Kiwis fill four of the top nine spots at the Burghley International Horse Trials after an exciting and incredibly tough cross country phase overnight.
Andrew Nicholson and Avebury (owned by Mark and Rosemary Barlow and Nicholson), sitting in second 6.5 penalty points behind leader Sinead Halpin (USA), look as good a chance as any to take the title but he’s carrying the extra pressure of also being poised to take the HSBC FEI Clasics Series which is worth a massive $US150,000 to the winner.
He was full of praise for his horse who he describes as “just real class”.
“Avebury made is feel very easy,” he said. “He knows his job and felt foot perfect all the way. He’s a hardened campaigner …. and felt good coming through the finish.”
Nicholson is also in eighth spot on Calico Joe (owned by 2012 in Mind Syndicate) who, with Mark Todd on Major Milestone (owned by Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell), were two of just four combinations to go clear inside time.
Everyone is talking about Jonathan Paget and Clifton Lush (owned by Frances Stead and Lucy Allison) who are sitting in sixth spot, after the two nearly parted company at the Trout Hatchery jump.
Defying gravity, Paget managed to pull himself back into the saddle, coming home clear but with two time penalties.
Caroline Powell and Boston Two Tip (owned by Alan Bell and Powell) is in ninth place, while Todd is in 15th position. Lucy Jackson riding her first ever Burghley was over the moon to finish in 42nd spot aboard Animator II (owned by Jackson, Nigel Taylor and Kathy Brown).
The Captain Mark Phillips-designed course challenged even the most experienced riders with the sticky ground making it particularly tough for the horses.
Leader Sinead Halpin could be the first American in 19 years to win the prestigious event after retaining her overnight dressage lead to stay in front.
Tomorrow’s showjumping round promises to be heart-stopping. FEI Classics leader William Fox-Pitt (GBR) aboard the Kiwi bred Parklane Hawk – who won Burghley last year – is just behind Nicholson.
Just 56 completed the cross country, nine were eliminated, 16 retired and four withdrawn.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Paralympian Anthea Gunner and Huntingdale Incognito have finished 19th in their grade 2 individual test at the London Paralympics scoring 63.762% - a three percent improvement over their first outing at the games.
Burghley International Horse Trials results (after the dressage and cross country phases) - Sinead Halpin (USA) Manior de Carneville 36.3 1, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Avebury 41.8 2, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Parklane Hawk 43.4 3, Oliver Townend (GBR) Armada 43.5 4, Sam Griffiths (AUS) Happy Times 46.4 5, Jonathan Paget (NZL) Clifton Lush 48.2 6, Allison Springer (USA) Arthur IV 49.2 7, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Calico Joe 53.0 8, Caroline Powell (NZL) Boston Two Tip 53.5 9, Geoff Curran (IRE) Shanaclough Crecora 54.7 10, Mark Todd (NZL) Major Milestone 60.8 15, Lucy Jackson (NZL) Animator II 92.5 42.
