Oliver Townend's Olympic hopes get strong start

Shropshire based equestrian ace Oliver Townend will bid to reclaim British eventing's most prestigious title next week after making a jaw-dropping start on the potential road towards London 2012.

The current eventing season is only six weeks old, yet Townend has already collected 14 victories from his 62 rides, 10 runners-up spots and a further eight third places.

And there is genuine excitement in his voice as he reports a "buzzing" atmosphere at his Duddleston Heath yard ahead of the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and Townend's twin victory assault aboard Ashdale Cruise Master and Carousel Quest.

"I am working harder this year at it than I have ever worked at it," he said.

"Obviously, everyone has bad days, but we've had 14 winners at all sorts of levels this year. The percentages are very good, the horses are on great form and the yard is buzzing.

"That really gives you confidence and it makes you jump out of bed in the morning.

"I think I have something like 350-400 rides a year, but it is not just about winners to me, it's about the progression of the young horses through to top level. I want to get as many to top level as possible.

"Unfortunately, a lot of mine have been sold in the past, but I am going to try to keep hold of as many as I can and really concentrate on my career now if possible, rather than just the money-making side of things."

A burgeoning string of novice, intermediate and advanced horses - many owned by 28-year-old Townend's principal supporter Andrew Cawthray - have become consistent podium finishers, while exciting prospect ODT Sonas Rovatio will make a four-star debut in Kentucky later this month.

Townend added: "It's making my job very, very easy when you have a yard full of horses that you actually want to ride, rather than looking at a yard-full that you are not bothered to ride.

"There is a huge amount of talent there. Andrew Cawthray has definitely got the best bunch he's ever had, and to have a guy support like you like that is a huge bonus because it just takes the pressure off me."

Townend took world eventing by storm during a stellar 10 months from November 2008 to the following September, winning £100,000 as the sport's inaugural Express Eventing champion, then landing Badminton and Burghley titles on different horses.

Last year proved a different story though, when Townend's bid for the £230,000 Rolex Grand Slam in Kentucky ended with a crashing fall from Ashdale and him being airlifted to hospital.

His injuries meant he could not defend the Badminton crown, and then despite rapidly recapturing top form he missed out on World Equestrian Games selection, when Great Britain emphatically won team gold.

"The World Equestrian Games made me sit up - it makes you realise they are not relying on me, and that it's down to me to continually prove to them that they do need me," he said.

"It's a fickle job. You need good form at that particular time, and now it is my job not to rely on my past form, which possibly I was doing.

"I am still young, and sometimes it can be quite a good shake-up to have.

"I like proving people wrong and I like to be wanted, and it has definitely made me jump out of bed an hour earlier every morning to make sure those results are consistently coming through.

"The plan this year is to get to all the big events and get as many good results as possible. The horses are a year older, a year more experienced and hopefully things are looking good."

The 2011 season is also critical in terms of qualifying horses for London next year, when Townend hopes to contest Olympic team and individual gold at Greenwich Park.

"It's always there (London) in my mind, and my job is to get as many horses qualified and as many good results by the spring of 2012 as possible," he said.

"This year is a huge year for Olympic qualifications. If horses are not qualified this year, they aren't going to be going.

"But we've got a good bunch of horses, and a lot that are about to step up to that level that feel very impressive, so hopefully we will have more than one to choose from.

"A lot has happened in the last two years. Hopefully, it has settled a few demons in my mind that it is possible now, and I can relax - as long as I keep working hard."