Strong performances by the first two German riders have put their team in the lead after the first day of dressage at the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire (GB).
Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K (pictured) head the leaderboard on 27.8 and team pathfinder Libussa Lübbeke is now in second place on Caramia 34 with 28.3.
Yasmin Ingham, who was first to go for Great Britain with Rehy DJ, is in joint third place with France’s Sebastian Cavaillon riding Elipso de la Vigne on a score of 29.
Piggy March is fifth on the stallion Halo, on 29.4, putting the British team second at this stage.
Malin, 47, who runs a farm in rural east Germany, already has the advantage of good form around the undulations of the beautiful park at Blenheim as she and the 13-year-old Holsteiner Carlitos Quidditch K won the CCI4*-L here in 2022.
“My horse was fabulous three years ago, but I know that I will still need to be focused,” said Malin, who was team pathfinder in Germany’s silver medal team at the 2023 European championships at Haras du Pin, France.
“It’s really special to be back here on the German team, and I must admit I am a little bit happier not to be first to go this time – Libussa is a really cool rider.”
Libussa, 24, is making her senior team debut on a 15-year-old Hannoverian mare that was bred by her parents and has already taken her to team gold and silver medals at Young Rider level .
“It’s a big step up to a senior championship and we never thought that she would reach this level so this is like a dream to be representing Germany and we are just enjoying it.”
World champion Yasmin, a member of the winning British team in 2023 on Banzai du Loir, is also riding her Young Rider medallist, another 15-year-old, who she has been competing for nine years.
“We are a great partnership and I was delighted with him,” she said.” He tried so hard, he was accurate and his flying changes were amazing. It’s so exciting to be here and a real honour to be pathfinder for the British team.”
Sebastian Cavaillon, France’s second rider, also comes to Blenheim with good form, including a third place at Bramham in June. “We know that the course here will be strong, and that Captain Mark Phillips is a very good designer, but we are ready for that – that’s why we came to Bramham, to prepare for the hills here.
“My horse has a great galloping stride and is a very good show jumper. A mark of 29 is bad for him actually, and I am quite disappointed, but that is the sport.”
Other riders to perform their dressage tests today include the hugely experienced Belgian rider Karin Donckers, for whom this is a 30th senior championship and a 15th Europeans. She scored 34.9 on Ceres de la Brasserie, a daughter of her former team ride Gazelle de la Brasserie, and is in 15th place.
Karin is one of only a few riders to have ridden at the 2005 Blenheim Europeans, where she finished fourth individually. “It’s nice to be back again and see the Palace again,” she said. “Everything is so ‘horsey’ in England, and it’s so green and lovely.
“Representing my country never gets old and as long as I have the right horse and am able, I will keep going.”
At the other end of the experience spectrum, Kumru (Kuki) Say made history as the first Turkish rider to compete at a championship. She and Baladin de L’Ocean LA are in 21st place on 37.1.
Tomorrow, the third and fourth team riders will perform their dressage tests, starting at 10.30am.
In the GFS Saddles 8 & 9 Year Old CCI4*-S, Britain’s Gemma Stevens is now in pole position riding the Rex Syndicate’s Cooley Park Muze on a score of 22.9. Fiona Cashel is second on Monbeg Cazador on 25.0 and Ireland’s Sian Coleman is third on Kilroe Frolic on 26.8.
German team pathfinder Libussa Lubbecke has made a great start on her senior team debut, taking an early lead in the dressage phase at the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire (GB).
She scored 28.3 penalties on her family’s home-bred Caramia 34, to put her 0.7 ahead of Great Britain’s first team rider, Yasmin Ingham on Rehy DJ.
“It is like a dream,” said Libussa. “We bred this mare, my brother rode her and then I won medals on her at Young Rider level, but we never thought she would be a five-star or a championship horse, so we are just enjoying it. It was always an ambition to ride for Germany at senior level, which is a big step up, so we are enjoying it.”
Yasmin, the reigning world champion, was also riding her Young Rider medal-winning team horse, the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse Rehy DJ, known as “Piglet”.
“It is so exciting to be here at Blenheim, a real honour,” said Yasmin, a member of the winning team at the 2023 Europeans in France.
“I am delighted with his test, he was fabulous. He tried so hard and was so accurate and his flying changes were amazing. We’re a great partnership – I have been riding him since he was six. He is Piglet by name and piglet by nature!”
Switzerland’s Nadja Minder had the daunting role of championship pathfinder and, although she was disappointed that her horse, Toblerone, was lit up by the atmosphere, she said: “There is no better horse to go first. It is fun and an honour. I think the cross-country terrain will suit him and it won’t be a dressage competition!”
