The London Knights, led by Britain’s Ben Maher, won the Global Champions League (GCL) leg at the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) of New York this afternoon (Saturday, 28 September). In doing so, the London Knights also won the overall series title.

European champions Martin Fuchs and Clooney 51 paired up with silver medallists Ben Maher and Explosion W for the New York leg of this team competition, the first time these two stellar horses have worked together in the GCL.

“We had to win here to have a chance of victory overall and these two are the best horses in the world at the moment — the dream team,” said Ben after the pair took the lead yesterday with the fastest combined time of the two teams to record a zero score.

In the end, victory came easily today. Valkenswaard United were unable to repeat their fault-free performances of yesterday, with four faults apiece for Marcus Ehning (A La Carte NRW) and Alberto Zorzi (Cinsey), which dropped them to sixth.

The London Knights started knowing they could afford a fence down and still win, or even two if they beat the combined time of 149.72 seconds set by the Paris Panthers. Clears from both Martin and Ben — in 148.18 seconds — confirmed their triumph.

This was London Knights’ second year in a row taking the GCL series title, with Ben and Martin joined in the team by Olivier and Nicola Philippaerts, Gudrun Patteet and Ben’s pupil Emily Moffitt.

“This year we’ve found our strength in depth — we’ve had ups and downs and used every rider and multiple horses,” said Ben. “It was very exciting to win here at the end and it went right down to the wire, but my horse gave me a great ride.”

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140 horses, 2 ferries and 18 months of planning: how this amazing New York island show was born

Ahead of today’s Longines Global Champions Tour showdown, we find out how this show on an island in New York

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Ellen’s in after reshuffle of British team for crucial Nations Cup final

The Paris Panthers moved up from eighth overnight to second in this leg with clears today from Irishman Darragh Kenny (Romeo 88) and Harrie Smolders (Monaco).

The Prague Lions took third today, represented by Niels Bruynseels (Garcia De Muse) and Marc Houtzager (Sterrehof’s Dante), with Marco Kutscher (Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior) also contributing yesterday.

In the season race, the San Tropez Pirates took second — having led the rankings coming into New York — with the Madrid In Motion landing third.

Full report from the Longines Global Champions Tour in New York in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine (dated 3 October). 

A rider who within 12 months has been diagnosed with cancer and undergone major surgery to remove all the organs from her pelvic cavity is now aiming to complete the Wobbleberry challenge.

Rachel Copping underwent a pelvic exenteration in May, as the cancer in her cervix, for which she had been treated, had spread.

She spent five weeks in hospital, and now has two stomas, as both her bladder and bowel were removed in the radical surgical treatment.

“It was either have that or I wouldn’t have any life – I’d die,” Rachel told H&H.

“They didn’t tell me how long I’d live for; I didn’t ask.

“I just thought, I don’t want to die yet. I was 36 then, and I thought this isn’t the end for me, it can’t be.”

Rachel was diagnosed with cervical cancer last September. She underwent chemotherapy and brachytherapy – a form of internal radiotherapy – and her doctors were positive about her prognosis.

When Rachel started showing bowel symptoms, it was at first thought this was an effect of the radiation, then that just a hysterectomy might be effective – but later scans found the cancer had spread and the exenteration was needed.

“It’s strange because although everyone says it was major surgery, I still don’t really believe it was; I don’t believe so much of me has been taken away, and although I still have the two stomas, I’m no different in myself,” she said.

“I’m in pain most days and it’s a struggle to get out of bed but I don’t see myself as having had cancer or major surgery; if I was in a line-up and someone asked all those who had cancer to step up, I wouldn’t, as I’d think ‘that’s not me’.

“The hardest thing is that a year ago, I didn’t feel ill, but now, after it all, I feel worse than I ever have. I understand it’s saved my life but it’s also hard to really understand why I’ve put myself through it all when I felt ok.”

In 2017, Rachel bought a two-year-old in hope of eventing her. But when she learned her cancer had spread, and thought she would never ride again, she found her “the best home possible”, with a rider whose horse had to be retired after an injury.

Since her operation, she has been back in the saddle a few times, on her former racer and dressage horse Dushy, on whom she hopes to complete her Wobbleberry challenge.

