Ros Canter and Allstar B were victorious at Burgham International Horse Trials
© Rupert Gibson Photography
The reigning world champion and the current world number one, Ros Canter and Oliver Townend, dominated the major classes at Burgham International Horse Trials this weekend.
The World Equestrian Games individual and team gold medal winning team of Ros Canter and Allstar B, added just two time-faults to her record-setting dressage score of 19.7. Sixteen year old Allstar B is owned by Ros and Caroline Moore, and it was Ros’s first CCI4*-S victory.
She said: “What a legend Albie is. I felt a huge amount of pressure this week, but he was on fire in every phase.”
Ros also took the Newton Hall CCI2*-L on seven-year-old Izilot DHI, whom she owns with Alex Moody.
“He’s pure class,” said Ros. “He’s one of the most talented horses I have ever sat on. For this job, I think he has everything.”
Piggy March completed on her dressage score of 21.8 in second place on Brookfield Inocent, while Izzy Taylor and Monkeying Around were third.
Oliver Townend took three classes: CCI4*-S section L on Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan’s Ballaghmor Class – who won this class two years ago – Howard Russell Construction CCI3*-S section J on Cillnabradden Evo and CCI3*-S section K on Miss Cooley. Oliver has now won eight international classes at Burgham in the past few years.
Ballaghmor Class, the 2017 Burghley winner, finished on a final score of 24.2, having led throughout the competition.
World Number 1 Oliver Townend took out the CCI4*-S Section M with Ballaghmor Class
© Rupert Gibson Photography
“He’s as good as he’s ever been, if not better,” said Oliver. “I didn’t come here with the aim of winning this with him; if he was in the position to win, we’d let him, and the ground was beautiful and it was a very high quality field. He cruised round and made it all feel very easy. It was all very much within his comfort zone.”
Andrew Hoy and Basmati finished 42nd in the CCI4*-S Section L with 54.4 penalties. In so doing, the pair have qualified for the postponed Tokyo Olympics. Sammi Birch and The Kincooley Ceili finished 67th in the same class with 75 penalties.
In the CCI4*-S Section M, Sammi Birch finished 32nd with Finduss PFB on a score of 44.9, while Sam Griffiths and Gurtera Cher finished in 62nd position on 76.6 penalties.
Second in CCI4*-S section L were Laura Collett and Mr Bass, winners of this class in 2017. The pair added nothing to their dressage mark of 25.8 and finished 3.1 penalties ahead of Sarah Bullimore and Reve Du Rouet.
Event Director Martyn Johnson said: “We have seen absolutely top-class competition at Burgham this week, and it isn’t over yet – the jumping phases of the CCI2*-S take place tomorrow [Sunday, 23 August]. We received a huge number of entries and it has been a considerable challenge to accommodate them, but, due to Covid-19, the rescheduled Burgham was the first international competition of the British calendar and we were determined to put on a great show. The Burgham team have worked extremely hard to make the event as safe and enjoyable as possible for everyone, and we have been rewarded with superb sport and excellent conditions for the horses, which the riders have really appreciated.
“We have had to close our doors to spectators this year in accordance with government regulations, but we are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to Burgham in the future to see the superstars of eventing competing in Northumberland.”
News and results from Burgham are available via the event’s website and Facebook page.
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