GLORIOUS, absolutely glorious! Burgham Horse Trials delivered an outstanding event with the new advanced and Intermediate courses, writes Melanie Horne.
The classes were very well supported and attracted some A-list riders, with Caroline Powell, Ruth Edge and Nicola Wilson all competing with multiple rides.
The advanced, intermediate and novice D sections were run on Saturday with the BE100 and novice J sections on Sunday and the warm, sunny weather was a delight to spectators and riders alike. The courses were very well prepared with the ground rolled and aerated, and the new cross-country jumps gleaming. The advanced water complex claimed Bee Diplomatic and Nicola Wilson, who reported that at least the water was warm.
It was a clean sweep in the Advanced for the Scottish riders with Kelso-based Kiwi Caroline Powell in first place, riding Cameron Crawford’s Onwards and Upwards. They scored 35.5 in the dressage, were clear show jumping and cross-country, but picked up 10.8 time faults to end with a total of 46.3.
The open intermediate also saw some stiff competition with Selkirk’s Ian Stark and Looks Similar in the lead after the dressage and show jumping, but an unfortunate error of course on the cross-country led to elimination.
Ruth Edge and Mrs Susan Kerfoot’s Rogerdale were first with a score of 33.0 with Jedburgh’s Emily Galbraith and Timing in second with 39.7.
The intermediate section C brought more local riders to the fore with a spirited effort by Kirsty Brewis and Harbour Lights, but the laurels were won by Dublin rider Aidan Keogh and Master Tredstep, finishing on their dressage score of 32.7. Caroline Powell was a close second on Earl of Belvedere where 3.6 cross-country time points were added to a superb dressage score of 29.6 to give a total of 33.2.
The novice section D was also run on Saturday. Ruth Edge and Basco produced a textbook round to finish first on their dressage score of 22.0. Wills Oakden took Mrs Antonia Finch’s 18hh youngster Prime Time, to a double-clear.
Sunday brought another bright day which saw the BE 100 competition and the novice section J. Each section was very well supported with a number of competitors having multiple rides. Isabella Innes Ker and the Duchess of Roxburghe’s Rosses Captain took first place in the novice, Peter Laidlaw from Mount Annan Holdings won the BE100 section E on Adino V, Caroline Powell and Ferndale Shannon topped the section G results with Catherine Chichester and Ginja Ninja II picking up third place in section I.
The event was an outstanding start to the season – from the water duck carved by Harry Williams, the organising of David Nicholson, to the support of president Seamore Kurdi and the Newcastle Falcons.
Full results are available at www.britisheventing.com