Nations’ second team members will perform their dressage tests this afternoon, starting at 2:30pm.
In the GFS Saddles 8 & 9 Year Old CCI4*-S, Australian rider Kevin McNab has taken an early lead on Sofia Von Moltke’s Wilfred Lancer, scoring 29.4. He leads New Zealander Samantha Lissington, riding Lucas Stone by just 0.1 of a penalty.
Tom Jackson was the highest-placed British rider, third on United 36 on 30.2.
IMAGES © PETER NIXON
Riders representing 17 nations have arrived in the magnificent setting of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, Great Britain, for the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship, which start tomorrow (Thursday, September 18).
As they gathered for a moving opening ceremony in the main arena, Blenheim’s host, the Duke of Marlborough, said: “The Palace itself owes much of its existence to civilisation’s historic reliance on the strength and dependability of the horse.
“It is therefore a great privilege to gather here today, on the 35th anniversary of the Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, within our rolling parkland — the vision and creation of Capability Brown, the renowned 18th-century landscape architect — which provides the perfect setting for this prestigious event.
“This year, we are especially delighted to host the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship. The last time these Championships were held here was 20 years ago, however today we welcome riders and their horses from across Europe, each bringing with them passion, skill, and dedication to this world-class competition.”
All 55 horses passed the first horse inspection and Swiss team pathfinder Nadja Minder riding Toblerone will be first into the dressage arena tomorrow at 10.30am in front of judges Sandy Phillips (ground jury president, GB), Katrin Eichinger-Kniely from Austria and Valerie Pride from the USA.
Nine nations will field teams. Great Britain, the defending champions, have been drawn seventh in the order of countries, with reigning world eventing champion Yasmin Ingham, riding Rehy DJ, as team pathfinder. She will be followed by Piggy March with the stallion Halo and Olympic team gold medallists Tom McEwen (JL Dublin) and Laura Collett (London 52) will perform their dressage tests on Friday.
Germany’s Michael Jung, the only former individual European champion in the field, will be his team’s anchor, riding his Olympic gold medallist FischerChipmunk FRH, competing toward the end of Friday afternoon.
The drawn order of nations is: Norway*, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Turkey*, Belgium, Great Britain, Netherlands*, Hungary*, Lithuania*, Sweden, Finland*, Germany, France, Ireland, Czech Republic*, Luxembourg* (* denotes individuals only). Kumru Say makes history for Turkey, as the first representative of her country to compete in an eventing championship.
Also starting tomorrow is the GFS Saddles 8 & 9 Year Old CCI4*-S, which has attracted a field of nearly 100. First into the dressage arena at 10am is Gemma Stevens riding Chilli’s Jester.
THE SPEEDI-BEET TROT UP
At the first Speedi-Beet trot up of the event, the Best Dressed, with thanks to HiHo Silver, went to Pietro Majolino (ITA) and Lea Siegl (AUT – above).
The Best Turned Out, with thanks to British Horse Feeds, went to Sarah Ennis’ Dourough Ferro Class Act, groomed by Emily Singleton (IRL).
Jess Blackford, Area Sales Manager for British Horse Feeds, who sponsor the Speedi-Beet Trot-up commented, “It is such a privilege to see so many well-presented horses in superb condition at the Trot-up here at the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship at Blenheim Palace. British Horse Feeds, home of Speedi-Beet stands for feeding fibre first as the starting point for a natural and healthy diet. It provides the basis for all equine diets which suits all types of horses in all levels of work. Combining Speedi-Beet with the additional concentrates required for event horses at the top of their game enables the horses to maintain a healthy working digestive system whilst providing the necessary slow and fast release energy for performance. We wish all of the competitors the best for the exciting competition ahead.”
IMAGES © PETER NIXON
In a breathtaking turn of events, Ros Canter Eventing and her exceptional partner, Lordships Graffalo, charged full steam ahead into the final phase of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials with the goal of defending their hard-won 2024 title.
LEADING THE CHARGE
Canter delivered a near-flawless dressage test, scoring 22.4 penalties and landing just a hair’s breadth—0.4 penalties—behind leader Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent.
CROSS-COUNTRY MASTERCLASS
On Saturday, Canter and Walter soared across the cross-country course as the only pair to go clear and inside the time, reinforcing their dominance with a stellar round that places them firmly in the limelight heading into the finale. Ros couldn’t hide her excitement: “The crowd’s roar at the finish gave me that extra push—and Walter galloped home as though he never wanted the ride to stop.”
