William Fox-Pitt might have missed out on becoming only the second person ever to win the Grand Slam of Eventing but he admits he enjoyed the bid all the same.
Fox-Pitt headed into the bank holiday weekend one win away from the Grand Slam – awarded for consecutive victories at Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley.
The 44-year-old won Burghley in 2011 and Kentucky in 2012 but saw his bid to win Badminton last year hit by the weather which forced the cancellation of the event.
However officials deemed that a win at Badminton over the bank holiday weekend this year would constitute the Grand Slam for Fox-Pitt, who would ride Parklane Hawk and Oslo.
The triple Olympic medallist fell short though as he placed fifth overall after the showjumping round aboard Parklane Hawk while he was well out of contention with Oslo.
Fox-Pitt wasn’t alone in bidding for the Grand Slam at Badminton with Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand having won Burghley in 2012 and Kentucky just last month.
But he too failed his bid, placing third with Nereo, however Fox-Pitt, who lowered a rail with Parklane Hawk during the showjumping, still took great pleasure in chasing the Grand Slam.
“It wasn’t to be but the Grand Slam build-up has been fantastic excitement in every way,” said Fox-Pitt.
“I was really pleased with how he [Parklane Hawk] jumped and the one he flicked a toe at was the one that came down.”
© Sportsbeat 2013