Zara Tindall wins British Open eventing title after 19-year wait

Zara Tindall secured her first major eventing title in nearly two decades, winning the British Open Championship at the Hartpury International Celebration of Eventing and British National Championships on August 15, 2026. Riding the 17-year-old horse Class Affair, the 45-year-old equestrian and daughter of Princess Anne delivered a standout performance to claim victory on a demanding cross-country course.

The win was sealed on Eric Winters' influential cross-country track, where Tindall and Class Affair recorded the fastest time of the day for just 0.4 time penalties. This exceptional effort propelled the pair up the leaderboard after a dressage test that had initially placed them outside the top ten. They finished on a total score of 33.3. According to reports, the victory marked her first major championship title since she helped Britain claim team gold at the 2007 European Eventing Championships and her first individual win since the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

Tindall expressed her delight with the performance, particularly noting the horse's jumping ability. "He was super jumping in both disciplines," she said, adding praise for the event organizers given the challenging...