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Five Aussies to Battle for Burghley Crown

Published on Thursday, August 30, 2012 in General

Five Australian combinations are among a top calibre group of horses and riders contesting this year’s Burghley Horse Trials.

When the event gets underway on Thursday, Bill Levett (Hippolyte), Clayton Fredericks (Walterstown Don), Megan Jones (Kirby Park Allofasudden), Paul Tapner (Inonothing) and Sam Griffiths (Happy Times - pictured at the London Olympics) will be among 85 riders from 10 countries battling it out for one of Eventing’s top honours and the $80,000 in prize money that is awarded to the victor.

It will be Australian based Eventer Megan Jones’ first ever run at Burghley and the South Australian is looking forward to the outing. Her 12 yo gelding Kirby Park Allofasudden has fully recovered from his foot injury which forced them out of the Olympic Eventing Team after they were called upon to replace Shane Rose and his injured Taurus. Megan says they’re well prepared having recently competed in their first UK event at Hartpury CIC3*.

“I am excited about riding at Burghley, Floyd is very well and he tells me he is looking forward to strutting in the main arena. It was great competing at Hartpury a couple of weeks ago and we feel like we are back in business,” Megan said.

Fellow Australian based rider and London 2012 travelling reserve Tim Boland was also due to compete at Burghley with GV Billy Elliot but made the decision to withdraw his 11 yo gelding from the holding box at Wednesday’s trot up. Billy suffered a minor foot injury at a warm-up event earlier in the week. The combination may still get their chance to compete on English soil as they are registered to compete at Blenheim CCI3* one week from now.

Preparing for Burghley has been a welcome focus for Bill Levett. The UK based Eventer suffered heartache earlier in the year when he was forced to withdraw as a reserve for Australia’s Eventing Team after his nominated horse One Too Many NJ was ruled out due to injury. It will be Bill’s 17 yo gelding Hippoylte who he will take to the challenging Burghley course with.

“They say it is very big so I will have to ride well and Hip will have to be on top form too. He is an experienced horse so no lead up runs, just a little bit of cross country schooling. Burghley is normally the toughest physically on horses with the undulations and length of the course,” Bill said. 

Of the Australian combinations it is Sam Griffiths and Happy Times which are the most familiar with Burghley’s hills having started here two times previously. In 2010 they finished in third place.

“I have decided that seeing as he (Happy Times) is so fit and well it makes sense to take him to Burghley - they certainly need to be fit for those hills around the course! Hopefully, I will have a bit more luck than I did around Greenwich. I have never fallen on the flat in my career, so it was bitterly disappointing to do it for the first time at the Games,” Sam said.

Making his debut at four star level is Clayton Fredericks’ Walterstown Don. The 10 yo has enjoyed recent success at 3 star events and Clayton says he’s ready for the next step.  

“Walterstown Don is going extremely well and feels great  It will be his first four star but he is a big scopey jumping horse and is very bold on the cross country. I think the terrain will actually suit him. I hope I am right.” Clayton said.

The Burghley Horse Trials will commence Thursday. Follow all the action at www.burghley-horse.co.uk. There’s also a free app available to smart phone users.

Story & Photo: Equestrian Australia


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