Ballaghmor Class gives 40-year-old Yorkshireman Oliver Townend his third Burghley victory

Topping the leader board at this year’s Burghley Horse Trials was the unstoppable Oliver Townend and his “horse of a lifetime” Ballaghmor Class.

The duo, who were lying in second place behind Tim Price and Vitali going into the final phase, jumped clear right up until hitting the final fence, but had they done enough? Heartbreakingly, for Tim, four fences down in this phase pushed this combination back to fourth place, awarding Oliver the most prestigious place on the podium and a whopping £110,000 in prize money.

“He’s as good and sound as he’s ever been,” said Oliver of Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan’s 16-year-old gelding, who also took the Burghley title with Oliver in 2017. “I’m so proud of ‘Thomas’ (Ballaghmor Class) and all the team at home, who make this all possible. We’ll be celebrating tonight, but it won’t be with tea and biscuits, that’s for sure.”

The only rider in the competition to finish on his dressage score, and take second place overall, was Wiltshire-based David Doel aboard Gillian Jonas’ Dutch-bred Galileo Nieuwmoed. The former Junior and Young Rider European team gold medallist jumped a beautiful round to finish on a score of 33.7.

“He was magic,” David commented after the event. “We had a couple of lucky rubs in the showjumping but he’s such a special horse and really deserves this. I owe my wife a holiday and now I can afford to take her.”

Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal made it an all-British top three after his spectacular clear in the final phase. His best ever result at Burghley, Harry was delighted with the little mare, who he described as “a fantastic little jumper who felt like she was on springs”.

Scotland’s William Oakden, another former British Young Rider European team gold medallist, had a weekend to remember, with two top 10 placings, while the USA’s Boyd Martin completed the top 10 leader board with his two rides.

Final results

1. Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class – 33
2. David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed – 33.7
3. Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal – 37.4
4. Tim Price and Vitali – 38.7
5. William Oakden and Oughterard Cooley – 38.9
6. Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope – 42.4
7. Alice Casburn and Topspin – 43.4
8. William Oakden and Arklow Puissance – 45.6
9. Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF – 49.7
10. Boyd Martin and On Cue – 50.6

Photo credit: Peter Nixon