A FLUENT double clear saw Stratford-upon-Avon rider Lucinda Mills and her own Chaconda Blue claim victory in the BE100 at the Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships at Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire.
The pair added just one show jumping penalty to their 25.8 dressage to finish on a score of 26.8.
Mills has had seven-year-old Noodle since newly-backed three-year-old.
Mills said: “I’m absolutely thrilled – it still hasn’t sunk in. She is show jumping bred but lives for the cross-country.
“She came out feeling wild in the morning and I nearly couldn’t get on her – she’s never been in this atmosphere before and the crowds took her by surprise – but once we channelled her inner diva, she did a lovely test.
“She was hot in the show jumping so I couldn’t push her, but she jumped a brilliant clear round. The cross-country course had a lot of questions right to the end, and we did go the alternative route at fence six, but it rode nicely. I never expected this today and am thrilled with her.”
Niamh Richardson was runner-up riding her own Cartown Bonny Bell on a score of 30.6, while Victoria O’Brien was third with Unnamed who scored 31.8.