“For the first two months after the operation, I didn’t want to go to the yard,” Rachel said. “When I saw my horse, all I could see was the life I’d had before and I couldn’t be around it all.

“But my wonderful friend Lili Brooksby-Dalby picked me up from home – and it’s a 40-minute drive – and took me to hers.

“It was funny because I was excited about going, then the closer it got, the more I didn’t want to go. I have issues sleeping, eating, and the aspects of dealing with the stomas; not being in control of them and the noise.

“The anxiety of it all made me try to cancel but she just said ‘Tough, I’m coming to get you.’ She’s got five horses and I sat and watched her ride, and thought ‘I miss this so much’.

“It was the time she spent with me that put me back where I belonged. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without her; she’s done more for me than anyone has ever done.”

Straight after this visit, Rachel told her partner she wanted to ride again, and asked the girls at her livery yard to start bringing Dushy back into work.

She was back on board in mid-September.

“I cried,” Rachel said. “As soon as my bottom hit that saddle, I cried, and so did the girls. I think they thought it was pain at first but it was because I felt like me again.

“I’d lost so much of myself; not just physically but mentally, as I’d been in a lot of dark places, and I felt like I was home again.”

Rachel says she did not know where the idea of undertaking the Wobbleberry challenge, to complete a BE80(T) event came from, but that as she had thought she would never event again, and the challenge gives her something to aim for.

“I love dressage and so does Dushy but she also loves jumping,” Rachel said. “Even if we get that one chance to do it, we’ll do it.

“Life’s too short to live it on what-ifs. You never think anything’s going to happen to you, but it does, and life’s too precious. You only get one life, so you need to make sure that whatever you want to do, go out and do it. No one else can do it for you.”

Rachel has had to overcome not only the pain caused by adhesions in her remaining intestines, but practical matters such as dismounting without disturbing the bags attached to her stomas. She also has to build her strength back up, as she has lost not only her core strength but also three and a half stone.

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‘I’d rather ride than have a longer life without horses’: inspirational young rider will not let illness control her life

‘If something does happen, I know I’ve had a fulfilling life; that’s all anyone can ask for’

‘I’m very lucky’: Jonty and Art jump first cross-country fences since accident

‘Life’s going to be very different – there’s no getting away from that – but different doesn’t mean worse’

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“The issue is that some days I can’t eat, other days, I eat and then I’m sick; it’s a complete nightmare sometimes,” she said.

“But I want to build back up; I want to try to get some physio and a personal trainer, and I’m doing little and often with the riding. Once I’m able to, I’ll start flat lessons again, then do a dressage test, then start jumping and aim to do the event at the end of next season.”

Rachel said completing the challenge would mean she felt she is living the life she wanted.

“I’m not being a martyr, but if I sat there and did nothing, thinking of the what-ifs and not pushing myself – when you get cancer, you can’t let it rule your life, it can’t define you,” she said.

“I’ve still got my life and I want to make the most of it.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

A film showing what goes on behind the scenes of at the yard of a racehorse trainer to The Queen has been released ahead of Royal Ascot (19-22 June).

The video, produced as part of the racing industry’s Horse Comes First campaign, shows the daily life of horses in training with William Haggas at Somerville Lodge and the people who care for them.

“Owners and trainers want to win, of course we do, but it’s not possible to win without fit, healthy and well looked-after horses,” said the Derby-winning trainer.

“I am incredibly proud of our operation and the team here at Somerville Lodge, equine welfare is our number one priority and so I was delighted to allow the cameras in and show what we do here.”

Annie Martin, a groom at Somerville Lodge, said the horses are treated like “royalty”.

“I’d heard rumours about the way horses are treated before I entered the industry, but it’s simply not true,” she said.

“To run well and run safely, horses are treated like kings and queens. They really are given the very best care we can possibly give them.”

There are currently 14,000 horses in training in Britain, cared for by more than 6,000 people.

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David Sykes, director of equine health and welfare at the British Horseracing Authority, added that racechorses’ training and lifestyle involves the “best possible care”.

“Around the country, thousands of people are thinking about their preparations for Royal Ascot,” said Mr Sykes.

