It was wet at Aachen last year - but Chris didn't seem to notice
2012 was a good year for Chris Burton and one that seemed to validate his decision to move permanently to the UK. A win and second place in the CCI3* in Saumur preceded a title that really made the eventing world sit up and take notice when, riding the New Zealand bred horse Underdiscussion, Chris won the individual title in the CICO3* on the hallowed turf of Aachen. Then, lo and behold, he did it again in 2013. In a very tight finish on a wet cross country course which claimed plenty of casualties, Chris and his ‘amazing’ mare Holstein Park Leilani had the only double clear cross country ride of the day giving him the title for the second year, just a whisker ahead of Germany’s Sandra Auffarth.
No pressure for 2014 then! With Andrew Nicholson just taking a hat trick at Barbury, it seems inevitable to ask if Chris could do the same and win Aachen three times in a row. Of course Andrew won Barbury on the same horse whereas Chris is attempting to win again on yet another mount. This year he is riding Graf Liberty, owned by the Graf Liberty Syndicate, a lovely group of people and avid supporters who will no doubt be keenly watching their horse’s progress (assuming they will not be there, ready to celebrate in person!)
Chris and Graf Liberty at the WEG test event at Le Pin au Haras
The now nine year old Graf Liberty seems to have a penchant for European soil, winning the CIC2* at Les Etoiles de Pau in 2012 at the tender age of seven. Chris had scheduled to compete him in the Young Horse class at Le Lion d’Angers in France however, when this was cancelled due to bad weather, they re-routed to Pau where they picked up the impressive win, finishing on their dressage score.
In 2013 they came second in the 8/9 Year Old CIC3* at Blenheim, fourth in the CIC2* at the World Equestrian Games Test Event at Le Pin and finished fifth in the CCI3* at Saumur this year. It seems like France is a good country for this horse so let’s hope he takes to Germany in the same manner!
His German bloodlines may be of help - he is by the Irish Holstein sire Limmerick who had three sons competing at this year’s Badminton Horse Trials including Clarke Montgomery’s Loughan Glen, another combination that will also be competing at Aachen. Two horses sired by Limmerick that people in Australia will be very familiar with are Bill Levett’s Shannondale Titan (owned by Clare Prentice), named on the Australian team for Normandy, and Tim Boland’s Lord Limmerick.
Ready for WEG and on top form - Michael Jung and La BIosthetique Sam
Once again this year Chris will be up against strong opposition from the German riders who have been so close to taking the title in previous years. In 2012 Chris beat Michael Jung by 1.8 penalties and last year was only 0.2 penalties in front of Sandra Auffarth. Both riders will be back at Aachen on their top horses – La Biosthetique Sam and Opgun Louvo who proved to be on formidable form in Poland recently. Not only is Germany bringing their top guns for the Nations Cup team and individuals but Britain is also giving the WEG-bound William Fox-Pitt on Chilli Morning and Zara Phillips on High Kingdom a run, whereas they usually reserve Nations Cup squads for up and coming rider/horse combinations. The Australian team will consist of Chris and Graf Liberty, Andrew Hoy and Rutherglen, Kevin McNab and Clifton Pinot and Paul Tapner with Kilronan
As Chris says in the video summary from 2012 below “To win Aachen is something I’ll remember forever” – how would he feel if he won three in a row ........?
Libby Law will be bringing us the all the action in our photo gallery from Aachen on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th July
In the meantime you can check out the interactive cross country course online here
