Piggy French

Piggy French
Piggy French and Jakata at the Quarry during the cross-country phase of Badminton Horse Trials 2011
Personal information
Full name Georgina French
Nationality  United Kingdom
Discipline Eventing
Born (1980-08-12) August 12, 1980

Georgina "Piggy" French (born 12 August 1980) is a British equestrian sportswoman who competes in eventing. She won Individual silver at the 2009 European Championships and a team gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games.[1][2] She earned selection for the 2012 Olympic Games, but was forced to withdraw due to an injury to her horse, DHI Topper W. She has also finished second at the Badminton Horse Trials (2011) and Burghley Horse Trials (2017).

Early life

French is from North Elmham in Norfolk.[3] She gained her nickname early on when visited by her sisters in hospital who noted a resemblance to Piglet from the Winnie-the-Pooh stories.[1] Her mother Kate and sister Nini also compete in eventing.

Eventing career

Having competed on smaller events, French's first championship level ride was in 2001 at the young riders European Championship, with a 4th place in the individual and a team gold medal.[1] French represented Britain as an individual at the 2009 Europeans, winning the individual silver medal aboard Some Day Soon. The following year, she competed at the World Equestrian Games, finishing 14th with Jakata. This combination then finished 9th at the 2011 Europeans, as French won her first senior team medal, team bronze. In the senior ranks, she has competed at a number of CCI 4* competitions, with her best 4* place being 2nd with Jakata at the Badminton horse trials in 2011. French has won numerous international 3* events, including

Hartpury CIC3* in 2010 with Jakata

Burnham Market CIC3* in 2011 WITH DHI Topper W

Bleinhem CIC3* in 2011 with DHI Topper W

Houghton CIC3* in 2012 with Jakata

Barbury CIC3* in 2013 with Tinka`s Time

Burgham CIC3* in 2014 with Westwood Marinier

Chatsworth CIC3* in 2018 with Quarrycrest Echo

French's top horse, Jakata, was retired at the end of the 2014 season. She had three top horses for the 2015 season: DHI Topper W, Westwood Marinier and Tinka's Time.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Piggy French, British event rider". Horse and Hound. 2009-09-18.
  2. ↑ "Results for Miss Piggy French". British Eventing.
  3. ↑ Norfolk hopeful Piggy French’s Olympic dream, Eastern Daily Press, 07:38 06 September 2011 Retrieved 2016-10.23.
  4. ↑ "Badminton Horse Trials:Mark Todd wins fourth title". BBC Sport. 2011-04-25.

Official website

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