Tag Archives: Jock Paget

Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, FEI

Paget Heads the Chasing Pack at Burghley

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Jock Paget (NZL) and Clifton Promise produce a superb test to take the lead after Dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. (Trevor Holt/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 5 September 2014 – New Zealander Jock Paget is top of a closely bunched group of riders after the Dressage phase at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR), the climax of the FEI Classics™ 2013/2014.

Paget and Clifton Promise earned the excellent score of 38.8 for a fluent, well-executed performance but only two penalties covers the top six riders, four of whom are Antipodeans, and the atmosphere is one of excited anticipation ahead of tomorrow’s Cross Country test.

“He was sensational,” said Paget appreciatively of the 16-year-old New Zealand thoroughbred Clifton Promise. “He is so professional, this horse, and he knows his job so well. He gave me everything, like he always does.”

The pair was third after Dressage at last week’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, but after they had an early run-out on the Cross Country, Paget made the swift decision to pull up and re-route to Burghley because his team had already been eliminated.

FEI Classics™ leader William Fox-Pitt, a team silver and individual bronze medallist last week, was the only other rider to break the 40-penalty barrier and is in second place on 39.5 on his Kentucky winner, Bay My Hero.

Fox-Pitt’s main worry had been how to contain the exuberant bay gelding who stood on his hind legs at the first horse inspection and is, according to his rider, “good at getting loose.”

Fox-Pitt was quick to credit the team at home – where his wife, Alice, is due to give birth to their fourth child at any moment – and also British team trainer Tracie Robinson. “He’s gone from a score of 44 in Kentucky into the 30s – it’s great to break the 40 barrier. He hasn’t met an atmosphere like this too many times, but he’s a bit of a show-off.”

Badminton winner Sam Griffiths (AUS), the first-day Dressage leader, was pleasantly surprised to be still so near the head of affairs. He is in third place with a score of 40.2 on Happy Times, a horse he has ridden since a five-year-old and one of the most consistent CCI4* horses of all time.

Griffiths’ compatriot Andrew Hoy (AUS), a former dual winner of Burghley (in 1979 and 2004), is fifth on Burghley debutant Rutherglen, just 0.3 behind the defending champions Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Avebury.

The crowd-pleasing grey, the only horse ever to win Burghley back-to-back, was awarded 40.5 from judges Angela Tucker (GBR, President), Christian Landolt (SUI) and Ernst Topp (GER). He looked in perfect balance and outline, gaining a nine from Landolt for the extended canter and only losing marks for the final flying changes.

“He is a special horse, part of the family,” said a delighted Nicholson. “He knows where he is and that he’s not just here for a look around. It’s a lovely arena here; the crowd is far away enough not to be cramped but near enough to create atmosphere.”

A field of 64 will tackle Capt. Mark Phillips’s Cross Country tomorrow, after one horse – Shane Rose’s (AUS) CP Qualified –failed the first horse inspection.

At first glance, the track appears to look very like last year’s but, says Nicholson, the changes are subtle. “There are enough new lines to make a difference. The going is superb but you will need more finesse than last year. You’ve got to ride positively, but remember that some of the lines are tighter.”

Fox-Pitt agreed that the Course Designer has been clever. “I’m very happy not to have to come off that horrible step at the Leaf Pit this time, but the middle part of the course – the Trout Hatchery, Maltings and Dairy Mound – are intense and will take some riding.”

Riders predict that the optimum time will be achievable because the footing is superb although, said Paget: “You can never respect Burghley cross-country enough. The time is tight, there are plenty of hills and the jumps are big, so there is plenty to deal with. You just have to get your head in the right place and focus on every fence as you jump it, and then hopefully you have a good day.”

Follow all the action with live scoring on www.burghley-horse.co.uk.

See full standings here.

Prize money

At the end of the FEI Classics™ 2013/2014 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six FEI Classics™ events will share a total prize fund of US$120,000 split as follows: 1st – US$40,000 (Series Champion); 2nd – US$35,000; 3rd – US$25,000; 4th – US$15,000; 5th – US$5,000.

Join the FEI on Facebook & Twitter.

Our signature Twitter hashtags for this series are #Classics and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #FEI Classics™ #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Media Contacts:

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

At Burghley:

Carole Pendle
Press Officer Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials
+44 7768 462 601
cpendle@brand-rapport.com

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Show Jumping

Paget Is Supreme at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

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Jock Paget (NZL) and Clifton Promise win the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR), the last leg of the HSBC FEI Classics series. (Photos: Kate Houghton/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 8 September, 2013 – Jock Paget kept an admirably cool head in the pressurised last few minutes of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, final leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, and became the fifth New Zealander to lift the top prize here at this much-respected British CCI4*.

