthusiasts, athletes, and the local community, offering a dynamic blend of competition, entertainment, and community engagement.
A key feature of this year’s tournament is the introduction of the “Beginner Category,” a new addition designed to welcome those who play badminton casually or are just beginning their journey in the sport. This inclusive category ensures that everyone, regardless of experience level, can participate, compete, and enjoy the game among peers of similar skill levels.
Spectators can expect a vibrant atmosphere with a modest entrance fee of just $500. Attendees are encouraged to bring their coolers to enjoy a lively and energetic environment. Traditional games such as cards, dominos, and loodi boards will be welcome, creating a festive setting that fosters community spirit and support for the players.
Sponsors will be on-site, providing an additional layer of excitement with opportunities for participants and spectators to win prizes. The tournament aims to bring together around 100 participants, ranging from ages 4 to 35, across various categories tailored to different skill levels and age groups. These include the Beginner category for new players, age groups from U9 to U15 focusing on junior players, and divisional categories for national and competitive local players.
The event will span two weekends, each packed with thrilling badminton action. The first weekend, September 14-15, will feature matches from the Beginners and B and D divisions, while the second weekend, September 21-22, will showcase the Juniors and A/Open and C divisions. Each day’s matches will kick off at 9:00 AM and wrap up around 7:30 PM. The tournament will conclude with a closing ceremony on Sunday, September 22, 2024, inviting all attendees to celebrate the event’s success and the achievements of the participants.
In recognizing the shortage of badminton tournaments in Jamaica, the Jamaica Badminton Academy aims to fill this gap by providing a platform for players to compete and improve their skills. The Shuttle Showdown also offers young and emerging athletes a chance to observe and learn from more experienced competitors, contributing to their development both on and off the court.
The Academy hopes this tournament will attract media attention and promote the sport to a broader audience, ultimately inspiring more people to take up badminton and strengthening the connections within the badminton community. The Academy envisions making the Shuttle Showdown an annual flagship event and has plans to introduce additional tournaments throughout the year, including a prep/primary school tournament. This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to establish badminton programs in schools across Jamaica, furthering the sport’s reach and impact.
Hosting the Shuttle Showdown aligns with the Jamaica Badminton Academy’s long-term vision of promoting badminton in Jamaica and nurturing young talent. This event represents a significant opportunity to inspire the next generation of badminton players, offering them exposure, skill development, and potential scholarship opportunities. As Dr. Mathew Lee, Director of the Jamaica Badminton Academy, noted, "The exposure I gained through badminton allowed me to secure a $17.3 million JMD scholarship for my MBBS program at the University of the West Indies Mona."
Current sponsors of the event include Premier Optical, Lifespan Spring Water, Dr. Man-Gue Chin, Chas E. Ramson, N D Communications, and Shop Tech Goods. The support from these sponsors highlights the sport’s growing appeal and potential for attracting further sponsorship and investment, ultimately contributing to the growth and development of badminton in Jamaica.
Suriname’s Sören Opti loses first group match in men’s singles in Badminton
Surinamese badminton player Sören Opti’s Paris Olympic campaign got off to a losing start as he was defeated two games to nil by China’s Yu Qi Shi in Group A play at La Chapelle Arena Court 2 on Saturday.
Shi won both games comfortably with scores of 21-5 and 21-7, respectively, including separate streaks on nine and seven points won in a row.
The first game saw the Chinese win 17 points on serve before winning 15 in the second.
Opti is an Olympian who represented Suriname in the 2016 Rio Olympics and was selected for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but had to withdraw due to a positive Covid-19 result.
The 27-year-old is a six-time national singles champion of Suriname.
He will face Italian Giovanni Toti on July 29 in his second group stage outing.
Ricketts strikes gold at Torneo International tourney in Cuba
Jamaica’s Samuel Ricketts emerged champion at Cuba’s Torneo International competition when he defeated top seeded Yeison Alvarez two sets to one in Sunday's final in Havana.
After ousting the third seed Matthew Abela in the semis 21-17 21-3 in just 37 minutes on Saturday, the second seeded Ricketts outplayed Alvarez in the final 21-18 7-21 21-19 in the hour-long title decider.
In women’s play, Jamaican Tahlia Richardson advanced to the semis where she was narrowly beaten 12-21 23-21 27-25 by Nikte Sotomayor, the Guatemalan top seed who lost the final to Cuban Taymara Pupo.
Guyanese Priyanna Ramdhani reached the quarterfinals where she lost to Pupo.
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