Price matches ‘missus’
New Zealanders Tim and Jonelle Price have become only the second married couple to win equestrian’s two most prestigious titles in the same year.
Tim won the Burghley Horse Trials yesterday to match wife Jonelle’s Badminton win in May. The last time a married couple claimed the titles was in 1971 when Princess Anne won Burghley and husband Captain Mark Phillips won Badminton.
‘‘I’m really just trying to stay up with the missus,’’ Tim said of his wife. ‘‘She is a great driving force. We are lucky to have each other. I am sure we will look back on this in years to come – 2018 has been a very special year.’’
Price collected £95,000 (NZ$185,000) for the win which was the 14th by a New Zealander at Burghley. The 39-year-old Cantabrian won riding Ringwood Sky Boy.
‘‘I am just so so thrilled,’’ said Price, who described Ringwood Sky Boy as ‘‘such a trier’’. To win meant ‘‘absolutely everything’’ to the Rio Olympian who also paid tribute to Ringwood Sky Boy’s long-standing owner Verenna Allen.
‘‘Burghley is the place you want to come to and bring your best game. From a riding point of view, this is where you want to be your best. This is very special. I will always carry it with me.’’
Jonelle was also very proud of their efforts. ‘‘Tim is world class – there is no shadow of a doubt,’’ she said.
‘‘They are truly deserving winners. This year is remarkable – I wouldn’t have said it was possible at the start of the year but dreams do come true. You have to enjoy these things when they happen – you don’t know what is around the corner.’’
Price won the title with a clear round in the final showjumping to finish on 27.3 penalty points. Great Britain’s Oliver Townend, on 2017 champion Ballaghmor Class, was second on 31.9.
Five-time Burghley winner Andrew Nicholson completed an outstanding Burghley for the Kiwi contingent by finishing third. He put pressure on the top four with his clear round aboard the very promising Swallow Springs in their first four-star start, but it wasn’t quite enough to add to his trophy cabinet and he finished in third place on 32.1 points.
Price also finished 10th on Bango. Just eight of the remaining 39 combinations managed to go clear and inside time in the showjumping, and two of those belonged to the in-form Kiwi who has been in the top five at Burghley for the past three years with Ringwood Sky Boy.
It was Price’s second four-star victory – the world No 4-ranked rider won Luhmuhlen in Germany aboard Wesko in 2014 – but he has been on the podium at Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky and Pau.
It was New Zealand’s 14th Burghley crown and 30th fourstar title, and it is the third fourstar trophy to head to the Price household this season with wife Jonelle winning Badminton and Luhmuhlen.
Sir Mark Todd and NZB Campion added four faults to their tally to finish in 18th place on 49.6, rounding off a weekend that didn’t quite go his way. Caroline Powell and On the Brash finished 31st and Dan Jocelyn, aboard Dassett Cool Touch, 32nd. Ginny Thompson withdrew Star Nouveau from the final phase.