HISTORY POISED TO REPEAT, ON THE EDGE OF GREATNESS
Last year, Canter and Walter clinched Burghley with what remains the best finishing score in Burghley history. With only the show-jumping left to go, a repeat victory would etch their names further into equestrian legend—proving once again that when it comes to high-stakes eventing, Walter’s the secret weapon that brings out the very best in Ros Canter.
THEY’VE DONE IT!
You could hear a pin drop as Ros and her remarkable partner, Walter, entered the Burghley arena. With their trademark precision and poise, the pair once again rose to the occasion, delivering under immense pressure to secure back-to-back victories at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials.
In a twist of sporting poetry, they clinched the title on the exact same historic score as last year—a mark that had already etched their names into Burghley’s record books. To repeat it, against a world-class field and with all eyes on them, speaks volumes about their consistency, composure, and partnership.
The crowd erupted as Ros and Walter sealed their place in eventing history, not only defending their crown but confirming themselves as one of the greatest combinations the sport has ever seen.
Austin O’Connor Eventing and the ever-consistent Colorado Blue secured a superb runner-up finish, delivering Ireland’s best result at Burghley since 1963. Their performance was a true testament to skill, resilience, and horsemanship, earning them a richly deserved place on the podium and a place in the history books.
It was also an excellent weekend for Harry Meade Eventing, who achieved the remarkable feat of finishing with all three of his horses inside the top ten. Such consistency across multiple rides is a rare and impressive accomplishment, underlining his talent and depth of partnership with his string.
For Laura Collett Eventing, her return to Burghley was nothing short of triumphant. Partnering the talented Bling, she secured a coveted top ten placing, which also marked her best-ever Burghley completion—a significant personal milestone and a clear statement of her ongoing form at the very highest level.
The young and dynamic Alice Casburn once again showed maturity well beyond her years, riding the seasoned Topspin, now 17 years old, to yet another top ten finish. Their partnership continues to impress and inspire, proving experience and youthful determination can blend into outstanding results.
It was also a day to remember for New Zealand. Tim Price, aboard Vitali, and Caroline Powell, with High Time, both delivered strong performances to secure top-ten finishes, further cementing New Zealand’s reputation as a powerhouse in international eventing.
Meanwhile, the French contingent celebrated a fantastic result as Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza stormed into 7th place. Their stylish and confident round marked a breakthrough result and a highlight for France, demonstrating the growing depth and competitiveness of their riders on the global stage.
With so many standout performances and storylines unfolding, this year’s Burghley will be remembered as one of the most competitive and inspiring editions in recent history.
More to follow…
With just two weeks to go, the anticipation is building for the prestigious Agria FEI Eventing European Championship at Blenheim Palace from 18 – 21 September. All nations have now released the names of their team riders, showcasing a plethora of talent, from first timers to seasoned champions – it is sure to be the event of the season.
The team lists are a ‘who’s who’ of eventing royalty, with Germany’s team featuring Grand Slam winner, triple Olympic gold medallist and triple European Champion Michael Jung and Arville FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2025 winners Calvin Böckmann and Libussa Lübekke. Great Britain will present Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallists Laura Collett MBE and Tom McEwen, as well as World Champion Yasmin Ingham, and renowned five-star riders Piggy March, Caroline Harris and Bubby Upton.
From further afield, Turkey will put forward a sole rider, as Kumru Say flies the flag for her country’s first ever appearance at this level of the sport, whilst Norway’s Yasmin Olsson-Payne will make her debut at senior European level riding the nine-year-old Cos Me Will.
Sweden has a strong selection for contention, looking to secure a podium position again after their team bronze at the Europeans in 2021. Christoffer Forsberg and Hippo’s Sapporo TSF, who were a part of the 2021 team, are joined by Frida Andersen who has two Olympics, two European Championships and a World Championships under her belt. Sofia Sjöborg, will bring Govalent for his first Championship, with Amanda Staam and Corpoubet AT – who were part of the Swedish team at the European Championship 2023 and Olympic reserves in Paris, rounding out the team.
Olympians are dotted throughout, with Nicholas Touzaint – former dual European Champion – making the French team following his team silver medal at Paris 2024, and Ireland’s selection consisting of Olympians Susie Berry and Sarah Ennis. Switzerland’s rider selection mirrors that of their Paris selection, with Robin Godel, Mélody Johner, Nadja Minder and Felix Vogg announced, but only Nadja Minder will ride the same horse she took, partnering up again with Toblerone.
