EVENTING News


Fairytale ending to formidable Aussie partnership at Aachen
Sunday, 30 June 2013


Chris Burton has won his second consecutive individual eventing crown at the prestigious World Equestrian Festival at Aachen, providing the mare with which he partnered, HP Leilani, with a fitting way to retire from competitive life.

The 17 year old mare, who Burton represented Australia with at the London 2012 Olympic Games and 2010 World Equestrian Games, will return to Australia in September for retirement and Burton did not imagine that her final outing would have all the makings of a fairytale.

Originally Leilani was supposed to retire after London, then after Badminton, but then Burton had asked her owners, Jean and Jade Findlay, if he could ride her in Aachen. They consented and the Australian took this opportunity to claim the victory.

“I didn’t expect to win. The Germans have simply been so good lately. I am overjoyed,” the 31-year-old beamed.

Following the dressage phase, the Australian combination was sitting in fifth position but a clear show jumping round moved them into third and well within reach of the title with just the cross county phase to contest.

They were the only combination to jump a clear cross county round and return home within the permitted time which elevated them to top spot by the smallest of margins.

In the end there was only a second between them and second place Sandra Auffarth (and Ganderkese) of Germany.

The two-time Olympic gold medallist, Michael Jung, finished third.

The team victory went to Germany, followed by Great Britain and Sweden with Australia finishing in fourth.

Full results available at: http://www.chioaachen.de/en/