Burgham International eventing report: Townend’s triumphant four *H&H Plus*

All sorts of records are broken as international eventing restarts in Britain, with five packed days of sport in Northumberland

Burgham, Northumberland, 19–23 August

Oliver Townend was the dominant force at Britain’s first international horse trials of the restarted season, winning four of the seven international sections – the most ever won by one rider in one weekend.

The AW Jenkinson CCI4*-S sections boasted huge, incredibly high-class fields. Records tumbled as fast as the rain showers started and ceased, with eight of the 10 best four-star dressage scores at Burgham recorded this year. Oliver’s 21.4 for a flawless test on Ballaghmor Class headed section L from the start.

There were two favourites in this section, with 2018 winner Ballaghmor Class joined at the top of the billing by another grey in Kitty King’s 2019 victor Vendredi Biats. But a couple of mistakes in the dressage, among excellent work, put Kitty fourth, and with a rolled pole in the showjumping and three seconds over the cross-country time, she finished fifth.

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.