Blenheim is preparing to host what promises to be a fiercely contested Championship. The blend of world-class titleholders and first-time competitors will make this year’s Agria FEI Eventing European Championship a weekend to remember.
To find out more, and book your tickets, visit bpiht.co.uk
Please find the full entry list below:
AUSTRIA
Harald Ambros, with Vitorio Du Monete
Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati, with Renegade
Lea Siegl, with Van Helsing P
BELGIUM
Wouter De Cleene, with Quintera
Lara De Liederkerke – Meier, with Hooney d’Arville
Karin Donckers, with Ceres De La Brasserie
Senne Vervaecke, with Google van Alsingen
CZECH REPUBLIC
Jaroslav Abik, with Madock
Pavel Brezina, with Turin
FINLAND
Sanna Siltakorpi, with Bofey Click
FRANCE
Sebastien Cavaillon, with Elipsco De La Vigne
Luc Chateau, with Cocorico de L’Ebat
Alexis Goury, with Je’Vall
Benjamin Massie, with Figaro Fonroy
Astier Nicolas, with Alertamalibo’or
Nicolas Touzaint, with Absolut Gold HDC
GERMANY
Nicolai Aldinger, with Timmo
Calvin Böckmann, with The Phantom of the Opera
Malin Hansen-Hotopp, with Carlitos Quidditch K
Michael Jung, with fischerChipmunk FRH
Libussa Lübbeke, with Caramia
Jérôme Robiné, with Black Ice
GREAT BRITAIN
Laura Collett, with London 52
Caroline Harris, with D. Day
Yasmin Ingham, with Rehy DJ
Piggy March, with Halo
Tom McEwen, with JL Dublin
Bubby Upton, with Its Cooley Time
HUNGARY
Noémi Viola Doerfer, with Piltown Harry
Balázs Kaizinger, with Herr Cooles Classico
IRELAND
Susannah Berry, with Clever Trick
Ian Cassells, with Millridge Atlantis
Aoife Clark, with Full Monty De Lacense
Sarah Ennis, with Dourough Ferro Class Act
Robbie Kearns, with Chance Encounter
Padraig McCarthy, with Pomp n Circumstance
ITALY
Daniele Bizzarro, with Stormhill Riot
Pietro Majolino, with Vita Louise DH Z
Vittoria Panizzon, with DHI Jackpot
Arianna Schivo, with First Lady de Belheme
Giovanni Ugolotti, with Duke of Champions
LITHUANIA
Aistis Vitkauskas, with Commander VG
LUXEMBOURG
Christian Chabot, with Flora-B-Lux
NORWAY
Yasmin Olsson-Payne, with Cos Me Will
SWEDEN
Frida Andersen, with Stonehavens Baby Blue
Christoffer Forsberg, with Hippo’s Sapporo TSF
Sofia Sjoborg, with Govalent
Amanda Staam, with Corpoubet AT
SWITZERLAND
Robin Godel, with Global DHI
Mélody Johner, with Erin
Nadja Minder, with Toblerone
Felix Vogg, with Frieda
TURKEY
Kumru Say, with Baladin De L’Ocean La
You can find the full list of entries for this year’s Agria FEI Eventing European Championship here.
IMAGE © LIBBY LAW PHOTOGRAPHY
Willa Newton scored her first Burgham International Horse Trials win on the final day of the five-day Northumbrian eventing extravaganza, taking section E of the NIS Group Ltd and Encon Technical Solutions CCI2*-S on Da Vinci.
The Leicestershire-based rider added nothing to her leading dressage mark of 24.8 on six-year-old Da Vinci, whom she bought as a four-year-old in Germany from Dirk Schrade.
“He’s been lovely all the way through and I’m very excited about him,” said Willa. “He’s got the most incredible brain. He’s been so professional about everything I’ve ever done with him – you come out and it’s like he’s been there before. I had to go pretty fast across country [to win], and he was brilliant.
“The courses here are fantastic, and it is such good experience for the young horses to come and jump in a main arena like this. They will have learnt so much throughout the whole weekend.”
Willa would love to take Da Vinci to Le Lion d’Angers for the World Six-Year-old Championships in October, via the British Eventing National Young Horse Championships at Cornbury House Horse Trials in September.
She had a comfortable margin of victory of 6.8 penalties over second-placed Finn Healy and Kilbunny Catch Me, with local rider Laura Fenwick in third on a new ride, Drumrankin Idha.