“We wanted to create a film that shows the diligence and meticulousness of the racing industry and how they care for their horses, not just for the big festivals, but all year round.

“No expense is spared on the highest quality feed, facilities and bedding to ensure they are happy and healthy athletes, but this isn’t something that the average racegoer is always aware of.”

The Horse Comes First campaign is an industry-wide initiative, supported by the British Horseracing Authority, the Racecourse Association, the Racehorse Owners Association, the Professional Jockeys Association, the National Trainers Federation, the Jockey Club, the National Association of Stable Staff, Retraining of Racehorses and Arena Racing Company.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

The Environment Agency (EA) is cracking down on “toxic” plastic waste being used in equestrian arena surfaces.

The EA is warning riders of the dangers they could be putting themselves, their horses and the environment in by using inappropriate materials.

People found with the substance on their land could face an expensive bill for its removal and disposal and could even be liable for prosecution.

“Plastic granulate, sold as an alternative surface for equestrian centres, could place horses and riders at risk, present a pollution hazard and lead to owners falling foul of the law,” said a statement from the EA.

“Plastic granulate is a waste material derived from the recycling of cable sheathing and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

“It’s being marketed by some waste producers and brokers as a base material for horse maneges and track surfaces. However, there is no legal route available for its use for this purpose except in accordance with an environmental permit.”

This permit is only applicable for licensed waste disposal facilities and could not be applied to allow the use of this material in equestrian arenas.

The statement added the plastics present can contain persistent organic pollutants, phthalates and lead stearate.

“Weathering can cause leaching of these toxic substances into the wider environment, potentially causing contamination to land and groundwater,” said the statement.

“Some plastic granulate may even be cross-contaminated with non-plastic elements such as metal fragments and glass, making surfaces where it’s used potentially harmful for horses and riders.”

Certain waste materials, such as granulated rubber and wood chip, can be used in quantities up to 1,000 tonnes for horse menages under a U8 waste exemption registration. But no such exemption is available for granulated plastic to be used as equestrian arena surfaces.

British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) director Claire Williams told H&H the organisation “welcomes this crackdown on the use of potentially hazardous material”.

“Reliable companies – including BETA members — always check the provenance of their materials and would never use this in their products,” she said.

“Those seeking to produce cheap alternative surfacing must be made aware of the implications if they do not understand them, and those that are seeking to make a fast buck and have no consideration for the harm they might cause should be prevented from doing so.”

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The EA is urging anyone who is approached and offered this material, but who doesn’t have an appropriate environmental permit, to contact the agency on 03708 506 506 or enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk. This is because producers and brokers of plastic granulate have a legal duty of care to ensure it is disposed of at a permitted facility.

“We’re determined to eliminate avoidable waste and crack down on plastics as part of the government’s 25-year environmental plan,” said EA officer Greg Deakin.

“We’re therefore urging those with equestrian facilities to carefully consider the use of this material.

“It might be offered free of charge or for a small delivery fee, but it is an offence under the environmental permitting regulations to use this waste without appropriate environmental controls.

“If you’re found to have plastic granulate waste deposited on your land without the appropriate environmental permit awarded by the Environment Agency, you could be fined and be liable for the cost of its disposal.”

Deposits of this waste can be reported, anonymously, on the EA’s 24-hour national incident hotline, on 0800 80 70 60.

Anyone wishing to use materials such as granulated rubber or wood chip as a surface can register an exemption for free www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-u8-using-waste-for-a-specified-purpose

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Three horses have been found wounded and “traumatised” after a break-in at a Riding for the Disabled Association centre.

Volunteer Joe Coulman made the discovery when he arrived at the Epsom centre on Wednesday morning (15 August).

Epsom RDA centre chairman Stella Milne told H&H the incident happened between 10pm on Tuesday (14 August) and 7.30am on Wednesday.

“We keep two of our ponies, Marigold and Buffy, in the indoor school at night because they are susceptible to laminitis. Joe arrived and found Buffy wasn’t in the school,” she said.

“In the school, water buckets and poles were everywhere. The first aid kit had been strewn all over the place and electric fence posts had been broken and left lying around.”