Kiwi riders have won 12 of the last 26 Burghleys, but it’s 14 years ago that a rider captured both Badminton and Burghley in the same season on the same horse (Great Britain’s Ginny Leng on Master Craftsman).

Paget’s dual-winning mount, Frances Stead and Russell Hall’s handsome New Zealand Thoroughbred Clifton Promise, an ex-racehorse, seemed to grow in confidence around Richard Jeffery’s Jumping track. He only hit the last fence, by which time the Land Rover Trophy, and third place in the HSBC FEI Classics series, was in the bag. “I was nervous because I wanted to win, but I knew I had two rails in hand and I had a lot of confidence in how Promise was jumping in the warm-up,” explained Paget. “I have altered a few little things with him this year, since my training with [European Champion] Michael Jung, and now give him a little more room in front of fences. “It’s really only just sinking in that I’ve won Badminton, let alone Burghley, but I know that it’s a very special achievement.”

Clifton Lush, the horse on which Paget was lying second after Cross Country, was unfortunately withdrawn overnight due to a bruised fetlock, but he should be back in action in time for Paget to contest the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing (winning Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky in succession) next spring.

One of Paget’s chief mentors, Andrew Nicholson, was second, third and eighth – another record – in a Kiwi whitewash. “I brought three horses and I still can’t beat him,” the 52-year-old Nicholson joked about his former protégé. “When Jock first came to me, in 2009, he may have looked like a monkey up a pole, but I still thought he had a lot of natural talent. What was most important was that he wanted to learn; he was always running around watching the top riders, like William Fox-Pitt and Pippa Funnell, and that’s how you become successful yourself, by looking and learning.”

No horse has ever won back-to-back Burghleys, but Andrew came very close to achieving that accolade with second place on the 2012 winner, Avebury (he was also first and second with Mr Smiffy in 2000 and 2001).

He also finished third on his 2012 Pau winner Nereo and eighth on Calico Joe and rounded off an extremely lucrative payday by scooping the $150,000 HSBC FEI Classics title for the first time. He has also extended his lead in the $50,000 HSBC Rankings, which he has led all year.

“It does feel like a great achievement to have been so consistent,” he said. “That’s really what staying at the top is all about.”

Although nine of the 19 horses jumping in the morning session went clear, there were none from the 24 in the afternoon. Nicholson had a fence down apiece on Avebury and Nereo and, with the latter horse, overtook William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Parklane Hawk after they hit the second and third elements of the treble at fence 10.

“I think he was still in too much of a forward gear after Cross Country,” said Fox-Pitt, who finished second in the HSBC FEI Classics. “But Jock’s achievement is fantastic and I hope he enjoys the moment. This has been a brilliant competition; it was a proper four-star and the Cross Country and the optimum time had exactly the right influence.”

Ingrid Klimke’s (GER) FRH Butts Abraxxas does not have the best of Jumping records, but he went clear on his last CIC3* run and Klimke said she had decided not to practise in between. The strategy seemed to work well, as they only hit the third fence to rise two places to fifth.

Jonelle Richards, sixth on The Deputy with 12 penalties, and Sir Mark Todd, seventh with four faults on the inexperienced Oloa, a horse the double Olympic gold medallist has mooted as a future championship ride, completed the New Zealand domination. European team silver medallist Ludwig Svennerstal (SWE) enjoyed his best CCI4* result so far when finishing ninth on King Bob and Kristina Cook (GBR) was 10th on Do Novo News.

PagetThis is HSBC’s last year of sponsoring the Classics, after six highly successful years when the series has captured riders’ imaginations and led to sporting tussles of the highest calibre, most famously between Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt. “It’s definitely raised the profile of the four-star events,” commented Nicholson, who is the only rider ever to have won the HSBC FEI Classics with tree 4-star victories (Pau, Kentucky and Luhmühlen). “It has made me travel to Kentucky and spend time working out what horses to take to Pau and Luhmühlen.”

Catrin Norinder, Director of Eventing at the FEI, said: “It’s been a super series for Eventing and a great success and we are so grateful to HSBC for all their interest and generosity.” She confirmed that the both the FEI Classics and the FEI Nations Cup Eventing, which has proved so popular, will continue and that plans are already in hand for reviewing both series and for seeking financial backing.