Ireland’s Danielle McCormack led from start to finish in the Jack-Thomas Watson Horses-sponsored CCI2*-S section F on another six-year-old, Anna Sims-Hilditch’s mare Hildare Trust Me. She completed on her dressage score of 28.3, just 0.2 of a penalty ahead of Jago Jackson on Johnny Hornby’s Barrington Highlight K.
“We bought her as a just-broken four-year-old in Belgium through Jeremy Scott, who finds most of our horses for us,” said Danielle. “She’s proving to be very exciting. She’s quite a character – she knows she’s quite special, but she has a great brain and is super-brave. She’s quite big so has taken a bit of time, but with the help of my trainers, Andrew Fletcher, Holly Woodhead, Jeremy Scott and Robin Dumas, we’ve produced her slowly over the past two years.”
Danielle, 26, has been based at Hildare Stud in Wiltshire for three years now.
Jago Jackson’s second place in this class meant that he won the final trial for the British team for the Junior European Championships in Poland next month.
“It feels absolutely amazing to be in this position – the horse has been perfect from start to finish here,” said Jago, 17. “I can’t thank Johnny Hornby enough for the opportunity to ride this wonderful horse. I am hoping we get a call from selectors on Monday and that it is a positive one! I’d like to make a career out of eventing, so this would be a great stepping stone.
“I’ve loved all three of the international events in Northumberland this summer [Belsay in May, Alnwick Ford in June and now Burgham] – they have all been beautifully run on perfect ground.”
Lucy Standish, also hopeful of a spot on the British junior team, took third place on Mr Cookie Time and sixth on Global H. Just 3.5 penalties separated the top nine finishers in this typically competitive class.
Burgham, situated in beautiful, tranquil Northumbrian countryside not far from the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick, is one of the UK’s most popular equestrian events and attracted a vast number of entries in its eventing classes this year – nearly 950, including many of the world’s top riders.
Event Director Craig Anderson said: “We’ve had a fantastic week of sport at Burgham this year. The standard of competition was exceptional across all classes, and it’s been a real privilege to welcome so many top riders, world-class horses and up-and-coming stars, and supportive owners. We’re so grateful to our landowners, our volunteers, sponsors, and the wider eventing community; without them and a huge team effort, none of this would be possible.
“The weather held up well and the ground conditions were some of the best we’ve ever had, thanks to the extremely hard work of our team. We’re proud to offer a platform where horses and riders can truly shine, and we love the fact that riders and owners continually demonstrate their appreciation of that. We’re already looking ahead to next year.”
The provisional dates for Burgham International Horse Trials 2026 are 23-26 July
Visit www.burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk to find out more.
All the cross-country from Burgham can be watched on demand on ClipMyHorse.tv – visit www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/.
IMAGES © 1st Class Images
Piggy March boosted her chances of British team selection for the European Championships with a convincing victory on Jayne McGivern’s Halo in the Project Pony-sponsored CCI4*-S section C at Burgham International Horse Trials (24-27 July).
Piggy’s finishing score of 19.8 with the 12-year-old Holsteiner stallion is a Burgham CCI4*-S record; the pair added nothing to their dressage mark in the subsequent jumping phases, floating easily round David Evans’ cross-country track within the time allowed.
“He’s been amazing – he really has felt on top form, and I’m genuinely really excited about this weekend; I put pressure on myself because I know what a great little horse he is,” said Piggy, who has won medals at World and European Championships for her country. “I want to put him in a position to try for championships – I know that Britain is an incredibly strong nation and there are lots of brilliant horses and riders coming up and I am not in the early days of my career, but I am still very competitive and would love to try to do it still.
“Halo was put on the planet for those sorts of classes [championships] and I wanted him to come here and do a solid performance and look like the sort of horse I know he is. I wanted to make this happen and happen very well. He was very polished, very consistent and it made for a very happy day. He’s a wonderful little horse.”
Piggy and Halo clearly relish eventing in Northumberland: they won the inaugural CCI4*-S at Belsay in May.
Wills Oakden and Keep It Cooley repeated their 2024 second place in this highly competitive class, completing on their dressage score of 25.3. Their next target will be the new event at Scone Palace in Perthshire in August. Third, just 0.6 of a penalty behind Wills, were Tom Jackson and Hawkeye.
Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent, the 2024 winners, led after showjumping but cruised round the cross-country for four time-penalties and fifth place, behind Clarke Johnstone and Sparky Lad in fourth.
Tom McEwen and his 2024 Paris Olympics team gold medallist JL Dublin took the second CCI4*-S section, which this time was sponsored by local company Holme Dodsworth Metals. Tom and the Deirdre Johnston, Jo and James Lambert-owned Diarado 14-year-old were faultless in the showjumping and cross-country, completing on their dressage mark of 23.4.
