Michael Jung wins Land Rover Burghley Trials
In an exciting finale, Germany’s Michael Jung and his supreme partner, La Biosthetique Sam FBW, rode a perfect clear round in front of a packed arena under glorious blue skies, to take the 2015 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials title.
It was a hugely tense final show jumping round, where the reigning Olympic and European Champion could not afford a single pole down, with New Zealand’s Tim Price having already jumped a brilliant clear. The crowd were hushed as Jung and his 16-year-old Sam, arguably the best event horse of the modern era, rode into the arena, but another show jumping masterclass with just one touch on fence 12, secured Jung his first Burghley win.
“To come to Burghley is amazing, to ride the cross-country was wonderful and to win here at an event which is such a great tradition in the sport is just fantastic. This will be one of the highlights of my life”, said Jung. “I really enjoyed it here and hope I will have horses for it next year. Sam is like a good friend and we make a good partnership. I know him so well and have learnt a lot from him and with him. Maybe he’s also learnt a bit from me. He gives me 100%. Today he felt very powerful and concentrated in the warm-up and that helps a lot.”
The Burghley win completed a double for Jung in the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing titles in 2015, with just the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials title preventing him from claiming the coveted prize and new Rolex Trophy.
Tim Price rode the ride of his life finishing in second place on Ringwood Sky Boy, just 1.5 penalty points behind Jung. This was also to be the second time he would be runner-up behind the German, having finished second behind Jung at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event earlier this year on his other horse, Wesko.
“The horse has been improving in every way, so I knew I could be up there in the dressage and hoped I’d stay there after the cross-country, but to still be in this position today is very exciting,” said Price. “Ringwood Sky Boy is not natural in the show jumping, but he tries very hard and he is learning to be careful at the right times.”
Price’s wife, Jonelle, whose fast cross-country round on Classic Moet had impressed everyone, unfortunately had one pole down in the final show jumping phase to drop her from third to fifth place.
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE RIDERS DOMINATE
It was a memorable Burghley for the southern hemisphere riders with the second to sixth places all claimed by riders from either Australia or New Zealand. Australia’s Christopher Burton delivered two sublime performances on both his rides, TS Jamaimo and Haruzac to finish third and fourth, and ensuring he was the only rider to finish on his dressage score of 45.0 on TS Jamaimo.
“I’m delighted with both horses. In 2004 as a young rider I flew a horse here from Australia, but we only got as far as fence 3,” said Burton. “Yesterday was the first time I’d seen the finish flags!”.
Sir Mark Todd completed the domination from the southern hemisphere by riding a clear show jumping round to move up from seventh to sixth on Leonidas II.
France’s Cedric Lyard riding Cadeau Du Roi also rose one rank with a fault-free round to finish seventh. Great Britain’s Tina Cook jumped a brilliant clear with Star Witness to be best of the British in eighth, with Australia’s Sam Griffith on Paulank Brockagh in ninth and William Fox-Pitt climbing three places finishing the event in tenth despite having one fence down on Fernhill Pimms.
TOP 5 FINAL PLACINGS
1st Michael Jung (GER), La Biosthetique Sam FRW, 40.0
2nd Tim Price (NZL), Ringwood Sky Boy, 41.5
3rd Christopher Burton (AUS), TS Mamaimo, 45.0
4th Christopher Burton (AUS), Haruzac, 47.6
5th Jonelle Price (NZL), Classic Monet, 48.9