HSBC Training Bursary

The HSBC Training Bursary, worth $1,000 to the most successful CCI4* first-timer, was awarded to Alex Postolowsky (GBR) who finished 36th with a clear Cross Country round at her first Burghley on Paul Newbert’s Islanmore Ginger, an Irish-bred 15-year-old chestnut gelding by Giorgione.

Postolowsky, 28, is based near Burghley in Lincolnshire and earned plenty of local support. “I’ve grown up with this event, competing in the Pony Club showjumping, in the young horse classes, and as a spectator. It still hasn’t sunk in that I’ve actually competed here; it seemed an untouchable dream,” she said. “I have J-P Sheffield [fellow rider] to thank for all this. I thought I wasn’t ready, but he said, ‘If you don’t get a move on, you’ll be 62 before you ride at Burghley!’ It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, yet I only decided to go for it a month ago.” The pair completed Boekelo CCI3* last year.

About the winner – Jonathan Paget (NZL)

Jonathan Paget (NZL) – known in the sport as Jock – has made a remarkable rise to stardom in Eventing.

He only started riding at the age of 18 when he was an apprentice bricklayer in Sydney, where his family then lived, and tried his hand at the rodeo. He began training with Kevin McNab (AUS) in Queensland and progressed from never having jumped a fence to competing at CCI3* level in two years.

In 2007, Paget returned to New Zealand and started riding Frances Stead’s Clifton horses. His first CCI4* was Kentucky in 2010, after which he was selected for the Kiwi squad for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, where he was seventh individually on Clifton Promise.

Paget has been based in Dunsfold, in the south of England, working closely with senior New Zealand riders Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson, and Dressage trainer Andrew Gould, since February 2011. He has been fifth at Burghley twice, in 2011 and 2012 on Clifton Lush, and winner of the British Open Championships this year. With Clifton Lush, he was part of the bronze medal New Zealand squad at the London 2012 Olympic Games , finishing 10th. The pair was later second at Pau and, in May, they won Badminton.

Full results on: www.burghley-horse.co.uk.

Audio links:

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

Full standings will be available here: www.fei.org/fei/sponsors/hsbc-and-fei/fei-classics.

HSBC’s Training Bursary

At the centre of HSBC’s sponsorship is a commitment to the development of the sport of Eventing at every level. As part of its support of the HSBC FEI Classics, HSBC has introduced a Training Bursary. This is a unique award which is presented to the highest placed rider never to have previously completed a 4-star level event. The winning rider receives a training voucher to the value of US $1,000 to be spent on sessions with a trainer of the athlete’s choice approved by the FEI and National Federation.

HSBC, the platinum partner of the FEI and global sponsor of Eventing, has supported the HSBC FEI Classics series, which unites the top end of the international Eventing circuit, since 2008.

In our HSBC FEI Hub, you can access the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 series standings, HSBC Rankings and all news relating to the current and past series.

Prize money

The HSBC FEI Classics prize fund is the largest on offer in the sport of Eventing on an annual basis. At the end of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six HSBC FEI Classics events will share a total prize fund of US$333,000 split as follows: 1st – US$150,000 (Series Champion); 2nd – US$75,000; 3rd – US$50,000; 4th – US$33,000; 5th – US$25,000.

HSBC Rankings

The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2013 Eventing season will receive a US $50,000 bonus. The winning rider will be announced in December 2013.

Join the FEI on Facebook & Twitter.

Our signature Twitter hashtags for this series are #HSBC and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #HSBC FEI Classics #Eventing

By Kate Green

Media Contacts:

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials:

Bridget Burbidge
Press Officer
bridget@jbpromotions.co.uk
+44 7850 822 820

FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T.

Paget Leads the Kiwi Charge at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

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Jock Paget (NZL) and Clifton Promise clear the HSBC Maltings Branch fence to take the lead after Cross Country at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR). Paget is also second on Clifton Lush. (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 7 September, 2013 – Jock Paget and his fellow New Zealand riders showed the way with their brilliant Cross Country riding at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, final leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, and they now hold seven of the top 10 places.

Paget is in first and second on Clifton Promise and Clifton Lush; last year’s winner Andrew Nicholson is third, fifth and eighth on Avebury, Nereo and Calico Joe; Jonelle Richards is sixth on The Deputy; and five-time Burghley winner Mark Todd gave a master class of horsemanship on his inexperienced new ride Oloa to rise eight places to 10th.

