DVDs

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2013

DVD

"This year's big question centred on how 67 partnerships from 11 countries would manage the newly designed 'Start and Finish' of Captain Mark Phillips' cross country test: in particular the intensity of the first five minutes.

In the opening dressage phase it was this year's Badminton winning partnership of Jonathan 'Jock' Paget and Clifton Promise who set the pace: one of only two riders to attract less than 40 penalty points: the other being the 2012 London Olympic Team Gold Medalists, Germant's Ingrid Klimke with FRH Butts Abbraxxas on this their Burghley debut, William Fox-Pitt in fourth place led the British challenge on his 2011 Burghley Champion Parklane Hawk.

With just twelve penalty points separating the top twnety it was not long before New Zealand's five rider, ten horse raiding party made their presence felt. Jonathan Paget on his firs tride Clifton Lush completing the 6,500m Cross Country trak inside the optimum time of 11'24". However, with perfect conditions under foot and a comfortable temperature of 17C, by the end of the day it was only fellow Kiwi Andrew Nicholson who was able to match his teammate's feat: first with Calico Joe and then on defending Burghley Champion Avebury.

To say the Kiwis were rampant would be something of an understatement with severn horses in the top ten; indeed, it was Jonathan Paget and Clifton Pormise who, despite incurring one time fault, were to maintain their advantage over the field with stable mate CLifton Lush moving up to second place. Andrew Nicholson and Avebury made it a New Zealand 1,2, 3 with William Fox-Pitt, a close up yet frustrated fourth, having incurred two unnecessary time penalties.

The final day brought early disappointment for Jonathan Paget: having to withdraw Clifton Lush with brusing from a knock incurred on the previous day's cross country: nevertheless, with one show jumping fence in hand over both Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt, the overnight leaders still had the chance to emulate Ginny Leng and Master Craftsman, the last horse and rider partnership 24 years earlier in 1989 to win both Badminton and Burghley in the same season."

Approx. 131 mins.
Presenter: Clare Balding
Commentary: David Goldstrom Harriet Harrison