In 2006 Lucinda Fredericks was the last Australian rider to win at Burghley but today Chris Burton took the honours at the 2016 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials as the Australian national anthem rang out
Burghley had not been the happiest of hunting grounds for Chris until last year when he finished third and fourth on TS Jamaimo and Haruzac and he has followed it up with an impressive win on Nobilis 18
Shane Rose and Virgil jumped one of only three clear rounds in the afternoon session
After a very good start in the dressage and maintaining the lead on a testing cross country day Chris continued his dominance until the very end. There had been only two clear rounds in the morning session of the show jumping phase and they also proved elusive in the afternoon on Richard Jeffrey’s course in the big grass arena. Horses were obviously tired after yesterday’s exertions and only three riders achieved clear rounds in the top 24; Oliver Townend’s Samuel Thomas II (seventh place on 63), Cedric Lyard and Cadeau Du Roi (fifth on 59.6) and Shane Rose riding Virgil (16th on 90.9)
Shane finished this Burghley on a high note and he now heads to Blenheim next week with CP Qualified
Shane Rose
Nailed it! Oliver Townend and Samuel Thomas II
Oliver Townend also had a bit of an up and down weekend with him retiring on MHS King Joules yesterday and incurring 24 faults on Dromgurrihy Blue in the show jumping today but he is still convinced that these are horses with plenty of potential
Jonelle Price and Classic Moet
Chris had two rails in hand after cross country and, as the afternoon wore on, his lead was extended. Bettina Hoy moved down to sixth place with two rails down but Jonelle Price added only four penalties on Classic Moet. Her husband Tim, lying in second place after the cross country, took the pressure off Chris Burton when he had three rails down on Ringwood Sky Boy and helped Jonelle to move up on Classic Moet to finish in third (54.1). Although pleased for wife, Tim admitted to being a bit ‘sad’ for Ringwood Sky Boy but you cannot keep a Kiwi down for long and he was soon having fun with the rest of the crew!
Andrew Nicholson and Nereo
Andrew Nicholson and Nereo added one rail and two time penalties to finish in second place, an amazing feat for a man who watched the 2015 event on the television after the accident that threatened to sideline his career. It seems that Andrew certainly has not finished doing great things at Burghley and we’re looking forward to seeing him again next year
As the last rider of the day, Chris Burton cantered into the arena on Nobilis 18 with four rails in hand. There was silence as he cantered in to the big arena, renowned for not being the easiest show jumping surface with its undulations and gradual slope and he gave the crowd plenty to hold their breath about as four fences fell, including the very last. But it was a win for Chris and Nobilis 18, a horse owned by Carolyn and Anthony Townsend and Sue Lawson who were there to collect the famous trophy in person
Chris Burton and Nobilis 18
We have lots more stories, interviews and photos coming up from a great Burghley, including our interview with the owners of Nobilis 18 so stay tuned ............
