In a thrilling and tense finale Chris Burton has taken the CICO 3* individual title at the Aachen World Equestrian Festival for the second year running.
Chris and his long time equine partner Holstein Park Leilani, who is now to retire in Australia, jumped a clear round under time to seal the deal at one of the world's biggest events.
On finishing the cross country Chris said "Amazing. What a lovely horse she is. This mare is retiring shortly and to go under time and do that test is amazing"
Chris then discovered that he had beaten the overnight leader Sandra Auffarth of Germany by just 0.2 penalties
The Australian team didn't fare so well, dropping to fourth place after Bill Levett and Silk Stone were eliminated and Andrew Hoy riding Cheeky Calimbo picked up 40 penalties at Fence 16D and 21B. Even the best in the world had problems with Michael Jung riding La Biosthetique-Sam surviving an amazingly hairy moment but still taking third place
It was a difficult, wet course but Chris Burton and Leilani made it look easy
Full 4* report and photo galleries to come soon
Individual Results
1st Christopher Burton (AUS) Holstein Park Leilani 35.6
2nd Sandra Auffarth (GER) Opgun Louvo 35.8
3rd Michael Jung (GER) La Biosthetique-Sam FBW 42.4
4th Andreas Dibowski (GER) FRF Butts Leon 47
5th Kristina Cook (GBR) Miners Frolic 50.8
6th Dirk Schrade (GER) Hop and Skip 51.8
Team Results
1st Germany 130.6
2nd Great Britain 182.6
3rd Sweden 219
4th Australia 226
5th New Zealand 247.8
6th Ireland 261.8
7th United States 1,210