Paget (on Clifton Lush) and Nicholson (on Calico Joe and Avebury) were the only riders to achieve the 11 minute 34 second optimum time; William Fox-Pitt (GBR), riding a New Zealand Thoroughbred, Parklane Hawk, was foot perfect and only two seconds over time. He is now in fourth place, on the same score as Nicholson on Avebury.

Dual Olympic gold medallists Ingrid Klimke (GER) and FRH Butts Abraxxas dropped from second after Dressage to seventh after incurring 9.2 time penalties and Nicola Wilson (GBR) has maintained ninth place on Opposition Buzz.

Paget had a strange day because he was held on the course with both horses while they were checked by officials for minor injuries. Clifton Lush had bumped his nose after pecking at the Elephant Trap [fence 6], which caused it to bleed, and Clifton Promise bit his tongue at some point on the middle of the course and had blood in his mouth. Neither horse was affected by the incidents.

“It was a bit weird,” admitted Paget. “The hold definitely worked in my favour with Lush, but Promise [who finished just one second over the optimum time] was a little bit surprised to find himself going again.

“The course was challenging even though I was riding two exceptional horses. The fences were big, angled and skinny and you were behind time when you got to the Land Rover Dairy Mount [fence 19].”

Course Designer Mark Phillips (GBR) had set a true four-star test, which was acclaimed by riders, and Klimke said she considered her debut performance at Burghley to be one of the great achievements of her career.

“It was as challenging as I expected,” she said. “I had a scary moment at the Trout Hatchery [fence 14] when we sat on the hedge after doing too big a jump over the fence before. But he is only a little horse and he did so many other good things.

“The rest felt wonderful. It’s certainly the hardest course I have done with him. He goes like a little rabbit over the European courses but it’s been my dream to finish a real English course on him!”

Nicholson, whose round on Avebury in the middle of the day was beautiful to watch, said: “The course wasn’t as big as in some years but it was cleverly done. You had to sit on your backside and ride right from the start rather than gliding around, and that is as it should be.”

Describing the performances of his three horses, he said: “Calico Joe is fast and has lots of stamina but he isn’t a very big jump. I thought once that he wouldn’t progress beyond novice, so I’m very pleased with him.

“Avebury felt pretty perfect, but it was a difficult course for Nereo because he tries to jump all the little mounds and undulations. However, he dealt with it very well and kept digging deeper.”

Phillips said he felt his track had achieved the right statistics: there were 39 clear rounds and 46 of the 62 Cross Country starters completed.

Andreas Dibowski (GER), equal fifth after Dressage, was the most high-profile departure from the leader board. He retired FRH Butts Leon after a run-out at an angled hedge at the influential Discovery Valley (fence 8).

Oliver Townend (GBR), 10th after Dressage, was frustrated to have a run-out with Armada at the second triple brush at the Land Rover Dairy Farm (fence 19). “He didn’t clock what I was asking him to do,” said Townend. “There are no excuses. It’s just frustrating because he’s a class horse.”

Another to have a disappointing day was Piggy French (GBR), who tipped off Westwood Mariner when he left a leg in the ditch at fence 8. Tom McEwen (GBR), riding Dry Old Party, clung on valiantly after being unshipped from the saddle at the Olympic Planet fence at 5, but eventually had to let go.

Pascal Leroy (FRA) fell from Minos de Petra at this fence; Buck Davidson, the sole American rider, had a fall from Park Trader at Keeper’s Cottage (fence 20) where William Fox-Pitt retired Neuf des Coeurs because the horse had lost a shoe.

Lucy Jackson was the only New Zealander to have a bad day; she found herself sitting on the hut at the Trout Hatchery when Willy Do stopped abruptly.

Alex Postolowsky (GBR) is currently the highest placed of the candidates for the HSBC Training Bursary for the best CCI4* finisher; she is 39th on Islanmore Ginger after a slow but clear Cross Country round.

Paget, currently third in the HSBC FEI Classics, now has a fence in hand with Clifton Promise over himself on Clifton Lush. He also has a fence in hand over last year’s winners, Nicholson and Avebury.

“Andrew is a hero of mine,” said Paget. “He has been very generous with his advice and without him I wouldn’t be here. Of course I’ll be trying to beat him tomorrow, but I really appreciate all he’s done for me.”

Two of Paget’s compatriots have achieved the Burghley one-two before: Mark Todd on Wilton Fair and Charisma in 1987 and Blyth Tait on Chesterfield and Aspyring in 1998. More recently, William Fox-Pitt was first and second in 2008 on Tamarillo and Ballincoola. We are on the brink of seeing Eventing history made.

