Chris Burton Fifth While Andrew Nicholson Celebrates Birthday With British Open Win

New Zealand claimed the top 4 places and Australia's Chris Burton took fifth in the British Open at Gatcombe over the weekend.

Star Andrew Nicholson, who celebrated his birthday earlier in the week, won the feature class aboard Nereo (pictured right) and was second with Avebury, with Jonathan Paget and Clifton Lush third, Mark Todd on Major Milestone fourth, with Clarke Johnstone and Incognito 13th. 

It is the second time World Champs bronze medalist Nicholson has won the open championship, having last won the class in 2002 aboard Mallards Treat.

Nicholson also won both sections of the the 2011 advanced championship – section one aboard Calico Joe and section two on Quimbo, and was second in the novice on Omeya.

Australia’s Christopher Burton is currently based at fellow Aussie Sam Griffiths’ yard in Dorset. In his bid for London 2012 Burton has taken a team of Aussie horses with him to the UK, including the accomplished 16-year-old thoroughbred Newsprint, winner of the 2008 Adelaide CCI4* and runner-up in 2010.

Once again Jon Doneys show jumping course made its mark on the closely marked dressage scores. Mary King withdrew her dressage leader and European Team ride Imperial Cavalier, saving him for the European Championships in Luhmuhlen in just under three weeks time and then Kings Temptress who had three fences down.

Andrew and Rosemary Barlows Jumbo sired Avebury rolled just one pole to add four faults to his good dressage score while Andrew and Libby Sellars Nereo, winner of individual and team bronze at last years World Equestrian Games, kept them all standing to move into the top spot and thus would be the last to go on the cross country that is run in reverse order of merit.

Having produced a clear round inside the time with Avebury to move to pole position, Andrew knew he had the class in the bag – even with four time penalties Nereo could be second. However the Spanish bred Nereo, a full brother to his horses Armada and Fenicio, came home inside the time to demote his stable mate to second. ‘They are both good horses and I knew they could go well,’ said Andrew. ‘Nereo made it feel very easy. He makes it feel like he's been here before as he seems to know the jumps, even when I make a mistake he makes it feel like it wasn't too bad.’

Surrey based Johnathan Paget who is in the UK to prepare for next year’s London Olympic Games also produced a clear round inside the time with Joe Meyers former ride Clifton Lush. ‘He's a very fast horse and is a lot of fun to ride,’ said Jonathan of Clifton Lush. Achieving a clear round inside the time meant Mark Todd and Major Milestone rocketing up the leader board from 30th after dressage to a final fourth place.

 

 

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