A rising British star and a US teenager top the podium in the under-25 championship
EVENTING DEFENDER BRAMHAM
Under-25 CCI4*-L
EMMA THOMAS, 24, claimed the under-25 CCI4*-L.
“It means a hell of a lot to win this class. I love Bramham, but I haven’t always been sure Bramham loves me,” she said, marking her first cross-country clear here. “I remember watching Badminton as a kid and the commentators saying if somebody had won this class and gone on to Badminton, they were going to be a star.”
The biology graduate, whose original career plan was forensic anthropology, is in her third season eventing full-time:
“I think it’s taken me until this year to find my way with it. The first season I put so much pressure on myself to do everything perfectly. I let myself enjoy it more now and that’s coming through in the results.”
The Buzz Factor – who belongs to Emma’s mother Rebecca Velarde and longstanding coach Pippa Williams – has benefited from Emma’s experience on Icarus X, whom she pulled up here when he was too strong, but who was 18th at Burghley last year.
“I’ve had Buzzy since I was 16 and he was five, and he’s forged this whole career for me. It’s been the blind leading the bli
