Brilliant Brits blitz Burghley
OLIVER TOWNEND’S win aboard Ballaghmor Class was the pinnacle of a fantastic Burghley Horse Trials for British riders.
Piggy French with Vanir Kamira was just behind in second, Gemma Tattersall on Arctic Soul third and Tom McEwen on Toledo De Kerser fourth.
Oliver paid tribute to his “top class” ride.
“I was walking him round the collecting ring when I was warming up and I thought, whatever happens, I wouldn’t swap him for any other horse here,” said the Yorkshireman.
The result continues a golden run for Great Britain.
Gemma Tattersall was confirmed as the Event Rider Masters’ (ERM) series winner thanks to her fourth-place finish in the ERM at Blair Castle (28 August) ahead of the final leg, at Blenheim on 15-16 September.
Team GBR were also crowned European eventing champions at Strzegom, Poland, last month (20 August), with Nicola Wilson collecting individual bronze.
TELEVISION COVERAGE
BURGHLEY’S livestream proved popular, with thousands tuning in.
Both trot-ups, all the dressage and the lower-placed combinations’ showjumping rounds were shown on the stream, as well as demonstrations in the main arena.
“Anecdotal feedback has been very positive and it’s something we would hope to continue in 2018,” a spokesman for the horse trials told H&H.
The BBC had live coverage of Saturday’s cross-country on its red button and a highlights programme on the final day.
But some fans were irritated they were unable to watch the topplaced combinations showjump in real time and knew the result before the action was available.
“The BBC hold the broadcast rights to the Sunday afternoon showjumping session, meaning we can’t livestream these elements of the competition via our Facebook page,” explained the Burghley spokesman.
All rounds are now available to watch at burghley.tv.
The BBC highlights programme showed the final riders’ showjumping about an hour after the result had been decided. This differs from its coverage of Badminton, where the programme cuts live to the final few competitors, allowing viewers to see the deciding rounds.
The BBC was unavailable for comment.