As the British Eventing Rankings were released for the 2011 season, two of Albion's sponsored riders excelled.

For the second year running, the eventing-legend, William Fox-Pitt has come 2nd in the rankings, with an astonishing 2103 points. Fox-Pitt has had a fantastic season, especially with his ride Oslo, a rising star! This season, the duo came 3rd at Chatsworth CIC***, 1st at Tattersalls CCI***, 1st at Blenheim CIC*** 8/9y.o. and 1st at Pau CCI****, Oslo's first 4* competition.

This year, Fox-Pitt has become the first rider to win five different 4* events, having won Burghley six times (1994, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011), Badmington (2004), Kentucky (2010), Luhmuehlen (2008) and, most recently, Pau (2011).

The highest placed young rider on the list (for the second year running) was Tom McEwen, an incredibly talented up-and-coming star.

Making his CCI4* debut at Burghley this year, Tom has risen 21 places in the BE Rankings from last year, finishing in an impressive 26th place. Overall, this means that McEwen has retained his title of U21 rider with the most BE points, earning 379 points in total during the 2011 eventing season.

The Albion team are very proud of both riders and we wait with baited breath for the 2012 eventing season to begin!

William Fox-Pitt wins record sixth Burghley!

William earned a standing ovation at the Landrover Burghley Horse Trials, 2 - 4 Septmeber 2011 as he made history by winning a sixth Burghley title riding 11-year-old ex-racehorse Parklane Hawk. William kept his cool to ride clear cross-country on Saturday which secured his overnight lead.

Sunday's show-jumping brought with it typical British weather which created very difficult ground conditions for the competitors.  With incessant heavy rain making the going heavy, William's second ride Neuf des Coeurs struggled to clear the fences and had three poles down.

Catherine Witt's New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred Parklane Hawk, 'Parker', gave a spectacular clear round in his first four star debut.  Parker was admired by fellow competitors as Andrew Nicholson commented "William's horse jumped immaculately and won" and admitted he had been beaten by an outstanding performance. 

William on Parker: "I can't believe it. He was superb. The conditions went against him. He's still a bit green in the show-jumping but he's a phenomenal horse and I'm so lucky to have him to ride".

Parker is one of William's big hopes for next year! Definitely a combination to watch over the coming months and a strong contention for the London 2012 Olympics.

British Young Rider team medalist Tom McEwen performed well to finish 19th in his Burghley four star debut riding Dry Old Party. Tom commented "It's a pity about the Jumping, but the cross-country was a great day".

Tom was the youngest competitor on the start list and won the prize for the highest placed British first-timer and the HSBC training bursary worth $1,000- a fantastic achievement. Well done Tom.

Click here for full results.

Click here for videos of William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk in all three phases.

Albion's sponsored rider William Fox-Pitt and Before Time won their first CCI* on a fantastic score of 38.10 after successfully going clear in both the cross-country and show jumping at Blair Castle International in Scotland, 18-21 August.

William's success continued with Parklane Hawk finishing 2nd and Bay My Hero placed 6th in the CIC***.

The European Young Riders Eventing Championship also took place at Blair, reaching an exciting climax yesterday with the British team winning gold.

Albion's sponsored rider & Young Rider team member Tom McEwen and Private Rudolf earned individual 4th after going clear in the cross-country and accruing only 4 faults in the show jumping. 

"I'm very, very happy!" said Tom. "This was a great result for the team and we're especially delighted to have secured the result for Gill Watston - this year's chef d'equipe - who has helped us so much."

The team scored 169.2 points, nearly nine points ahead of Ireland in second place and Germany in third, making it six team golds out of the last seven years.

Massive congratulations to both William and Tom for their excellent performances over the weekend.

Click here for full results.

Albion's sponsored rider and British Young Rider hopeful, Tom McEwen, continues to perform well...

Tom and 8yo Suspicion, produced an excellent dressage test, scoring 33.2. The combination went on to go clear in the show jumping and cross-country phase with only 6.4 time penalties, earning them 2nd place overall.

Following a squad training camp at Addington Manor (13-14 August) twelve British riders, including Tom, were selected to defend their sixth successive team gold medal at the 2011 Young Rider European Championships which is to be held at Blair Castle in Scotland from the 18-21 August.

Watch this space...

 A 2,3,4 for William Fox-Pitt at Gatcombe...

Albion's sponsored riders William Fox-Pitt and Tom McEwen dominated the Advanced section at the Fesitival of British Eventing which took place at Gatcombe, 5-7 August 2011.

William and Macchiato produced one of the best dressage scores of the day, with only one down in the show-jumping, the pair went on to finish the cross-country phase with a mere 7.2 time faults which earned them 2nd place overall.

William's second ride, Gaucho, followed in 3rd position on 44.00- only 0.50 points between them. Neuf Des Coeurs produced another excellent dressage score of 33.4 and went clear in the show jumping to land them in 4th.

William and Bay My Hero finished in 8th position in the Intermediate on an excellent score of 40.10.

Tom and Dry Old Party took 3rd in the Advanced section A having gone clear in the show jumping and cross-country phase with only 8 time penalties. William came 14th with Avoca Alibi on 54.30.

