Photos: Adam Fanthorpe
SADDLERY & TACK
A YEAR TO
REMEMBER DETERMINED LOCAL EVENTER BUBBY UPTON REFLECTS ON A SEASON OF HIGHS AND LOWS
E
venter Bubby Upton says horses and ponies have been her love and passion ever since she can remember. “My siblings gave up riding but I
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never wanted to,” remembers the British under 25 champion. “Since I could walk I was on a pony, and I can’t wait to see what my future holds. Until a recent, freak fall that saw me
injured, it had been an exciting year for myself and my team.” Bubby has represented Great Britain five times now. Yet the self-confessed perfectionist says she is always striving to get more out of herself. “If I am not winning, I am learning,” she reflects. “I have learned to channel my competitive instinct over the years and I do have big goals! I have a great team around me, and the most amazing horses.” Bubby graduates from university in 2022, and ultimately wants to win gold at an Olympics. “Each of my horses has characteristics to take them to
the top of their game,” says this dynamic eventer. Bubby’s early riding career started at the Newmarket and Thurlow Pony Club; she took part in the 2014 Pony European Championships with her ponies Alfie XI and Howen Loganberry, aged just 15. She went on to win team and Individual silver at the Europeans on Alfie XI, before moving onto horses. A tally of medals In 2017, with Eros DHI, Bubby was crowned Junior European Champion. Her new ride Cola III won the British 7 Year Old Championships (3-star) at Osberton the same year, the horse’s first time at the level, while in 2018, Bubby completed her first CIC4* at just 19-yearsold at Burgham with Fernhill Rockstar, finishing fourth. 2019 saw nine top five finishes at three and four star level, plus an individual Silver and Team Gold at the Young Rider Europeans with Cola III, adding to the staggering tally of seven European medals that Bubby had achieved at youth championship level.