The 24-year-old ponies, Marigold and Buffy, were both found with injuries and the vet and police were called.

“Marigold had seven puncture wounds on her body and Buffy had two. It also appears that Marigold has wounds on her legs, which we think could have been caused by a dog and we are assuming the puncture wounds could have been made with the electric fence poles.

“Marigold’s wounds are deep but not life-threatening, but she has one at the top of her jaw adjacent to her eye, which we are worried about. There could be a fracture there and the vet is coming back again tomorrow to X-ray.

“The wound on Buffy’s neck has luckily missed the bone but the puncture wound on her near fore is quite deep and was still hot and puffy this morning so the vet will look at her again tomorrow.”

A 19-year-old gelding was found in a different field with a similar injury.

“We then found Samuel, who had a puncture wound on his shoulder,” Stella said. “Luckily it hadn’t gone down to the bone. There were wheelbarrows strewn around the field but the other two horses in that field were uninjured.

“Marigold had hand prints in blood on her body; it was just horrible. You just can’t fathom how people could do that, it’s shocking.

“These ponies aren’t young and they do a great job for us, Marigold has been a national RDA champion at Hartpury three times with several of our riders, she’s been absolutely brilliant. Buffy is a very steady pony – she is always eager to do her job and look after her rider.  It’s just so sad.”

“Marigold is finding it difficult to eat soaked hay with her painful jaw but apart from that she’s a feisty little lady and perking up more, on the other hand Buffy seems to be the most traumatised.”

Volunteers at the centre spent Wednesday evening on site.

“A group of volunteers did a rota last night and offered to stay in the coffee room so we had somebody there all evening,” Stella said. “Over the coming days we are looking to have a security firm on site with a dog and in the future we will be looking at CCTV and any other security measures that can be improved on,”

Stella said the veterinary bills and added security costs will have an “impact” on the centre.

“We’ve had tremendous support from people on social media and the local Epsom community — we want to thank everybody,” she added. “People are really rallying round, they have been coming into the yard with carrots and chocolates and making donations. There is outrage that people could do this to these innocent animals.”

A spokesman for Surrey Police said investigations are ongoing.

Four years ago, Germany’s Isabell Werth started her World Equestrian Games campaign on the mare she deems her best horse ever, Bella Rose. Aged just 10, the elegant Belissimo M mare posted a 81.53% grand prix to finish second to Valegro in Normandy 2014, but then disaster struck and the mare was withdrawn from the rest of the Games due to an injury.

Fast forward four years, and this entrancing chestnut, owned by Madeleine Winter-Schulze, is finally back on the scene, despite many doubting whether she would ever be seen in an arena again. Isabell and Bella have swept the board during their competitive comeback this summer, and, with Isabell having made clear Bella was her personal choice ride for the 2018 WEG, they now prepare to start their Games campaign in Tryon, North Carolina, tomorrow.

“Choosing Bella Rose [as my preferred ride] was not a decision against my other horses, Emilio and [triple European gold medallist] Weihegold,” says Isabell. “It’s just that Bella Rose is my dream horse — she is just outstanding — and to bring her back to a championship has been my dream for the past four years.

“We have taken it slowly, and done things step by step during her recovery — she is full of temperament so its been hard to keep her calm during those years.

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Having sailed through the trot-up earlier this morning (picture, above), Bella Rose will not only help Germany attempt to defend their team gold, but is also one of the strongest contenders for the individual gold medals.

“She just has everything: charisma, power, elegance, lightness — she combines all the best things of all my other horses,” continues Isabell, who first saw the mare at her breeder’s as a three-year-old and admits to being smitten with her at first sight.

“The atmosphere here won’t be a problem for her, but I will have to calm her down and keep her concentrating,” the world number one says, also adding that Bella is going better now than when she was last on the world stage four years ago. “We’re all just getting older and more experienced.”

A small but mighty Welsh section C stallion renowned on the showing circuit for his incredible movement and presence has passed away age 21.

Tawelfan Red Robin, a liver Chestnut standing at a modest 12.3hh, was best known for his results with native specialist Fiona Cork, who credits the stallion for putting her on the map.

