Two in Top 10 for Kiwis at Burghley

It was a fairy tale finish at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials but just not quite for the Kiwis. Defending champ Ros Canter (GBR) and Lordships Graffalo made some more history, with back-to-back victories and finishing on their record 23.6 penalty point score of 2024. Coming in behind here was Austin O’Connor (IRL) aboard Colorado Blue on 32.6 With Harry Meade (GBR) third on Cavalier Crystal on 33.3 and fourth with Annaghmore Valoner on 37.

New Zealand had two riders finish in the top 10 – world no.3 Tim Price and Vitali in sixth and Caroline Powell aboard her Burghley debutant High Time in eighth. Samantha Lissington and her 5* first-timer Billy Alberto were 11th with Lauren Innes and Global Fision M in 16th.

It was a grunty Burghley with the Derek di Grazia designed cross country run in the reverse direction stopping 20 combinations in their tracks. Just 29 of the original 52 starters completing all three phases.

Tim Price (NZL) rides Vitali during the Showjumping. 2025 Defender Burghley Horse Trials. Stamford, England. Sunday 7 September 2025. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography

Tim and Vitali were always in the picture, sitting third after the dressage and adding only time penalties in the cross country, but their eight faults in this morning’s showjumping saw them finish on 39.9 in sixth. “I think I deserved a few more marks on the flat to be honest,” says Tim, “but that is the start point. He did a really good job cross country for me. He is not the fastest but he acquitted himself really well. He warmed up well for the showjumping and jumped well. It is improving but it just not a clear round yet.”

Caroline Powell (NZL) rides High Time V during the Showjumping. 2025 Defender Burghley Horse Trials. Stamford, England. Sunday 7 September 2025. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography

Caroline Powell sees plenty of promise High Time who was in 18th after the dressage, moving up to 11th after a clear cross country with just time penalties and adding 0.4 in the showjumping for a final tally of 42.7 for eighth. “He is good,” she says. “He is just getting nicer, easier and better. I am really excited about him for the future. I can’t wait for a good winter training and hopefully Badminton will be good.”

High Time had felt as though he could have gone around the cross country again yesterday. “It means we could have gone a bit faster and made more of him but the more we get to know him at this level the more we can start using him. He is a beautiful horse and jumps so well. He is lovely.” She praised the efforts of the Burghley organisers. “I think after the hard ground we have had all year, the effort they have put in is amazing. You forget what it is like to ride on such amazing ground. To be able to go out there and really ride and get behind what you are sitting on is amazing.”

Samantha Lissington (NZL) rides Billy Alberto during the Showjumping. 2025 Defender Burghley Horse Trials. Stamford, England. Sunday 7 September 2025. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography

Samantha Lissington was equally ecstatic with the efforts of Billy Alberto who flew up the leaderboard from 45th in the dressage to 12th post the cross country and clear in the showjumping – the best of the day – to finish on 45.1 in 11th. “It was amazing,” said Samantha. “This competition is different to any long format he has done or I have done with him. Burghley is a whole other kettle of fish so to come out on the last day is a little bit of an unknown quantity and for him to jump like that is cool. It is beyond expectations. Double clear round in his first 5* being Burghley is pretty amazing.”

Lauren Innes (NZL) rides Global Fision M during the Showjumping. 2025 Defender Burghley Horse Trials. Stamford, England. Sunday 7 September 2025. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography

Lauren Innes is convinced she will never find another Flipper – as she affectionately calls Global Fision M who notched his fifth 5* completion this morning. They were 44th after the dressage, added just time in the cross country to move up to 15th and their four jump penalties this morning saw them finish on 60.7 in 16th. “Burghley is a roller coaster,” she said, “all the emotions every day . . . it is a fantastic week. Flipper was unlucky to have a pole in there. He just jumped so well. I am very proud of him.”

Samantha Lissington opted to retire Lord Seekonig during the cross country when she felt the horse “just wasn’t right”, as did Jesse Campbell aboard Cooley Lafitte.

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THE HORSE DETAIL

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

8th September 2025