Tom said: “‘Dubs’ has been fantastic. He came out very fresh for all three phases; he flew round the cross-country, and it was so nice to have such a well-built track that was really flowing to ride with a few different striding patterns. As a ‘prep run’ for the autumn – hopefully the European Championships, if we are selected – it has been perfect.”
It was Tom’s second international victory at Burgham 2025 – he had already won WL Straughan & Son Ltd CCI3*-S section A on Brookfield Danny De Muze.
Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall were second in CCI4*-S section D behind Tom on their dressage mark of 24.4, with Sarah Bullimore and the homebred Corimiro third on 26.2. World champion Yasmin Ingham (Gypsie Du Loir) and Laura Collett (Count Onyx) were fourth and fifth.
On Sunday, the final day of Burgham 2025, the focus turns to the two CCI2*-S classes. Willa Newton and Da Vinci are in the lead in the NIS Group Ltd and Encon Technical Solutions-sponsored section E with a dressage score of 24.8, ahead of Ros Canter (Club Class, 27.5). In the Jack-Thomas Watson CCI2*-S section F, Danielle McCormack is in pole position aboard Hildare Trust Me on 28.3, giving her a slim margin over Jago Jackson and Barrington Highlight K on 28.5. Jago, 17, is also the only rider still with a chance of winning prize-money in the Northumberland Challenge, which unites the three Northumbrian events of Belsay, Alnwick Ford and Burgham. He is in fifth place in CCI2*-S section E on Cooley Top Boy, on whom he won the CCI2*-S at Alnwick Ford in June, having already finished third in that class at Belsay in May. Jago must finish third or better at Burgham on Cooley Top Boy to take home a potential total of £8,000.
Sunday at Burgham not only offers top-class sport, but also great fun for families, friends and children. There is a fun dog shows, have-a-go dog agility, hobby horses for children to “ride”, and a Thoroughbred and Ex-Racehorse Show on Sunday, alongside grassroots eventing classes.
Burgham also features an excellent range of tradestands and lots of delicious, locally-produced food and drink and public bars. It is situated in beautiful, tranquil Northumbrian countryside not far from the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick.
Visit www.burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk to find out more and to buy tickets.
All the cross-country from Burgham is being shown live on ClipMyHorse.tv – visit www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/ to watch.
Piggy March has soared to the top of the leaderboard in CCI4*-S section C, sponsored by Project Pony, at Burgham International Horse Trials (24-27 July).
Piggy posted an exceptional dressage mark of 19.8 aboard Jayne McGivern’s lovely grey stallion Halo to overtake Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent, who go into Saturday’s showjumping and cross-country in second place on 23.9. Izzy Taylor and Barrington Alice are third on 24.5.
Piggy said: “Halo was spot on – fabulous in his body and brain. He’s really come on; he’s beginning to feel more established, stronger, with more consistency and strength to his body and his work. He’s always felt very special and I’m delighted he is starting to get the marks that correspond to what he feels like.”
CCI4*-S showjumping starts at 8am tomorrow morning at the Northumbrian event, with cross-country commencing at 9am. The cross-country can be watched live on ClipMyHorse.tv.
Piggy added: “The cross-country looks very inviting with some good questions. This is Halo’s first run since the CCI5* at Luhmühlen; he feels fit and well and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”
There was no change to Thursday’s top three in Holme Dodsworth Metals CCI4*-S section D. Caroline Powell is in first place with a score of 23.3 aboard Nicholas and Fiona Lambert’s 10-year-old Legally Grey. Caroline has half a penalty in hand over Paris 2024 Olympic team gold medallists Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Izzy Taylor is also third in this section, this time on SBH Big Wall with 24.4.
Double Olympic team gold medallist Tom McEwen proved he has another exciting young horse on his hands after winning WL Straughan & Son Ltd CCI3*-S section A on Brookfield Danny De Muze. The seven-year-old, who is owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry, added just 0.8 of a cross-country time-fault to his leading dressage score of 20.8 to stay ahead of Sweden’s Therese Viklund and Sella (22.9). New Zealander Jesse Campbell finished third on his Tokyo Olympics ride Diachello, also with a finishing score of 22.9.
Tom said: “He’s been amazing, to be honest. Piggy [March, from whom Tom has inherited the ride] has done a fantastic job producing him, as only she could do. He’s only done one intermediate and then this [three-star], which I thought was quite a strong track. I know the courses here all jump beautifully, but it was probably the punchiest one I’ve seen, so I was really pleased with him.