“I remember the day I met him,” Fiona said. “I was at the cob sales with my parents when I spotted an amazing Welsh D at the top of the bank. When got closer, I noticed the cob got smaller and smaller until I realised in fact it was a Welsh C stallion. And not a very big one at that.”

“My dad thought he was too small but we saw him move in hand and liked what we saw. His owner, Chris Machin, was clearly not overly keen on selling him and he had a high reserve on him. So we went to the ring but he went through unsold. And that was the end of that, or so I thought.”

Not one to let things go, Fiona went online, found Chris’s number and got in touch a few days after the sale.

Fiona continued: “Chris obviously didn’t want to sell him so I begged her to loan him to me, to which she hesitantly agreed. I didn’t want her to change her mind so agreed to collect him that afternoon.

“Like me, Katie learnt the hard way. She loved him just the same way as I did, so after a couple of years I decided that for Christmas I would sign him over to her. He owed me nothing. I owed him the best home and Katie loved him. There’ll never be another with a trot quite like Rodders.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

A small but mighty Welsh section C stallion renowned on the showing circuit for his incredible movement and presence has passed away age 21.

Tawelfan Red Robin, a liver Chestnut standing at a modest 12.3hh, was best known for his results with native specialist Fiona Cork, who credits the stallion for putting her on the map.

“I remember the day I met him,” Fiona said. “I was at the cob sales with my parents when I spotted an amazing Welsh D at the top of the bank. When got closer, I noticed the cob got smaller and smaller until I realised in fact it was a Welsh C stallion. And not a very big one at that.

“My dad thought he was too small but we saw him move in hand and liked what we saw. His owner, Chris Machin, was clearly not overly keen on selling him and he had a high reserve on him. So we went to the ring but he went through unsold. And that was the end of that, or so I thought.”

Not one to let things go, Fiona went online, found Chris’s number and got in touch a few days after the sale.

Fiona continued: “Chris obviously didn’t want to sell him so I begged her to loan him to me, to which she hesitantly agreed. I didn’t want her to change her mind so agreed to collect him that afternoon.

“I will never forget bounding into the farm kitchen and announcing how amazing it was that I’d managed to secure the incredible Welsh C on loan. My mum had never allowed us to keep stallions but again, by some miracle, I managed to get her and Dad to take me to fetch ‘Robbie’, as he was then known by Chris.

“Their huge lorry went trundling down this tiny lane to a shed at the very bottom where he was in with some cows. We loaded him up and there began our journey.”

After a name change to Rodders, the little stallion and Fiona took the native ridden scene by storm.

“From the second he stepped in the ring he just seemed to win, even when perhaps he wasn’t foot-perfect. I was a nobody so it certainly wasn’t due to any of my connections,” Fiona said.

During the initial stages of their partnership, the Welsh Cs and Ds competed together at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and the pair picked up their first ticket at Royal Cornwall show, making the line-up at the final.

“The following year we had our own class. He was really coming into his own. He was never easy and you would never know which Rodders you were going to get. Sometimes you’d put one foot in the ring and know you might as well come straight out, but generally he was on form and I learnt how to manage ‘the trot’.

Rodders went on to become a HOYS winner on two occasions, and Royal Welsh champion, and was the only pony to win the Royal Show Welsh C HOYS class, taking the title on three occasions (the show ran for a total of three years until it was cancelled.)

“After five years of showing him, I felt that I had done enough with him and it was time for him to have a new rider. After an overwhelming response to a Facebook advert, I ended up loaning him to Katie Goulding,” Fiona said.

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“I went to help them at their first show and told Katie: ‘Don’t be fooled by how he goes in the collecting ring, he’s a different animal in the ring.’

“Like me, Katie learnt the hard way. She loved him just the same way as I did, so after a couple of years I decided that for Christmas I would sign him over to her. He owed me nothing. I owed him the best home and Katie loved him. There’ll never be another with a trot quite like Rodders.”

In 2011, Katie Goulding began her journey with Rodders. She made a 10-hour round trip from her Derbyshire base to Scotland to view him at the yard of one of Fiona’s friends.

