British-based New Zealand rider Caroline Powell and her popular Irish-bred grey campaigner Lenamore kept their cool to produce a clear round when it mattered most in the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.
The pair also produced their own piece of Burghley history; Caroline is the first female winner from New Zealand – and the first from the country since Blyth Tait lifted the trophy in 2001 – while Lexi Mackinnon’s 17-year-old Lenamore is the oldest horse to win the Land Rover Perpetual Challenge trophy.
“Goodness that was good,” said Caroline as she came out of the arena. “I am so thrilled with the way he jumped – he has been a star all week – and Lexi has got her wedding present.”
The pair, who finished on their dressage score, were given the luxury of a fence in hand when William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie, despite jumping clear, added one time fault to their score. “It was quite nice to have a breathing space but even better that it wasn’t needed," said Caroline who has lived in Scotland for 18 years.
Runner up William Fox-Pitt was denied his sixth Burghley victory. The British team member was second with Catherine Witt’s German-bred part Trakehner, Seacookie, who added just 2.6 time penalties to his dressage score. “What a fantastic combination to be beaten by,” said William. “Seacookie is a brilliant horse and he will have his day and I have had a terrific weekend – to have two horses in the top ten is as much as anyone could hope for,” said William who was also sixth with the Thoroughbred Macchiato.
A double clear brought British-based Australian Clayton Fredericks up to third place with the Thoroughbred mare Be My Guest II – another bred in Germany – a ride he took over from German rider Dirk Schrade in the spring. Burghley is just their sixth competition together – their last cross-country run was an Open Novice at Wilton. “If you had told me I would be here at all let alone in third when I was sitting on my backside on the bank at Aachen [after a fall from her] I most certainly wouldn’t have believed you,” said Clayton.
Mary King also went home with two special prizes, winning the Sport Horse Breeding-Great Britain (SHB-GB) prize for the highest placed horse sired by one of their stallions – fifth placed Apache Sauce is by the Thoroughbred Endoli, as well as a scholarship from Twemlows Hall Stud for the highest placed British-bred mare which went to her homebred, seventh placed mare Kings Temptress who is by Primitive Rising.
Two fences down meant last year’s winner Oliver Townend, aboard Carousel Quest, had to settle for fourth place – although Carousel Quest gained his breeder, Joan Hood, the prize for being the highest placed British-bred.
24-year-old British rider Lauren Shannon had a competition to remember, taking home several special prizes from the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. She finished in 12th place overall with Zero Flight; it was the first Burghley and the first four-star for the combination who produced a ‘double clear’ that brought them up from 19th place after dressage. The achievement won Lauren a voucher for a bespoke riding coat, a miniature of the Burghley trophy and the HSBC FEI Classics Training Bursary.
“Everyone says ride to get round at your first Burghley but that is not my style – you have to want it and I had to ride to win.” Lauren had the benefit of a first ride on her mare Quixotic – who was withdrawn at the horse inspection. “Two rides definitely helped. Both of them felt good but on Zero I went out like I meant it and he flew,” said Lauren who has owned the 13-year-old by the Thoroughbred Zero Watt for six years.
| 7:30pm | Equitrekking |
| 8:00pm | Wonder Dogs |
| 8:30pm | Canter Banter |
| 9:00pm | Greenwich: The Interviews |
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