With a new course, Burghley’s cross-country brought a whole new set of challenges this year.
New experience
The change of direction meant the world’s toughest fences got even tougher, and the terrain more demanding.
There were 38 clears in total out of 68 starters, but just two horses finished within the time allowed.
“I learnt a lot and the riders learnt a lot – it’s a completely new experience for everyone,” said course-builder Mark Phillips. “The riders learnt if you’re down on time at the Cottesmore Leap you’re not going to make it up. They’ll know that for next year.”
Shocker
Thankfully there were no serious injuries – despite the usual thrills and spills you’d expect from cross-country day at Burghley, with 12 falls and a number of near misses.
There were no real bogey fences, but the course had little let-up from start to finish. The first three fences – the Olympic Horseshoe, Lambert’s Sofa and Picnic Table – proved straightforward and inviting for all riders, with no penalties incurred.
The first water on the course at the Lion’s Bridge (4) caused a couple of problems – including the biggest shocker of the day, when overnight leader Michael Jung took a tumble. Fischerrocana FST wasn’t even at a fence when she tripped in the water, launching the German rider out of the saddle.
Fence 5ab was another water complex with the Anniversary Splash In – which saw Ireland’s Austin O’Connor incur 20pen. Fence 6ab,7 (Anniversary Splash Out) took riders back out of the water with the option of a step up bounce, or bounce of hedges.
Surprise fall
Germany’s Niklas Bschorer – who was in seventh place after the dressage – nearly took a tumble, but managed to hang on. The 20-year-old put in a similarly spectacular save at Badminton, but this time he decided to retire.
Fence 7 also saw Emily Gilruth and Sweden’s Ellen Svennerstal retire, while Beanie Sturgis had a stop. Beanie was along way off the first hedge and Lebowski simply couldn’t make the second element.
Slate Mine (8) caused no problems, while Capabilities Cutting (9,10) saw another surprise fall, this time from Andrew Hoy who was in fourth place. It’s hard to tell what happened, but it looks like Rutherglen didn’t pick up enough over the corner (10) and then twisted his body to stay upright, which tipped Andrew out the side door.
Andrew has had a run of falls recently – with two at Badminton and another at Gatcombe.
Terrifying Leap
Beanie couldn’t seem to find a rhythm and had another stop at 10, while Oliver Townend and Samuel Thomas II also incurred 20pen.
Nobody faulted at the Rolex Grand Slam Viaduct (11, but Beanie decided to retire before the Winners’ Avenue (12).
The frankly terrifying Cottesmore Leap (13ab) caused virtually no trouble, although Mark Phillips said he hadn’t expected riders to get four strides between the two elements.
Coral Keen had a fall there when she saw a long one to the first, which caused Wellshead Fare Opposition to clip the back rail.
Incredible journey
Next up was Land Rover Dairy Farm (14abc) which was fault-free, followed by the Rolex Combination (15abc). Louise Harwood retired Whitson here, while both Ben Way and Nicola Wilson had a fall.
It’s been an incredible journey to Burghley for Ben, who was competing at the Badminton Grassroots Final just a few years ago. He was giving Galley Light a great ride until they fell. We’re not entirely sure what happened, but footage shows the horse scrabbling to his feet on one side of the fence and Ben on the other.
You could hear Nicola growling encouragement at Annie Cover three strides out, but the mare slammed on the brakes, throwing the rider into the fence and leaving her literally hanging onto the top element. Ouch.
The Malting’s 360 comprised three elements. The first part (16) an imposing, but straightforward oxer jumped clear, while the skinny hedge to a corner (17ab) saw Charlotte Agnew (Out of Africa Two) and Kirsty Short (Cossan Lad) have run-outs.
The final element was another big oxer (18), which jumped well.
‘More forgiving’
The Captain’s Log (19) over a large ditch of water was fault-free, and the Landrover Trout Hatchery (20abcd, 21) seemed to jump well in the opposite direction. Mark Phillips said it was “more forgiving” than he thought and there were just three stops there – one of which was Dee Hankey, who then decided to retire.
Chequers Playboy had been looking very strong on the course and then napped as he headed down to the first element (a), which he cleared before stopping at the water (b).
The final element (21) saw Gina Ruck take a dunking when Rehy Too caught a front leg and then tripped on landing. Jodie Amos had a stop (Wise Crack) and even the cross-county machine that is Amarda had a run-out with Oliver Townend – which could have cost him the competition.
Incredibly, even with this stop, they nearly made the time allowed and were one of the fastest combinations of the day.
Plain sailing
Herbert’s Hollow (22ab) and Thomson’s Wall (23) were problem-free, although Oliver Townend had a close shave when his first ride Dromgurrihy Blue clambered over, leaving a leg. Somehow the horse landed the right way up and Oliver stayed put.
Discovery Valley (24a,b) with its off-set hedges caused the most problems on the course with six riders gaining 20pen there.
From here on it was plain sailing, with riders clearing the Elephant Trap (25), Leaf Pit (26ab, 27) and Discovery Valley (28). It was then into the arena for the Up and Under (29abc), which this year caused no problems, followed by the last two; the Flower Frame (30) and the Land Rover Finale. Phew.
We’re exhausted writing about it, so goodness knows how the competitors coped with 48 obstacles over almost four gruelling miles.
‘Perfect day’
While the fences themselves proved more straightforward than many anticipated, it was the combination of the massive fences, technical questions and challenging terrain that made it such a tough course.
Only Chris Burton and Jonelle Price made the time, but thankfully there were minimal casualties, which is testament to the skills of the course builder.
“When the medical services and vets don’t really move and there was only 12 people who walked off the course I’m happy,” said Mark. “We had 38 clears which is a big number for this size of course, so we pretty much had a perfect day.”