Funnell seals second Burghley success… 16 years after the first

Pippa Funnell turned back the clock to end a 16-year wait to be crowned champion at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Funnell led from start to finish on 11-year-old gelding and Burghley debutant MGH Grafton Street across four days of dressage, crosscountry and show jumping.

The 50-year-old Briton, who is based in Surrey, claimed a sixth elite five-star victory of a career that also includes two European individual titles, three Olympic medals and eventing’s prestigious Rolex Grand Slam.

She held her nerve amid intense pressure to edge out her Great Britain team-mates Piggy French and Oliver Townend, claiming a £95,000 top prize in the process.

The top three after Saturday’s punishing cross-country phase were separated by just 0.5 penalties before show jumping played out in reverse order. Wire to wire: Pippa Funnell led from start to finish on MGH Grafton Street

Townend, the former world No1 who was seeking a second Burghley crown in three years, had one fence down aboard Ballaghmor Class and had to settle for third.

French, seeking to become the first rider since Virginia Leng 30 years ago to win Badminton and Burghley in the same season on the same horse, recovered from a first fence knock-down aboard Vanir Kamira to finish on a score of 30.9.

It meant that Funnell, whose only previous Burghley win was in 2003, could afford four faults and still triumph, which was exactly what happened for a winning margin of just 0.1 penalties.

“It was a very eventful round,” Funnell said. “I think the nerves got to me a little bit.”

French, who, along with Funnell and Townend, helped Great Britain win team silver at the European Championships last weekend, added: “I am so delighted for Pippa.

“She has been a mentor for me over the years. I came here to Burghley for the first time in 2003, when she won, and I have nothing but complete admiration for her.”