Popular British eventer Oliver Townend won The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials yesterday riding the 14 year old grey, Carousel Quest. Burghley Horse Trials is one of the world´s toughest and most respected 3 day events and forms part of the Rolex Grand Slam, the last leg of which is held in Kentucky next Spring.
Oliver was one of only 80 starters to finish the 3 days of the competition on his dressage score, producing clear rounds in both cross country and show jumping. He finished a comfortable 8 penalties ahead of his nearest rival, Polly Stockton riding Westwood Poser, with only 49 riders completing all phases.
The win completes a rare double for the Yorkshireman, who also won Badminton Horse Trials in May on his other horse Flint Curtis. He is now only the sixth rider in history to complete the double within 12 months. This Burghley win also extends his lead in the HSBC FEI Classics to 12 points over William Fox-Pitt with just Les Etoiles de Pau CCI**** in France to go.
It is 16 years since an American rider – Stephen Bradley in 1993 – last won Burghley. This year 8 riders from the USA made the trip across the Atlantic – including experienced riders Phillip Dutton (Truluck) and Karen O’Connor (Mandiba). Phillip Dutton maintained his strong position in 4th place after the dressage and cross country phases to go go clear in the show jumping, incurring only time penalties, to finish a credible 4th overall.
Photo courtesy of Kit Houghton: Oliver Townend and Carousel Quest at Fence 14 – Rolex Combination, Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2009.
Oliver Townend completed the British four-star double yesterday when he added the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials title, on board Carousel Quest, to the one he won at Badminton in May. The combination produced an immaculate clear round show jumping to add to their clear round cross-country and stunning lead dressage score of 39.8 on day one of the competition.
“I’m still celebrating Badminton,” said Townend afterwards. “It’s amazing and there’s no point in saying anything else because it hasn’t sunk in yet and it probably won’t for another year. Hopefully this puts me in a position to keep going forward for the future and to have more top class horses.”
Townend went into the arena with two show jumps in hand, but jumped a perfect round on Carousel Quest to finish 8.7 penalties clear of the rest of the field. Townend’s result now sets up a thrilling competition in Lexington, Kentucky next April, when he could become only the second rider, after Pippa Funnell, to scoop the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam for winning Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky consecutively. “I intend to go all out for it!” Townend said. Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=7934
09/02/2009 – Lord Stevens, the former Chief of the Metropolitan Police, today announced recommendations to combat doping within equestrian sport and to ensure the integrity of its Governing Body.
As the Chair of the Stevens Commission of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) – the sport’s governing body – Lord Stevens today announced the Commission’s independent recommendations addressing a number of key issues in equestrian sport. These support and supplement the work of the Ljungqvist Commission for Clean Sport. Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=7932
Breda (NED), 7 September 2009 – Dutch driver IJsbrand Chardon won the second to last FEI World Cup Qualifier at home soil in Breda. His teammate Koos de Ronde came second, and together with third Dutch driver Theo Timmerman, the Dutch team won the nations competition with a huge advantage over Germany and France. Sweden’s Tomas Eriksson moved up to third as Boyd Exell from Australia did not have his best weekend in Breda and finished fourth.
Competition statistics
33 four-in-hand drivers from 11 nations competed
The field included 3 (former) World Champions: IJsbrand Chardon (NED), Tomas Eriksson (SWE) and Werner Ulrich (SUI)
Photo Credit: Shaunda Ruckman received the day’s high score aboard Peppy As Einstein to claim the Non-Pro Division and Intermediate Non-Pro Division blue ribbons at the High Roller Reining Classic. Photo By: John O’Hara.
Las Vegas, NV – September 6, 2009 – Today at the High Roller Reining Classic the Non-Pro divisions competed, and Shaunda Ruckman, of Phoenix, AZ, rocked the arena aboard Peppy As Einstein to claim the Non-Pro division and the Intermediate Non-Pro division wins. The pair was fast and precise throughout their pattern and it showed in their score of 72.50, which was the highest of day. The High Roller Reining Classic is the international “crown jewel” of western riding competition, and features over $200,000 in added money and prizes. The show began on Thursday at the beautiful South Point Hotel, Casino, and Equestrian Center and will run through Saturday, September 12.
Ruckman and Peppy As Einstein performed each maneuver in pattern four with speed, precision, and grace. They picked up a swift canter on the right lead for their large opening circles and easily moved into their spins. Ruckman and Peppy As Einstein then repeated these moves on the left lead. The pair then kept up their momentum for the figure eight, easily executing each lead change. They completed the final three stops and rollback easily, and left the ring to the sounds of whistles and applause. Ruckman and Peppy As Einstein received the day’s highest score of 72.50. Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=7928
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