FEI Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials – Friday Round-up

This year’s FEI Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials marks 25 year of eventing at Sussex Farm in north west Norfolk. Today’s action in the dressage arenas was certainly fitting of the occasion, with a flurry of top names putting in some quality performances in a bid to take an early lead in the international classes.

In the CCI-S 4* class (Section B), Emily King and Valmy Biats sit in the top spot at the end of the first day (25.4), ahead of Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall in second (27.5) and Saffron Cresswell and Vivendi Hero (28.8) in third. 

“I’m really, really pleased with Valmy,” said Emily. “He did a super test today and was really cool and calm. It’s been different working them on good going. The going here is phenomenal and we’ve been working in the mud all spring, so it’s been really refreshing for them to work on top of the ground.

“I’m hoping he has a quiet day tomorrow while the rest of the class do their dressage and then jumping on Sunday. I’m hoping to have a good show jump and then I’m planning to run him cross country. He goes to Badminton but I’d love to use this as one final prep run.”

Pippa Funnell currently leads the CCI-S 3* (Section A) with MCS Maverick. Their score of 26.3 puts them ahead of Georgie Goss and Sligo Just Touch in second (28.2), and Germany’s Josephine Schnaufer-Volkel and Cinnamon Red in third (28.6).

“He was great,” said Pippa of MCS Maverick. I’m really pleased, because he’s getting better all the time with his brain. He’s one I took on last year, so I was really pleased with him. It’s slightly frustrating because I’m in the 3* – I had a fall at Thoresby and I thought it was sensible for me to actually give myself a little bit longer and run them round the 3* instead of the 4*, so that’s why I’ve got him and Billy Wonder in the 3*. The main thing is to have a good run with him, because hopefully he’s Badminton bound.”

There was also plenty of quality competition in the national classes, with both horses and riders enjoying seeing a bit of sunshine. 

The national class winners on Friday were:

BE100 Section C, Andrew James and Hold Me Down (28.8)

BE100 Section D, Emily Philp and So Special Van Het Farasohof (24.8)

BE100 Open Section E, Isabel English and Jockeyhall Maximum Cruise (20.8)

Open Novice Under 18 Section F, Charlotte Cooke and Jewel (26.8)

Novice Section G, Alicia Wilkinson and FJK Over And Out (24.8)

Intermediate Section H, Gemma Stevens and Cooley Park Muze (28.8)

Full results are available here.

Tickets

Why no come and help us celebrate our 25^th Anniversary? Tickets are available on the gate, cash payments only. A cash machine is available in the Spar in Docking. Gates open at 8am tomorrow and Sunday, with competition getting underway at 9am tomorrow and 8am on Sunday. View the full timetable click here.  

Watch live

All the cross country action from tomorrow and Saturday will be available to watch via your mobile, tablet, TV or desktop with H&C+. Visit the Horse & Country website to find out more.

View the courses

All the cross country courses are available to view at CrossCountry App here, https://www.crosscountryapp.com