“He’s perfect – a really placid character at home who puts everything into it when he comes out at a competition. He did a stunning test here, handled the showjumping well and was very cool across country.”
Elizabeth Barratt, 19, headed up AW Jenkinson CCI3*-S section B on Barratt Eventing’s Big Boss Melo. The pair completed on their second-placed dressage score of 26.5 to win the class, which also acted as the final selection trial for the British team for the European Young Rider Championships in Poland in August. They are the reigning Young Rider National Champions, having won at Bicton in June.
Elizabeth said: “He’s been amazing all week. I was sp pleased with his test, because he can get quite tense and stressy, but he was really with me and I couldn’t have asked for much more from him. He jumped like his always does – amazingly. He has his own unique technique, but he tries so hard and gets the job done. We were held at the start of the cross-country, which hasn’t happened to me with him before, so that was a new experience, but it didn’t seem to bother him at all.
Fourteen-year-old Big Boss Melo was bought by the Barratts from France a year ago.
“It took us a bit of time to adjust to each other – he had been ridden by a man over there – and he is big, strong and bold-moving, but we seem to have gelled quite now,” said Elizabeth, who is very much hoping for a first British team appearance next month.
Jemima Howden – also on the young rider squad short-list – took the runner-up spot on her father David’s Van Kaunitz on her dressage mark of 28.1, while yet another highly competitive under-21, Finn Healy, was third on Greannanstown Monbeg Joe. In fact, the next five placings in this section were all filled by British young rider team hopefuls – Isabelle Cook (Mexican Law, fourth), Josh Levett (This Ones On You, fifth and Huberthus AC, eighth), Anya Strilkowski (K, sixth) and Elizabeth Barratt, (Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau, seventh).
Saturday and Sunday at Burgham not only offer top-class sport, but also great fun for families, friends and children. There is a fun dog show on both days, have-a-go dog agility, and hobby horses for children to “ride”, unaffiliated showjumping on Saturday and a Thoroughbred and Ex-Racehorse Show on Sunday, alongside grassroots eventing classes.
Burgham also features an excellent range of tradestands and lots of delicious, locally-produced food and drink and public bars. It is situated in beautiful, tranquil Northumbrian countryside not far from the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick.
Visit www.burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk to find out more and to buy tickets.
All the cross-country from Burgham is being shown live on ClipMyHorse.tv – visit www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/ to watch.
IMAGES © 1st Class Images
Oliver Townend has won Burgham International Horse Trials’ feature class – the CCI4*-S – an impressive seven times since 2016, and he has given himself the best possible chance of adding to that tally by leading the dressage after day one at the Northumbrian event.
Riding his 2024 Burgham winner, Paul and Diana Ridgeon’s Cooley Rosalent, the former world number one scored 23.9 in Project Pony-sponsored CCI4*-S section C. This gives him a narrow margin of 0.6 of a penalty over Izzy Taylor and Barrington Alice. Scotland’s Wills Oakden is in third with 25.3 on Keep It Cooley.
Cooley Rosalent, the 2024 Kentucky CCI5* champion, finished runner-up at Badminton this spring, and Burgham is only her second run back after her post-five-star break.
Oliver said: “‘Rosie’ feels fantastic. She feels a lot stronger again than she has felt previously; she’s developing all the time and I felt that some of her work was as good as it has ever been. She’s still slightly fresh, but more than anything this is a very important preparation run for a big event in the autumn.”
Oliver also triumphed in AW Jenkinson intermediate section J on a new ride, HK Horses’ Thunder Bird Z.
“I’ve only had him a very short time, but he’s won both of his first two runs with me within 10 days, and he’s very good fun to ride. He’s a beautiful horse who has been well-produced by Richard Howley and Morgan Kent of HK Horses,” said Oliver.
New Zealand’s Caroline Powell is in pole position in Holme Dodsworth Metals CCI4*-S section D with a dressage mark of 23.3 aboard Nicholas and Fiona Lambert’s 10-year-old Legally Grey.
Caroline said: “He was bought for Fiona Lambert’s ‘big birthday’ as a three-year-old and he’s the most stunning horse. Everyone has been very patient, and it’s lovely to show people now what he can do. There’s a lot more to come from him, which is very exciting.”
Caroline has half a penalty in hand over Paris 2024 Olympic team gold medallists Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall are third on 24.4.
