Burton’s First Burghley Win

Burton’s First Burghley Win

Written by Amy Bennett

For the first time in a decade The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials has an Australian winner in Christopher Burton on board Mrs Sue Lawson’s and Mrs Carolyn Townsend’s 11 year old Hanoverian gelding, Nobilis 18.

Leading from start to finish the combination have shown tremendous form, starting with the best score in a 4* dressage test ever seen on British soil, followed by a flawless cross country clear yesterday and a nail biting show jumping round to claim his victory today. However Chris’s ride today wasn’t quite so seamless, racking up 16 jumping faults on the way to winning his first 4* title in Britain.

This is the first time in over 25 years since a rider has taken the Burghley title having knocked down four show jumping poles on the way, and typically this horse (who is normally a very clean jumper) hasn’t touched a rail all season. “I thought I’d keep it interesting by making it close to the wire!” Burton joked, “but I was only walking up winners avenue the other day, looking at all the winners’ names thinking “wouldn’t it be nice to win and have my plaque up here one day?”” He smiled.

A more familiar face in Burghley’s history, New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson, moved up one place into second when his fellow compatriot, Tim Price notched up 12 jumping faults to drop out of the top three. This is the third time that Nicholson’s mount, Nereo, has taken the runner up position here at Burghley and Burton denied Andrew what could have been his sixth win here. “I’m very proud of him,” Nicholson said of his famous chestnut partner, “he’s getting on a bit at 16 now and he never really enjoys the terrain here at Burghley but he really tries for me.”

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Having started off their campaign lying in 22nd place after dressage, New Zealander Jonelle Price climbed 18 places after cross country to sit in fourth spot coming into the show jumping today, and was another to benefit from her husband’s exit out of the top three. “I feel like I’ve been digging myself out of a hole all week really, but we’ve managed to stay in the competition and claw our way back up, so I’m delighted to be here,” Jonelle said of her rise up the leaderboard. Her mount Classic Moet – frequently the fastest horse on the cross country course – also claimed the prize of the highest place mare of the event.

Richard Jeffry’s technical show jumping track caused it’s fair share of trouble in this afternoon’s session, with double figure rounds a plenty and only five clear rounds in total. Most notable beneficiaries of these were were France’s Cedric Lyard and Great Britain’s Oliver Townend who posted the only two clear rounds of the top ten in quick succession to climb up three places each on board their respective mounts, Cadeau Du Roi and Samuel Thomas. Oliver was also the best placed Brit, followed by Tina Cook riding Star Witness into the final spot in the top 10.

So, with another Land Rover Burghley Horse trials rounded up, it’s “quick march” back home for most of the riders and a swap of horses, before they all head off to Blenheim for the last leg of the Event Rider Masters, the 8 & 9 year old event horse championships and the CCI*** starting on Thursday. We will be there for the weekend, bringing you up to date coverage and look forward to slightly drier weather…hopefully!