Eventing

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo made history at Defender Burghley, sealing back-to-back victories with a flawless showjumping round. The remarkable gelding became the first horse ever to win Burghley and Badminton twice, cementing his legendary status.

Oliver Townend leads Ros Canter by just 0.4 at Defender Burghley, with Tim Price close behind in third. Australia’s Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB sit 34th after posting their equal-best five-star dressage score.

The 2025 Defender Burghley Horse Trials opened with the first horse inspection, where 51 of 52 combinations passed. Australia’s Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB progress to Friday’s dressage phase, while Samantha Lissington and Matthew Heath claimed best-dressed honours.

Australian eventer Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB are set to tackle their sixth CCI5* at the 2025 Defender Burghley Horse Trials. Facing a star-studded international field, the pair bring valuable five-star experience into the challenge.

Last weekend´s CCI4*S at Luhmühlen – a new fixture added to the FEI Calendar for a very first time in 2025 – saw Australian Olympian Andrew Hoy securing the win on his Tokyo 2021 Olympic mount Vassily de Lassos and taking second place on future talent Gulliver des Lones, six-year old Eventing Champion in France, who competed at now nine years old for the very first time at CCI4* level.

Andrew Barnett and off-the-track Thoroughbred Chasing Great claimed victory in the CCI4*-S at Quirindi (15-17 August), producing the fastest cross country round of the day to finish on 41.3, ahead of Emma Mason and Oliver Barrett.

Australia delivered a strong performance at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup in Arville, Belgium, securing third place among 11 teams. Olympian Kevin McNab impressed with a seventh-place finish individually, supported by solid efforts from Olivia Barton, Isabel English and Grace Kay.