Piggy French

Piggy French
Piggy French and Jakata at the Quarry during the cross-country phase of Badminton Horse Trials 2012
Personal information
Full name	Georgina March
Nationality	United Kingdom
Discipline	Eventing
Born	(1980-08-12) August 12, 1980
Medal record Representing Great Britain World Championships 2018 Tryon Team eventing European Championships 2021 Avenches Team eventing 2009 Fontainebleau Individual eventing 2019 Luhmühlen Team eventing 2021 Avenches Individual eventing 2011 Luhmühlen Team eventing

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. 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.

Early life

French is from North Elmham in Norfolk. She gained her nickname early on when her sisters visited her in hospital and thought she looked like Piglet from the Winnie-the-Pooh stories.

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. 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.

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
2002				31st (Flintlock II)
2003		31st (Flintlock II)		33rd (Done To Order) 36th (Flintlock II)
2004	Did not participate
2005				17th (Done To Order)
2006				14th (Boherdeel Champion) EL (What A Performance)
2007		EL (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		(Jakata)	4th (Flying Machine)
2012	Did not participate
2013				EL (Westwood Mariner)
2014				14th (Westwood Mariner) WD (Jakata)
2015-16	Did not participate
2017				(Vanir Kamira)
2018		EL (Vanir Kamira)	22nd (Quarrycrest Echo)	5th (Vanir Kamira)
2019	4th (Quarrycrest Echo)	(Vanir Kamira)		(Vanir Kamira)
2020	Cancelled due to COVID-19	Cancelled due to COVID-19	Cancelled due to COVID-19	Cancelled due to COVID-19	(Brookfield Inocent)	Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021		Cancelled due to COVID-19		Cancelled due to COVID-19 ("replaced" by Bicton 5*: (Vanir Kamira))		Cancelled due to COVID-19
2022		4th (Vanir Kamira)		(Vanir Kamira)
EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew

International Championship Results

Results
Year	Event	Horse	Placing	Notes
2001	European Young Rider Championships	Flintlock II		Team
			4th	Individual
2007	World Young Horse Championships	Cast Away II		CCI**
2009	World Young Horse Championships	Pinto de Toulgoat	19th	CCI*
2009	European Championships	Some Day Soon		Individual
2010	World Equestrian Games	Jakata	16th	Individual
2011	World Young Horse Championships	Kiltealy Brief		CCI**
2011	European Championships	Jakata		Team
			9th	Individual
2014	World Young Horse Championships	Cooley Dream		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		Team
			10th	Individual
2019	European Championships	Quarrycrest Echo		Team
			15th	Individual
2019	World Young Horse Championships	Cooley Lancer		CCI**
2021	European Championships	Brookfield Inocent		Team
				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

External links

Official website