Tom McEwen tops section A of the CCI3*-S, sponsored by WL Straughan & Son Ltd, after dressage on Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Danny De Muze. The pair pulled off a score of 20.7, giving them a clear lead of 2.2 penalties over Sweden’s Therese Viklund and Sella.
In the Houghton Country CCI3*-S section B, Bubby Upton is in the lead with a mark of 24.9 on Magic Roundabout IV, owned by her mother Rachel and the Zebedee Syndicate. Sitting in both second and third is Elizabeth Barratt on Big Boss Melo (26.5) and Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau (28). Elizabeth therefore is in prime position in the final trial for selection for the British team for the European Young Rider Championships next month.
Other winners today at Burgham included Lizzie Baugh, who took the Cussins Homes Open Intermediate on En Taro Des Vernier, and Clarke Johnstone, successful in Project Pony Intermediate section J1 on Ceralda. Novice section winners were Sean Henderson, Clarke Johnstone and Indie Vaughan-Jones.
Burgham continues on Friday (25 July) with showjumping and cross-country for the CCI3*-S sections and dressage for the CCI4*-S and CCI2*-S classes. On Saturday CCI4*-S showjumping and cross-country take centre stage.
Saturday and Sunday at Burgham not only offer top-class sport, but also great fun for families, friends and children. There is a fun dog show on both days, and hobby horses for children to “ride”. There’s unaffiliated showjumping on Saturday and a Thoroughbred and Ex-Racehorse Show on Sunday, alongside grassroots eventing classes.
Burgham also features great tradestands and lots of delicious, locally-produced food and drink and public bars. It is situated in beautiful, tranquil Northumbrian countryside not far from the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick. If you’re looking for a family day out that’s really affordable this summer, you can’t do better than Burgham International Horse Trials (24-27 July) – visit www.burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk to find out more and to buy tickets.
IMAGE © 1st Class Images
Entries for all eventing classes at the inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials (21-24 August) are now open.
This Perthshire feast of equestrian sport is the most exciting addition to the national calendar in years, and takes place in the beautiful grounds below Scone Palace, with all the advantages of the excellent permanent facilities of the adjacent Perth Racecourse.
Scone Palace is holding the following international eventing classes:
- CCI4*-L
- CCI4*-S
- CCI3*-L
- CCI2*-L
- CCI1*-Intro
- CCI-S Pony 2*
Scone Palace is also hosting the Scottish Grassroots Eventing Festival, comprising the Scottish Grassroots Championships at BE100 and BE90 level, and “open” British eventing BE100 and BE90 classes. These will take place on Wednesday, 20 August and Thursday, 21 August.
Newly-appointed LA Olympics 2028 cross-country course-designer Alec Lochore is Event Director of Scone Palace, and is designing the cross-country tracks for the international classes, while James Willis – Badminton course-builder and course-designer of the Badminton Grassroots Championships tracks – is responsible for the BE100 and BE90 Grassroots tracks.
The central part of Scotland in which Scone Palace is situated has been more fortunate than some parts of the UK in terms of weather this year, with more rainfall. The Perth Racecourse professional grounds team are working hard with all the expertise and machines at their disposal to produce the best footing possible for horses. This includes the ability to water the tracks and site consistently, courtesy of the River Tay, which runs alongside the event site.
Competitors in the CCI4*-L will be able to stable all their horses for that and other classes in the permanent Perth Racecourse stables, while there is Cheval StarboCS barn stabling in the centre of the racecourse for all other international competitors.
Alec Lochore said: “Having just returned from Scone, I am delighted by how green the grass is looking and by the great job that the racecourse team have done on the ground. With so many international classes at Scone Palace, we look forward to welcoming all athletes, horses and owners to this bonanza of eventing sport in the beautiful grounds of Scone Palace.”
Eventing competitors may also like to take advantage of the two full days of British Showjumping classes from 90cm to 1.30m on Saturday, 23 and Sunday 24 August – including Saturday’s £1,000-to-the-winner Scone Palace Grand Prix, sponsored by The Malcolm Group.
There are a multitude of showing classes on Thursday, 21 and Friday, 22 August, and arena eventing, riding club competitions and Pony Club Games. See the event website, www.sconehorsetrials.com, for full details and schedules.
Scone Palace is on the northern outskirts of Perth, and has excellent accessibility from the newly opened Cross Tay Link Road over the River Tay from the A9 and the A93 and A94.
There will be superb shopping with a carefully curated selection of local and national retailers, excellent food and drink options and hospitality packages.
For more information, including a full timetable, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.sconehorsetrials.com.
IMAGE © SPIHT
Newer Posts