(Burghley, UK, 8 September 2013) Current Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize contender, Jonathan Paget (NZL) riding Clifton Promise, held his nerve in the final show jumping phase to win the 2013 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) finished in both 2nd place riding Avebury and 3rd place riding Nereo.
A New Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Prize Contender
Having now won both the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the 2013 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Paget is now in the unique position of being able to compete for the US$350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Prize – to do so, he will need to complete the third and final challenge of winning the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, with a win making him only the second person to be a Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Champion, joining Pippa Funnell.
Rider Quotes
Jonathan Paget riding Clifton Promise
Q. Congratulations – incredible. You made that incredibly easy with that cushion of having two fences down – that must have been quite nice?
It was very nice knowing that I didn’t have to panic about the time and ride around and just jump the jumps as best we could.
Q. When you reflect on this year, just how amazing does it feel to do what you have done?
It is a very special year – I’m obviously never going to forget this year – I just hope I can be consistent and keep improving.
Q. What is it about Clifton Promise – to win the two big ones in this country on the same horse in the same year – the last time that was done was 1989 – there’s something special about this horse isn’t there?
Absolutely, he’s an incredible horse and always has been. He’s a full New Zealand thoroughbred, he does great dressage, he’s a lion cross-country and doesn’t want to touch a pole in the show jumping! He’s everything you could wish for in an event horse and he’s tough.
Q. Will you now be thinking about the Rolex Kentucky next year and the Grand Slam, which is now very much on the agenda?
Yes, absolutely – I need to make a plan now for Rolex and work back and try and go there and nail it.
Q. Overall, a few years ago when you were being taught by Andrew Nicholson, did you think in your wildest dreams that you could be heading for a Rolex (Grand Slam of Eventing Prize) potential?
Yes, you always dream about that. I would have been able to say back then yes I will definitely be able to this in this amount of time but it’s something that I wanted and something that I’ve worked towards and it’s great that it’s happened.
Andrew Nicholson riding Avebury & Nereo
Q. Congratulations, you’ve just finished in both 2nd and 3rd place – how was that on Avebury?
Avebury was just a bit casual; he’s normally a very big gate jumper and perhaps I was a bit casual too. But, I wouldn’t have won it anyway – I think if I had gone clear then Jock (Jonathan Paget) would have jumped the last clear because he knew he could have the last down and pretty much just let that happen.
Q. You mentored Jonathan by helping start his career in Eventing – how good is he doing the double – Badminton and then Burghley?
It’s a great achievement and what a fabulous horse. He’s trained it himself – it hasn’t been one that someone else produced – he got it off the racetrack when it was young and he’s had a lot of faith in him and it’s rewarded him.
Q. New Zealand dominating the leaderboard – it’s looking good for next year’s World Equestrian Games
It’s really great – like I’ve said before, it’s great being part of the rebuilding of our squad!
Copyright Free Audio Post Final Show Jumping Day Press Conference
For an audio interview of the post-Show Jumping press conference featuring Jonathan Paget and Andrew Nicholson please click link here: http://po.st/BurghleySJPressConf.
Other audio available here:
Commentary on Jonathan Paget’s winning ride
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Comm_2013.mp3
Jock Paget
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Paget_end_bur.mp3
Andrew Nicholson
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/andrew_nicholson_burghley_end.MP3
William Fox Pitt
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/wfp_burghley_end.MP3
Results after Cross-Country
1 Jonathan Paget/Clifton Promise (NZL) 41.1
2 Andrew Nicholson/Avebury (NZL) 46.3
3 Andrew Nicholson/Nereo (NZL) 47.3
4 William Fox-Pitt/Parklane Hawk (GBR) 50.3
5 Ingrid Klimke/FRH Butts Abraxxas (GER) 52.2
For more information on the 2013 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and full Results/Leaderboard, please visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk.
Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing
In 2001, Rolex created the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. This prize is awarded to the rider who manages to win the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials event in any consecutive order. Until now, only British rider Pippa Funnell has managed this staggering achievement, winning the title in 2003.
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