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EQUESTRIAN Chris Cogdale

Wairarapa had more than one connection at this month’s prestigious Badminton Horse Trials.

There was Amanda Pottinger, daughter of 1988 Olympic bronze medallist Tinks Pottinger making a promising debut in finishing 35th.

And then there was a Carterton grandmother who was over the moon as her granddaughter Laura Collett rode to victory in the gruelling three-day event — the equestrian equivalent of Wimbledon.

Eunice Radford and her family immigrated to New Zealand in 1972.

Her four daughters were educated at Kapiti College, and three, including Collett’s mother, Tracey, were members of the Kapiti Pony Club.

“We had a piece of land there, and we had horses, and they used to go down to the beach on their horses,” Radford said.

A visit from some family friends resulted in Tracey heading back to England with their son David. They married and had a family.

Collett became involved in equestrianism from a young age and won several youth championships, but her rise to the top has been nothing short of remarkable.

The now 32-year-old suffered a heavy fall from a horse in 2013.

Collett was revived

Above: Laura Collett and London 52 on the way to a clear showjumping round at Badminton. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES Inset: Proud Carterton grandmother Eunice Radford. PHOTO/FILE

five times and given an emergency tracheotomy by paramedics after suffering a fractured shoulder, broken ribs, a punctured lung, a lacerated liver, and damaged kidneys.

A fragment of her shoulder bone also detached and travelled to her right eye through her bloodstream and damaged the optic nerve, leaving her blind in that eye. She was placed in an induced coma for six days.

Not to be deterred, Collett was soon back riding, winning the World Young Horse Championships two years later and then winning the team’s eventing gold medal in the British team at the last year’s Tokyo Olympics. She was also made an MBE on the 2022 honours’ list.

The Badminton victory, in which Collett set a record score of 21.4 points on her horse, London 52, however, holds special place for her immensely proud grandmother.

“When she won the gold medal in the Olympics, it was good. But to win Badminton is something else, isn’t it?

Radford travels to Britain every second year to catch up with family but has been unable to this year because of the covid-19 travel restrictions.

“I’ve been there every second year as long as I can remember except for this year,” she said.

“The last time I was there, I went to Ireland and saw her compete, and I usually go where she is to watch her ride.”

The 85-year-old intends to visit her daughter, and granddaughter, who runs a stable in the Cotswolds, near Stratford-on-Avon, as soon as she can and hopes to watch Collett compete while there.

However, she’s ruling out a possible trip to the 2024 Paris Olympics to watch Collett ride for gold, saying that she wouldn’t enjoy the crowds.

Wherever Collett competes next, she can be sure of one thing — a very proud grandmother is watching from Carterton.

“Proud! Who wouldn’t be, eh? She’s very good looking, and she’s such a lovely natured person. She deserves all she’s got, really.”

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