Oliver Townend new bow with stud venture

Shropshire-based equestrian star Oliver Townend is setting up a new international stud.

Townend, a winner at both Badminton and Burghley in 2009, is launching the venture with businesswoman Nina Barbour.

It will be based at Harthill on the Bolesworth Estate near Tattenhall in Cheshire.

It's a £1m investment that will create new jobs and rejuvenate a redundant farm.

Townend, who is based at Dudleston Heath, near Ellesmere, will play a key role in the venture.

He said: "It's our aim to breed world-class event horses for British and international riders.

"I have competed successfully around the world on many horses with Irish heritage and at Harthill we would like to harness that Irish tradition within our state-of-the-art facilities to produce the eventing champions of the future."

Harthill's first two stallions have both been bred and bought in Ireland.

Honour Cruise, a grey five-year-old, combines three famous Irish bloodlines familiar to Townend.

The horse shares his sire, Cruising, with the rider's world-class eventer Ashdale Cruise Master and is out of a Clover Hill/Sky Boy mare.

Townend will be competing on Honour Cruise later this year.

The other stallion is Power Blade, recently bought from Paddy Byrne.

Subject to planning permission, work on Harthill is due to start in spring.

The plans include a bespoke stallion yard, stabling for 75 horses, on-site veterinary facilities and a full-size indoor school.