Rider Biographies

Matthew Wright

Country: Great Britain

Age: 28

Matthew is well known for his ability to be able to ride anything and everything. This knack has been honed over many years and is, in most part, due to the fact that he grew up at his parent’s busy dealing yard in Nottinghamshire, sitting on anything that passed through their hands. Matthew first sat on a pony aged 18 months. His father Roger is also a former competitor.

Aged 12 Matthew won the Pony Club Championships and represented GB at the 2002 Young Rider European Championships, finishing sixth and winning team silver on the homebred and home produced skewbald Park Pilot. That year he also made his four-star debut at Burghley when he was just 18-years-old and the following year completed his first Badminton.

In 2005 Matthew made his British Senior squad debut as an individual at the 2005 European Championships, finishing 13th with Park Pilot with who he was second at Blenheim the previous year.

Matthew rides for Nottinghamshire based Caunton Manor Stud, owned by John Peace. He has competed regularly and successfully in Ireland and Irish wins include the World Cup qualifier and the CCI** at Ballindenisk in 2006 with Park Pilot and Grove Joucas.

With Charlotte Cole’s Well Spotted, Matthew won the CCI*** at Blair Castle in 2009. Matthew’s life essentials are; his lorry, leather chaps and Guinness.

Notable achievements

• 2011 – Hopetoun CIC*** 7th Dark Crusader
• 2011 – Badminton CCI**** 18th Well Spotted
• 2011 – Chatsworth CIC*** 14th Fernhill Express
• 2010 – Burnham Market CIC*** 28th Well Spotted
• 2009 – Burghley CCI**** 23rd Another Cavalier
• 2009 – Blair Castle CCI*** 1st Well Spotted, 3rd Cermont, 14th Caunton Welldone
• 2009 – Blair Castle CCI** 1st Hugginstown
• 2008 – Necarne CCI** 1st Caunton Welldone, 2nd Hugginstown
• 2008 – Bramham 3rd L’Aristo Du Lado
• 2007 – Necarne CCI** 1st If You Want II, 2nd L’Aristo Du Lado
• 2007 – Punchestown CCI*** 4th Another Cavalier
• 2006 – Blair Castle CCI*** 2nd Well Spotted
• 2006 – Ballindenisk CIC***W 1st Park Pilot
• 2006 – Ballindenisk CCI** 1st Grove Joucas
• 2006 – Badminton CCI**** 23rd Park Pilot
• 2006 – Punchestown CCI** 1st Singalong
• 2004 – Blenheim CCI*** 2nd Park Pilot
• 2004 – Badminton CCI**** 9th Mallards Treat, 21st In The Purple
• 2003 – Badminton CCI**** 28th All the Best II