BE: BURGHLEY HORSE TRIALS NEWS UPDATE
Burghley Horse Trials news update
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials Press Office release - Saturday 4th September.
New Zealander Caroline Powell and the 17-year-old Lenamore moved up to take the lead at the end of the cross-country day at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. The combination – the fastest of the day – came home 20 seconds inside the optimum time and moved up to head the leader board after overnight leaders Ruth Edge and Two Thyme had a stop at the Trout Hatchery and retired. “He was fantastic – he certainly doesn’t feel 17 – to me he feels younger and younger,” said Caroline who took over the ride on the Seacrest gelding from owner Lexi Mackinnon in 2004. Between them the two riders have produced Lenamore to an impressive 17 three day starts.
Oliver Townend and Carousel Quest also moved up one place to second and one place nearer to their second and consecutive Burghley title. “It was a real four-star course,” said Shropshire based Oliver. It walked big and it rode big which doesn’t make things that easy for Quest as he can jump too big and I have to be careful he doesn’t tip himself up – but he never felt in any danger.”
Five times winner William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie are now third and also in contention for his sixth victory here. The last combination on the course they added 1.6 time penalties to their overnight dressage score. “I had two great rides,” said William who is also in eighth place with Macchiato. “The course rode well and there were a lot of horses coming home with happy faces.”
Just 3.2 penalties now separate the top three riders – less than the equivalent of one pole down in the show jumping – ensuring no margin for error and one of the tightest ever finishes to The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.
Perfect conditions – that helped to boost attendance figures to record numbers for the third consecutive day - and footing on the course described by many riders as ‘the best you will find anywhere’ helped to bring home 11 combinations clear inside the time. Mary King enjoyed a good day’s work to ride both of her horses clear inside the time and lies fourth and fifth.
Fourteen-year-old Apache Sauce is just 0.5 of a penalty ahead of stable mate Kings Temptress – currently the highest placed mare in the competition, but only just as Australian Clayton Fredericks and the mare Be My Guest are sitting on their tails in sixth.
A great ride from the ground eating Lead The Way brought Leicestershire based Clea Phillips nine places up the leader board while veteran New Zealander Mark Todd showed he had lost none of his magic bringing home Major Milestone home clear, inside the time to move up 18 places. It was the first four-star for the 11-year-old and just the fourth competitive outing for the combination.
Lauren Shannon from Leicestershire is the highest placed Burghley ‘first timer’ in 15th place with the second of her two rides Zero Flight, another by the Thoroughbred Zero Watt.
Herefordshire based Louise Skelton is poised to make her own piece of history having succeeded in completing the course on both homebred full-brothers Partly Pickled and A Bit of a Barney. If they both finish the competition tomorrow she will be the first ever rider to complete the same four-star with full brothers.
Nicola Malcolm (22) from Renfrewshire was air-lifted to Coventry hospital after a fall from McFly (no. 69). Her condition is stable and she is now sitting up in bed in hospital – McFly was not injured.
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