Full results on: www.burghley-horse.co.uk.

Listen to audio links: catch up with the leaders after Cross Country:

Jonathan Paget – http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/SAT_JockPaget_Presser.mp3

Andrew Nicholson – http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/SAT_AndrewNicholson.mp3

William Fox-Pitt – http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/XC_WFP.mp3

And with Captain Mark Phillips, course designer – http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/captain_sat_burghley_xc.MP3

View full standings: www.fei.org/fei/sponsors/hsbc-and-fei/fei-classics

HSBC’s Training Bursary

At the centre of HSBC’s sponsorship is a commitment to the development of the sport of Eventing at every level. As part of its support of the HSBC FEI Classics, HSBC has introduced a Training Bursary. This is a unique award which is presented to the highest placed rider never to have previously completed a 4-star level event. The winning rider receives a training voucher to the value of US $1,000 to be spent on sessions with a trainer of the athlete’s choice approved by the FEI and National Federation.

HSBC, the platinum partner of the FEI and global sponsor of Eventing, has supported the HSBC FEI Classics series, which unites the top end of the international Eventing circuit, since 2008.

In our HSBC FEI Hub, you can access the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 series standings, HSBC Rankings and all news relating to the current and past series.

Prize money

The HSBC FEI Classics prize fund is the largest on offer in the sport of Eventing on an annual basis. At the end of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six HSBC FEI Classics events will share a total prize fund of US$333,000 split as follows: 1st – US$150,000 (Series Champion); 2nd – US$75,000; 3rd – US$50,000; 4th – US$33,000; 5th – US$25,000.

HSBC Rankings

The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2013 Eventing season will receive a US $50,000 bonus. The winning rider will be announced in December 2013.

Join the FEI on Facebook & Twitter.

Our signature Twitter hashtags for this series are #HSBC and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #HSBC FEI Classics #Eventing

By Kate Green

Media Contacts:

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials:

Bridget Burbidge
Press Officer
bridget@jbpromotions.co.uk
+44 7850 822 820

FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T.

Jock Paget Shows Plenty of Promise at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

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Jock Paget (NZL) and Clifton Promise are outstanding to take the lead after the Dressage phase at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR). (Photo: Kate Houghton/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 6 September 2013 – Jock Paget (NZL) and Clifton Promise could be on the brink of making Eventing history after taking over the lead after Dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, final leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.

The 29-year-old New Zealander has pledged to take all the direct routes on Mark Phillips’s much-respected Cross Country track tomorrow and announced determinedly: “I’m here to win.”

After an outstanding performance, in which he scored his first 10 at CCI4* level, for the halt, Paget heads the first-day Dressage leader Ingrid Klimke (GER) on FRH Butts Abraxxas by just 1.3 penalties.

Paget, who is also in equal fifth place on Clifton Lush, could become the first rider since Ginny Leng (riding Master Craftsman) in 1989 to win Badminton and Burghley in the same season on the same horse.

His Dressage mark of 36.7 is two penalties better than at Badminton, where he was fourth at this stage. “This was a lot better,” said Paget. “He was more consistent.

“I have had to go through him showing tension at some of the smaller competitions, but he’s an experienced horse now and when he comes to something like Burghley, he knows he has to focus.”

Paget has had an extraordinarily consistent career with the 15-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred by Engagement. Last year, the pair were 10th and won team bronze at the London Olympic Games as well as being second at Pau (FRA) behind Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Nereo, who today slotted into third place on 41.3 after a polished test.

Nicholson, leader of the HSBC FEI Classics, and Nereo are another experienced combination. They were World bronze medallists in 2010 and second at Burghley in 2011 behind William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Parklane Hawk, who are currently just 0.2 of a penalty behind in fourth place.

“Nereo has done all sorts of Cross Country courses all over the world now,” said Nicholson, who is also seventh on Avebury and equal 18th on Calico Joe. “He prefers a galloping course as he takes massive, powerful strides. The undulations are quite difficult for him, but I think he’ll cope.”

Fox-Pitt, who has won Burghley a record six times, leads the British fight back against the Kiwis and Germans who are dominating the event so far. Kristina Cook, who scored two 10s for her halt, is in eighth place on De Novo News, a mare she bred herself out of Douce de Longvaut. The latter was in foal to De Novo News when Cook went clear around Burghley on her in 2003.

