The happy top trio
Determined was the word to sum up Christopher Burton at the NAF Hartpury International Horse Trials this weekend where he held scored an impressive win in the Superflex CIC3* riding Tempranillo. Adding nothing to his dressage equal tenth dressage score of 41.7 Chris moved up to the top of the leaderboard finishing ahead of Kiwi rider Tim Price, riding Wesko and third placed Jonelle Richards (The Deputy). Chris and Tempranillo were the only pair to finish under the optimum time on cross country.
Tim Price and Wesko on their way to a clear round
The other Australian riders enjoyed a day of mixed fortunes with Lucinda Fredericks dropping back from third after dressage on Flying Finish to overall 15th place thanks to a rail down and cross country time penalties. This was a trend followed by Sam Griffiths who like Lucinda went clear cross country riding Real Dancer by time penalties and two rails down in the show jumping saw him finish the day in 27th place. Sammi McLeoad must have been pleased with her performance riding Winnetou M as the pair went clear both cross country and show jumping, only adding time penalties from cross country to their dressage score of 50. (Hopefully we’ll hear more about Sammi’s weekend in her next blog, which she has promised us very soon …)
For once Andrew Nicholson wasn't in the top three - but he was pretty close with Mr Cruise Control (above) who finished fourth
Wendy Schaeffer (Koyuan Sun Dancer) and Lucinda Fredericks (Prada) were a bit slow on cross country and both took a rail show jumping, while Alex Townsend picked up 20 penalites on cross country riding Bendigo III and retired Parodie on cross country.
It was a long day but a happy one for Chris Burton
Full gallery will follow tomorrow
