Andrew Nicholson - runner up and third at Burghley 2013 with winner Jock Paget
In an unexpected development last night the National Federations of Australia and New Zealand issued separate statements regarding the positive testings of Clifton Pinot, ridden by Australian rider Kevin McNab and Clifton Promise, ridden by Jock Paget at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.
The horses Clifton Promise ridden by Jock Paget, who placed first place at Burghley on Sunday September 8th and Clifton Pinot, ridden by Kevin McNab and placed 14th ,were routinely tested as part of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) strict Clean Sport Programme and produced positive A sample findings for the substance Reserpine. Both horses are owned by Frances Stead
Both riders and horses have been suspended from competition until 13/12/2013, meaning that they are unable to compete in the 4* competition at Les Etoiles de Pau from 24th – 27th October where Jock was entered to ride Shady Grey and Kevin was to ride Brookfield de Bouncer and Fernhill Quality Street.
This morning Live Sport Radio in New Zealand spoke to Jock Paget’s friend and fellow competitor Andrew Nicholson, who stands to become the 2013 Burghley champion if Jock is stripped of his title due to the positive testing.
“I believe there is no way he has knowingly gone and done it” said Andrew, who is currently in France for the FEI World Eventing Young Horse Championships at Le Lion d’Angers “Jock is a very genuine bloke and if it does end up going the wrong way for him he’ll pull through it, there’s worse things have happened, the sport will cope all right with it, he’ll still be about to do his job as you can’t take away his ability to ride and he’s a very genuine person. Mistakes happen, if it comes to that”
The radio station also spoke to owner Frances Stead who talks of her “absolute shock and absolute disbelief” and who wonders if something has gone wrong in the system.
Click here to hear the LiveSport Radio interview