“When I got there I couldn’t believe how nice he was in the flesh,” said Katie. “Fiona’s friend sent her a video of me riding him. Driving home seemed to take a lifetime, as I knew I was waiting for Fiona’s seal of approval.

“We actually came last in our first show, as his quirkiness completely took me by surprise. Half an hour with Fiona, and we went on to win our next class.

“My best memories include qualifying for HOYS at Cheshire County show and riding at him Olympia — we got the biggest cheer of the day after our show.

“Rodders was a grump in the stable, and would always stand with his ears back — but he never bit anyone. He loved the show ring and couldn’t contain his excitement on an outing. If he heard the lorry start he would stand in his stable rearing.

“After two years together he was signed over to me and I decided to retire him in 2016. He went to stud for two years before coming back to me on the 22 June. I lost him on the 23 July.

“He owed me nothing and brought me so many happy memories. My friends would often ask me if they could have a sit on a HOYS winner just for the photo.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

The prolific show horse I’m Blue Chip Too (Glen) has passed away aged 23.

Owned by Blue Chip Feed owner and founder Clare Blaskey, Glen was famous for landing the riding horse of the year title at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) as a four-year-old in his first season with Robert Walker; he was the youngest horse to ever win the accolade.

He returned to the NEC as a five-year-old to win the same championship and was also champion at the Royal International (RIHS) in the same year.

His journey began when Clare picked up a six-week-old copy of Horse & Hound in 1998.

Clare says: “I was looking through an old copy of the Horse & Hound and in the classified section at the back of the magazine was a small advert with a riding horse for sale. People had been to see him but no one had bought him as he was quite a character.

“I arranged to see him on my way to Olympia. I loved him the moment I set eyes on him and continued to adore him for the next 20 years. There will never be another like him.”

Clare started showing him as a five year old, and there after he was produced from home. She noted that the gelding had won at his first ever show in 1995 at five weeks of age, shown by his breeder Dot Collins, and his last at 20-years-old in 2015.

Glen was very successful as a ridden horse in HOYS, RIHS and Olympia qualifiers with 35 championships, 21 reserve championships and 58 first places during his career. In his later years, he also qualified for the Senior Showing grand final at Olympia.

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Glen was a four-time winner of the national best trained show horse competition and he was also succesful in the dressage ring. His last award was in 2017 when he was runner up in Showing World Horse Personality of the Year.

Glen gave many people their first experience of riding a top show horse and taught Clare’s granddaughter, aged nine, to ride side saddle.

An equine vet is warning horse owners that building banks against the sides of a stable will not necessarily prevent a horse from getting cast.

Dr Kieran O’Brien, a senior vet at Penbode Equine Vets in Tavistock, Devon said although it is traditional to bank the bedding, “the evidence suggests this will not usually have any beneficial effect other than providing some protection if a horse does become cast”.

“They are almost entirely decorative, and may be making things worse,” warned Dr O’Brien.

Other downsides to banking bedding are that fungi will grow in the undisturbed areas.

These can release spores into the stable air, which are breathed by the horse and might cause airway inflammation, pointed out Dr O’Brien.

The experienced vet and H&H contributor posted his bedding article on the practice’s Facebook page, and thousands of people viewed the post.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response,” said Dr O’Brien.

Some commenters suggested banks were created not to cushion the horse when it gets cast but to encourage the horse to lie in the centre of the stable.

“Video recordings of sleeping horses have shown when they are rising they often make a rolling motion when they stand up. This could explain why they are found cast against the side of the stable in the morning, often in spite of the presence of banks” said Dr O’Brien.

To prevent casting he said the best solution is to fix a wooden batten or rubber anti-cast strip about one metre from the floor around the stable walls.

The horse’s feet will be able to get a grip on the strip, and it can then push itself away from the wall.

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“People will still use banks for cushioning effects but it’s important if you do use them the bedding in the banks is kept fresh so fungi don’t proliferate there,” he said.

The size of the bank is also important.

“The bank won’t stop a horse getting cast unless it is very big and wide, and most are neither,” Dr O’Brien said.

Do you agree, or do you build banks for other reasons? Email hhletters@ti-media.com for a chance to see your views in H&H magazine and win a bottle of Champagne Taittinger (please include your name and address; letters may be edited).