Both riders enjoyed a very successful weekend, earning them valuable points and mileage in preparation for London 2012. Congratulations to both William and Tom.

Click here for full results.

Massive congratulations - the boys done good! Three of Albion's sponsored riders... Tom McEwen, William Fox-Pitt and Harry Humfrey, succeeded at Barbury.

Tom and William dominated their sections at Barbury International with Tom winning the Novice class on Rehy USA with an impressive score of 28.50, closely followed by William riding Before Time in 3rd position on a score of 33.50. 

William came 3rd with Fernhill Highlight in section C of the CIC** on an excellent score of 46.50, while Tom was placed 4th with Private Rudolf in section B.  

Tom was also placed 13th with Dry Old Party in the INROR class and 17th with Up In The Air in Novice section G.

William had two very successful rides in the CIC*** with Cool Mountain placed 5th and Navigator in at 11th.

Tom had no time to waste as he speedily made his way to Tweseldown for his last ride of the weekend on Suspicion to finish in the top 10. 

Harry scored a fantastic 36.50 on Kool Takenda to land him in 4th in the Open at Tweseldown, while his second ride Shanbally Delight came 8th in the BE90.

Well done.

Click here for full results of Barbury.

Click here for full results of Tweseldown.

A fantastic weekend for Albion's sponsored riders William Fox-Pitt and Tom McEwen at Salperton Park.

William finished 17th in Section C with Neuf des Coeurs on a score of 50.40.

Tom had three great rides, placed 3rd with Rehy USA in Section H, Suspicion performed well finishing 6th in Section K and Up In The Air came 27th in Section I.

Well done to both Tom and William.

Click here for full results.

Albion's sponsored rider Tom McEwen had 4 great rides at Berkshire College of Agriculture over the weekend.

Tom competed Staff Des Champs in the 5 year old class, section C where he finished 11th with a score of 34.00.

Tom then went on to ride Rehy USA, La Lux and Suspicion in the Novice class in different sections.

Rehy USA produced a fantastic round winning section E on his dressage score of 28.50. La Lux competed in section F, where he finished 2nd after producing a double clear and finishing on his dressage score of 35.50.  Tom rode Suspicion in section G producing a consistent test and a double clear round but unfortunatley picking up a few time penalties in cross country, dropping him down to 16th with a score of 49.60.

A great weekend for Tom.

Click here for full results.

A great weekend for Albion's sponsored riders at Bramham International Horse Trials, with two great rides from William Fox-Pitt and a fantastic ride from Tom McEwen.

Tom McEwen and Dry Old Party produced a fabulous round in the Advance Section B finishing 7th with a score of 56.00.

William Fox-Pitt and Lionheart had a great ride together in the Advance Section A finishing 29th with a score of 79.20.

William's second ride Avoca Alibi produced a great dressage score and jumping phase in the Advanced Section C finishing 16th with a score of 76.60.

Well done to both riders and we look forward to seeing more great scores.

Click here for the full result.

Congratulations to Albion's sponsored rider Tom McEwen who had a great ride at Aston - Le - Walls.

Tom and Dry Old Party finished 3rd on their fabulous dressage score 31.40 in the Open Intermediate under 21's Section K.

Well done Tom

Click here for the full results.

A successful weekend for Albion's sponsored rider Tom McEwen in Hambleden International. 

Tom and Private Rudolf finished 2nd with a great score of 41.70 in the Open Intermediate Section S and 3rd with Rehy USA in the Novice Section K with a score of 40.40

Tom also finished 18th with Up In The Air  in the 1* Section I with a score of  78.70.

Well done Tom

Click here for full results

Albion's sponsored rider Tom McEwen has had a busy weekend and produces 3 great scores.

Tom was competing Rehy USA and Up In the Air at Larkhill, where he finished 3rd with a score of 32.90 with Rehy USA in the Novice Section E and finished 15th with Up In the Air with a score of 40.50 in the Novice Section F.

Tom also competed at the South of England with Private Rudolf where he finished 8th with a score of 54.80 in the Intermediate section K.

Well done Tom, we look forward to seeing more great scores.

Albion's sponsored dressage rider Charlie Hutton and event riders Emily Llewellyn and Tom McEwen have all been selected for the 2011 - 2013 World Class Development Programme to maximise their ability and deliver success.

The riders were announced by the British Equestrian Federation and it was mentioned that this year it was a difficult decision and all riders were watched in competition before the decision was made.

Well done to all 3 of Albion's sponsored riders.

Thursday night at Olympia is a night not to be missed.....

There will be a special parade of Britain’s World Equestrian Games medal winning riders from all disciplines. This parade includes 4 of Albion's sponsored riders, William Fox-Pitt, Laura Bechtolsheimer, Emily Llewellyn and Tom McEwen.

This medal parade takes place on Thursday evening at 20.10

Another successful weekend for Tom McEwen, as he wins the Open Intermediate under 21 at the South of England on Dry Old Party, with a dressage score of 30, but picked up 0.80 of a time penalty in the cross country phase, finishing on a score of 30.80.

It is great to see this combination doing so well.

Well done Tom.

Full result click here.