Nicola Wilson (GBR) earned perhaps the loudest cheers of the afternoon on the great British team horse Opposition Buzz, and is now in ninth place, 0.4 of a penalty ahead of Oliver Townend on the Spanish-bred Armada, the more excitable full brother of Nereo.

“I am so proud of him,” said Wilson of her sparky black 16-year-old, considered one of the best Cross Country horses in the world – their fall at Luhmühlen in June was their first ever fault in this phase.

“His dressage has come on so well this year and he felt really rideable, which was such a treat. I’m really excited about riding here; we haven’t been here since 2008 [when they were fifth] because we started our team career after that.”

Townend, a winner of Burghley on Carousel Quest in 2009, was equally satisfied with Armada, who has had a tendency to be hot in this phase previously. “He probably takes more time than any other horse on my yard, but I really like riding him and I think we have just about got to grips with him.

“The course here is probably the most difficult in the world, but he has a huge stride, boundless energy and probably twice the power of any of my other horses. If someone suggested I entered him in the Grand National, it wouldn’t concern me.”

Captain Phillips says that the most difficult part of the course is up to the Land Rover Dairy Mound at 19, which comes at the seven-minute marker. This fence is perhaps causing the most discussion among riders: it comprises an uphill triple brush, which will require plenty of impulsion, followed by a bending downhill five-stride distance to another accuracy-testing triple brush.

“This really concludes the most testing section of the course,” commented Phillips. “I think riders will be really disappointed if they make a mistake after that.”

Behind Paget, less than five penalties cover the rest of the top 10, and with a chasing pack of this high quality, and a Cross Country course that is keeping everyone on their toes, he may have to work hard for his first Burghley win.

“Lush is good at turning, but he hasn’t got as big a stride as Promise, who can be strong at the start of the course, and so he may find some of the distances tricky,” said Paget. “If I win Burghley, I will be a very happy man.”

Tomorrow’s Cross Country day, which starts at 11.30am, promises to be a thriller.

Full results on: www.burghley-horse.co.uk.

View full standings: www.fei.org/fei/sponsors/hsbc-and-fei/fei-classics.

Audio links: Catch up with the leaders after Dressage:

Jonathan Paget (NZL), Dressage leader http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FRI_JockPaget.mp3

Andrew Nicholson (NZL), third on Nereo http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FRI_AndrewNicholson.mp3

William Fox Pitt (GBR), fourth with Parklane Hawk http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FRI_WillF-P.mp3

Nicola Wilson (GBR), ninth after her best ever Dressage score on Opposition Buzz http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FRI_NicolaWilson.mp3

HSBC’s Training Bursary

At the centre of HSBC’s sponsorship is a commitment to the development of the sport of Eventing at every level. As part of its support of the HSBC FEI Classics, HSBC has introduced a Training Bursary. This is a unique award which is presented to the highest placed rider never to have previously completed a 4-star level event. The winning rider receives a training voucher to the value of US $1,000 to be spent on sessions with a trainer of the athlete’s choice approved by the FEI and National Federation.

HSBC, the platinum partner of the FEI and global sponsor of Eventing, has supported the HSBC FEI Classics series, which unites the top end of the international Eventing circuit, since 2008.

In our HSBC FEI Hub, you can access the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 series standings, HSBC Rankings and all news relating to the current and past series.

Prize money

The HSBC FEI Classics prize fund is the largest on offer in the sport of Eventing on an annual basis. At the end of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six HSBC FEI Classics events will share a total prize fund of US$333,000 split as follows: 1st – US$150,000 (Series Champion); 2nd – US$75,000; 3rd – US$50,000; 4th – US$33,000; 5th – US$25,000.

HSBC Rankings

The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2013 Eventing season will receive a US $50,000 bonus. The winning rider will be announced in December 2013.

Join the FEI on Facebook & Twitter.

Our signature Twitter hashtags for this series are #HSBC and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #HSBC FEI Classics #Eventing

By Kate Green

Media Contacts:

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials:

Bridget Burbidge
Press Officer
bridget@jbpromotions.co.uk
+44 7850 822 820

FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Equestrian Assistance, Eventing/H.T., Media/Radio/TV Sources

Eventing Radio Episode 149 by Bit of Britain – A Kiwi’s Pursuit of Gold

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New Zealander Jonathan ‘Jock’ Paget has relocated to the UK to pursue his Olympic Dream and shares his impressions of joining the big time. We hear how the Injured Jockeys Fund is opening its doors to other riders in need and Chris welcomes Max Corcoran back to share co-host duties. Take a listen right here.

Eventing Radio Episode 149 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

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