Tim Price is already looking to the future with Bango, who this morning placed fifth at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in the UK.

The world no.1 was defending champ aboard Ringwood Sky Boy but an unfortunate slip in the water during the cross country yesterday saw them out of the running. However, Bango stepped up beautifully to reinforce the belief Tim has always had in him to finish the event on 41.6 penalty points.

“That was a great advancement in his career,” said Tim. “He has been excelling and demonstrating his ability to jump around tracks and to be like a 5* horse, but this time was a bit better where he was able to be composed on the flat, closer to the time in the cross country and the in the showjumping he jumped yet again another nice clear round. I am really pleased with him.”

The combination were first out in the 64-strong field in the cross country which Tim felt probably disadvantaged them a little. Their clear efforts in the showjumping this morning saw them move up the leaderboard from seventh. “There are so many different emotions in this journey of preparing horses to come here and then to try and deliver the results. To get to the end is quite a lot of relief I have to admit.”

Caroline Powell was pleased with the efforts of On the Brash who placed 20th on a score of 75.1 penalty points. “He is scared of his own shadow, so even coming up the tracks to the arena was quite a big occasion for him,” she said.

Dan Jocelyn was also chuffed with the efforts of Blackthorn Cruise who finished in 24th place on 82.5. “He is a horse who has always jumped well on the last day in this format and he hasn’t had a rail down yet,” said Dan. “He has just shown today that even coming up to the next level that he can do it so I am thrilled with him.”

Dan knew Burghley would be a challenge for them. “I knew the horse was just on the edge of having enough mileage to come here but I felt he could,” he said. “He has taken a few long routes and he has got home and I think he will be a better horse for it.”

Burghley first timer Samantha Lissington was on a high after getting through the showjumping to finish 30th aboard Ricker Ridge Rui 30th on 101.1. “He was phenomenal again,” she said. “He came out jumping really well this morning. I had one little unlucky rail . . . but hindsight is a great thing. I thought he jumped really well around a big track having galloped 12 minutes yesterday.”

She too is looking to the future with bright eyes. “Oh the ups and downs and trepidations (of my first Burghley),” she said. “I think it was fantastic. There is always hindsight of what you could do, would do, should have done, would have done, but that’s not what our sport is about – it is about just learning from it and growing for next year.”

The Brits dominated Burghley, with six in the top 10, including the first four. Pippa Funnell and MGH Grafton Street won the CCI5*-L on 30.8 penalty points with Badminton champ Piggy French and Vanir Kamira right behind them on 30.9 and Oliver Townend aboard Ballaghmor Class in third on 31.3. All three took a rail in the showjumping this morning. There were just 10 clear rounds in the showjumping, including New Zealand riders Tim Price and Dan Jocelyn.

CLICK HERE FOR FINAL RESULTS

THE HORSE DETAILS:
Ringwood Sky Boy – owned by Varenna Allen, Robert Taylor and Tim Price
Bango – owned by the Numero Uno Syndicate
Blackthorn Cruise – owned by Panda Christie and Dan Jocelyn
On the Brash – owned by Sarah Tobey and Sue Smiley
Ricker Ridge Rui – owned by Christine Quigley and Samantha Lissington

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