Piggy French
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 won the 2019 Badminton Horse Trials on Vanir Kamira, and finished second at the 2011 Badminton Horse Trials and the 2017 Burghley Horse Trials.
| 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 |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Eventing | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 12, 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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* (now 5*) competitions, and won the CCI5*-L Badminton Horse Trials with Vanir Kamira in 2019. Previously her best place at the top level was 2nd with Jakata at Badminton 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]
CCI 5* Results
| Results | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Kentucky | Badminton | Luhmühlen | Burghley | Pau | Adelaide | ||||||
| 2002 | 31st (Flintlock II) | |||||||||||
| 2003 | 31st (Flintlock II) | 33rd (Done To Order)
36th (Flintlock II) |
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| 2004 | Did not participate | |||||||||||
| 2005 | 17th (Done To Order) | |||||||||||
| 2006 | 14th (Boherdeel Champion)
EL (What A Performance) |
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| 2007 | EL (What A Performance) | 12th (Paris) | ||||||||||
| 2008 | RET (What A Performance) | |||||||||||
| 2009 | RET (What A Performance)
WD (Some Day Soon) |
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| 2010 | EL (Some Day Soon) | |||||||||||
| 2011 |  |
4th (Flying Machine) | ||||||||||
| 2012 | Did not participate | |||||||||||
| 2013 | EL (Westwood Mariner) | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 14th (Westwood Mariner)
WD (Jakata) |
|||||||||||
| 2015-16 | Did not participate | |||||||||||
| 2017 | |
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| 2018 | EL (Vanir Kamira) | 22nd (Quarrycrest Echo) | 5th (Vanir Kamira) | |||||||||
| 2019 | 4th (Quarrycrest Echo) |  |
|
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| EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew | ||||||||||||
International Championship Results
| Results | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Event | Horse | Placing | Notes | ||||||
| 2001 | European Young Rider Championships | Flintlock II | |
Team | ||||||
| 4th | Individual | |||||||||
| 2007 | World Young Horse Championships | Cast Away II | |
CCI** | ||||||
| 2009 | World Young Horse Championships | Pinto de Toulgoat | 19th | CCI* | ||||||
| 2009 | European Championships | Some Day Soon | |
Individual | ||||||
| 2010 | World Equestrian Games | Jakata | 16th | Individual | ||||||
| 2011 | World Young Horse Championships | Kiltealy Brief |  |
CCI** | ||||||
| 2011 | European Championships | Jakata | |
Team | ||||||
| 9th | Individual | |||||||||
| 2014 | World Young Horse Championships | Cooley Dream | |
CCI* | ||||||
| Carpe Diem IV | 5th | CCI** | ||||||||
| 2015 | World Young Horse Championships | Jump Jet | 13th | CCI* | ||||||
| Morswood | 12th | CCI** | ||||||||
| 2017 | European Championships | Quarrycrest Echo | 27th | Individual | ||||||
| 2018 | World Equestrian Games | Quarrycrest Echo | |
Team | ||||||
| 10th | Individual | |||||||||
| 2019 | European Championships | Quarrycrest Echo | |
Team | ||||||
| 15th | Individual | |||||||||
| 2019 | World Young Horse Championships | Cooley Lancer | |
CCI** | ||||||
| EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew | ||||||||||
References
- "Piggy French, British event rider". Horse and Hound. 2009-09-18.
- "Results for Miss Piggy French". British Eventing.
- Norfolk hopeful Piggy French’s Olympic dream, Eastern Daily Press, 07:38 06 September 2011 Retrieved 2016-10.23.
- "Badminton Horse Trials:Mark Todd wins fourth title". BBC Sport. 2011-04-25.