Piggy French

Georgina "Piggy" March (née French, born 12 August 1980) is a British equestrian sportswoman who competes in eventing. She won the 2019 Badminton Horse Trials and 2022 Burghley Horse Trials on Vanir Kamira, and finished second at the 2011 Badminton Horse Trials and the 2017 Burghley Horse Trials. She won Individual silver at the 2009 and 2021 European Championships and a team gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games.[1][2] She earned selection for the 2012 Olympic Games, but was forced to withdraw due to an injury to her horse, DHI Topper W. She was also selected for Tokyo 2020 Olympics, as a reserve; however, her owners did not want the horse to travel, Brookfield Inocent, if it was not to compete.

Piggy French
Piggy French and Jakata at the Quarry during the cross-country phase of Badminton Horse Trials 2012
Personal information
Full nameGeorgina March
Nationality United Kingdom
DisciplineEventing
Born (1980-08-12) August 12, 1980
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Tryon Team eventing
European Championships
Gold medal – first place2021 AvenchesTeam eventing
Silver medal – second place2009 FontainebleauIndividual eventing
Silver medal – second place2019 LuhmühlenTeam eventing
Silver medal – second place2021 AvenchesIndividual eventing
Bronze medal – third place2011 LuhmühlenTeam eventing

Early life

French is from North Elmham in Norfolk.[3] She gained her nickname early on when visited by her sisters in hospital who noted a resemblance to Piglet from the Winnie-the-Pooh stories.[1] Her mother Kate and sister Nini also compete in eventing.

Eventing career

Having competed on smaller events, French's first championship level ride was in 2001 at the young riders European Championship, with a 4th place in the individual and a team gold medal.[1] French represented Britain as an individual at the 2009 Europeans, winning the individual silver medal aboard Some Day Soon. The following year, she competed at the World Equestrian Games, finishing 14th with Jakata. This combination then finished 9th at the 2011 Europeans, as French won her first senior team medal, team bronze.

In the senior ranks, she has competed at a number of CCI 4* (now 5*) competitions, and won the CCI5*-L Badminton Horse Trials with Vanir Kamira in 2019. Previously her best place at the top level was 2nd with Jakata at Badminton in 2011. Earlier this year (2022) French ran Burghley Horse Trials with her horse, Vanir Kamira and won it. French has also won numerous international 3* events, including

Hartpury CIC3* in 2010 with Jakata

Burnham Market CIC3* in 2011 with DHI Topper W

Bleinhem CIC3* in 2011 with DHI Topper W

Houghton CIC3* in 2012 with Jakata

Barbury CIC3* in 2013 with Tinka`s Time

Burgham CIC3* in 2014 with Westwood Marinier

Chatsworth CIC3* in 2018 with Quarrycrest Echo

French's top horse, Jakata, was retired at the end of the 2014 season. She had three top horses for the 2015 season: DHI Topper W, Westwood Marinier and Tinka's Time.[4]

CCI 5* Results
Results
Event Kentucky (USA)

late April

 Badminton (UK)

early May

 Luhmühlen (Germany)

June

 Burghley (UK)

early September

 Pau (France)

late October

 Adelaide (Australia)

early November

200231st (Flintlock II)
2003 31st (Flintlock II) 33rd (Done To Order)

36th (Flintlock II)
2004Did not participate
2005 17th (Done To Order)
200614th (Boherdeel Champion)

EL (What A Performance)
2007EL (What A Performance) 12th (Paris)
2008 RET (What A Performance)
2009 RET (What A Performance)

WD (Some Day Soon)
2010 EL (Some Day Soon)
2011 2nd place, silver medalist(s) (Jakata) 4th (Flying Machine)
2012 Did not participate
2013EL (Westwood Mariner)
201414th (Westwood Mariner)

WD (Jakata)
2015-16Did not participate
20172nd place, silver medalist(s) (Vanir Kamira)
2018EL (Vanir Kamira) 22nd (Quarrycrest Echo) 5th (Vanir Kamira)
2019 4th (Quarrycrest Echo) 1st place, gold medalist(s) (Vanir Kamira) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) (Vanir Kamira)
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 Cancelled due to COVID-19 Cancelled due to COVID-19 Cancelled due to COVID-19 2nd place, silver medalist(s) (Brookfield Inocent) Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021 Cancelled due to COVID-19 Cancelled due to COVID-19

("replaced" by Bicton 5*: 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)(Vanir Kamira))

 Cancelled due to COVID-19
2022 4th (Vanir Kamira) 1st place, gold medalist(s) (Vanir Kamira)
EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew

International Championship Results
Results
Year Event Horse Placing Notes
2001European Young Rider ChampionshipsFlintlock II 1st place, gold medalist(s) Team
4th Individual
2007 World Young Horse Championships Cast Away II 1st place, gold medalist(s) CCI**
2009 World Young Horse Championships Pinto de Toulgoat 19th CCI*
2009 European Championships Some Day Soon 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Individual
2010 World Equestrian Games Jakata 16th Individual
2011 World Young Horse Championships Kiltealy Brief 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) CCI**
2011European Championships Jakata3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Team
9th Individual
2014 World Young Horse Championships Cooley Dream 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) CCI*
Carpe Diem IV 5th CCI**
2015 World Young Horse Championships Jump Jet 13th CCI*
Morswood 12th CCI**
2017 European Championships Quarrycrest Echo 27th Individual
2018 World Equestrian Games Quarrycrest Echo 1st place, gold medalist(s) Team
10th Individual
2019 European Championships Quarrycrest Echo 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Team
15th Individual
2019 World Young Horse Championships Cooley Lancer 1st place, gold medalist(s) CCI**
2021 European Championships Brookfield Inocent 1st place, gold medalist(s) Team
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Individual
EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew

Notable Horses
  • Flintlock II
    • 2001 Young Rider European Championships - team gold, individual 4th
  • Some Day Soon
    • 2009 European Championships - individual silver
  • Jakarta
    • 2010 World Equestrian Games - individual 16th
    • 2011 Badminton CCI5* runner up
    • 2011 European Championships - team bronze, individual 9th
  • Quarryquest Echo
    • 2018 World Equestrian Games - team gold, individual 10th
    • 2019 European Championships - team silver, individual 15th
  • Vanir Kamira
    • 2017 & 19 Burghley CCI5* runner up
    • 2019 Badminton CCI5* winner
    • 2021 Bicton CCI5* third place
  • Brookfield Inocent
    • 2020 Pau CCI5* runner up
    • 2021 European Championships - team gold, individual silver

References
  1. "Piggy French, British event rider". Horse and Hound. 2009-09-18.
  2. "Results for Miss Piggy French". British Eventing.
  3. Norfolk hopeful Piggy French’s Olympic dream, Eastern Daily Press, 07:38 06 September 2011 Retrieved 2016-10.23.
  4. "Badminton Horse Trials:Mark Todd wins fourth title". BBC Sport. 2011-04-25.

Official website

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