World number one Tim Price captured his first Burgham title when winning Holme Dodsworth Metals CCI4*-S section C with Susan Lamb and Therese Miller’s Happy Boy.
The New Zealander, who will represent his country at the forthcoming World Championships in Aachen, Germany, rocketed up the order from 13th after dressage at the Northumbrian event with a mark of 32.7 to the top spot by only adding 0.4 of a showjumping time-fault in the two jumping phases. When Tim and 14-year-old Happy Boy stopped the clock one second inside the time around Andrew Heffernan’s brand-new CCI4* cross-country track, he slipped ahead of long-time leaders Izzy Taylor and Barrington Boy.
Tim said: “He went like a rat up a drainpipe this time! He’s pretty cheeky, he either goes really well, or has a silly run-off or puts me on the ground, like he did at Luhmühlen, but he’s full of talent. He’s a fast horse, too, so I think this suited him.
“I was a bit disappointed in his dressage, as he can go a lot better, but this is such a good competition and it’s authentic – three good phases gets you up the leaderboard. He showjumped well around what I thought was a difficult track. Andy’s four-star cross-country track was a brilliant course, we couldn’t ask more of the ground, all things considered, and there was no point wearing a stopwatch – it was about just going as fast as you can, and he loved it.”
Izzy Taylor was delighted with her second place aboard Johnny Hornby’s CCI4*-S debutant, eight-year-old Barrington Boy. The pair’s 4.8 cross-country time-faults denied them victory by 0.2 penalties, but – given that Burgham was Izzy’s first international competition since breaking her leg badly at the beginning of March – this was an excellent result.
“He led the dressage, which is phenomenal. I thought the showjumping track was very serious, and Andy has done a superb job with the cross-country course. The first combination sets you up for the whole thing; you get that, you’re on. Yes, the horse was green, but where he was green he looked at me and I went, ‘Go on, you’re ok’, and he just grew all the way round and finished well. I’m so pleased with him,” said Izzy.
Alexander Bragg finished third on the Ellicotts’ Shannondale Arco on a score of 35.2.
Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality. Photo by Peter Nixon.
Double team gold and individual silver Olympic medallist for Britain Tom McEwen won a CCI4*-S section at Burgham for the second year in a row, this time taking Indoor Climate Control CCI4*-S section D with Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s 17-year-old Brookfield Quality.
Tom, who, like Tim Price, is Aachen-bound in a couple of weeks’ time, led the dressage on 24.2 penalties and stayed out in front, showjumping clear and finishing on a clean sheet across country.
He said: “‘Norris’ is unreal. He’s always been something of the bridesmaid – he’s always there or there abouts, but he can be a bit undercover. However, he’s the most special horse. He always delivers, is always competitive, and like he always does, he put three good phases together this week. He cruised across country; he always tries his hardest, which is the most you can ask of any horse. I really enjoy riding him and love him as a character.”
Tom Jackson and United 36 were 5.4 marks behind in second; only the two Toms, Tim Price and Jesse Campbell – fourth in CCI4*-S section C on Cooley Lafitte – were inside the time allowed across country.
Michael and Amie Stenning’s United 36 is aiming for Defender Burghley in early September, and will be among Britain’s leading hopes at the Lincolnshire CCI5*.
“He’s been amazing all week and I actually set off across country not necessarily with the idea of chasing the time, but he felt so good and was finding it easy, which isn’t that normal at this level. Hopefully he’ll stay on as good a form as he is for Burghley.
“I thought the new CCI4* track was a great addition; Burgham’s such a good prep run for so many horses and for so many different reasons – you can bring a whole lorry-load here and it benefits all of them.”
Third in CCI4*-S section D was reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham and the exciting 10-year-old mare Gypsie Du Loir, owned by Janette Chin and The Sue Davies Fund.
Burgham 2026 concludes on Sunday (August 2) with showjumping and cross-country for the Jack-Thomas Watson Horses CCI2*-S, which is led after dressage by Caroline Harris and Cooley Riddle Master, with Piggy March (Diamond Wood) in second.
Burgham not only offers top-class sport, but also great fun for families, friends and children. There is a fun dog show on Sunday at 1pm, and hobby horses for children to “ride”. As well as international and national eventing classes, there is a Thoroughbred and Ex-Racehorse Show to watch.
The event also features great tradestands and lots of delicious, locally-produced food and drink and public bars. It is situated in beautiful, tranquil Northumbrian countryside not far from the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick.
If you’re looking for a family day out that’s really affordable this summer, you can’t do better than Burgham International Horse Trials – visit www.burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk to find out more and to buy tickets.
All four days of cross-country from Burgham – Thursday, 28 July to Sunday, 2 August – are being shown on Horse & Country TV’s livestreaming platform, H&C+.
