Oliver wins again at FEI Burnham Market!

Oliver Townend has rewritten the record books at the FEI Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials this weekend (17-19 April), securing an extraordinary 17th victory in the event’s flagship class. 

His latest triumph is made even more notable by the fact that he achieved it with the same brilliant mare who carried him to glory last year. Owned by Diana Ridgeon, Cooley Rosalent is rapidly building a legacy of her own at Burnham Market, having won the CCI3*-S in 2021 and now delivering back-to-back CCI4*-S victories in 2025 and 2026.

“I was very impressed with Cooley Rosalent in all three phases,” said Oliver. “She felt very confident. She’s a bit cheeky at this time of year, she’s always quite fresh, but a great result and a great result for Diana Ridgeon. Sadly, we lost Paul in the winter, that owned Cooley Rosalent. He was a great fan of this event and a great supporter of myself and Andrew Nicholson. So, it’s special to have Diana here and we couldn’t be happier with how the horse has gone.”

Reflecting on his long-standing relationship with the event, he added: “We’ve always felt that it came at the right time of year in general. The ground is extremely consistent, so it’s always been good, safe ground. Even when it’s on the firm side, it’s still very consistent and the horses seem to come out of this event very well. So, we’re a big fan of the event and a big fan of the courses here and the job that everyone is doing.

“It’s a number [17 flagship titles] that I didn’t think I’d ever get to but, at the same time, it’s getting close to 20 now so I’ll have to keep coming back!”

Oliver and Cooley Rosalent led the class from start to finish, completing on their dressage score of 22.3. They were joined on the podium by Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley (27.6) in second and New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone with Rocket Man in third (29.9).

In the CCI3*-S, Jenny Caras made her own piece of history, as the first American rider to claim an international title at Burnham Market. Riding Sommersby, owned by Jerry Hollis, she finished on her dressage score of 26.9. Sitting third after dressage, the pair produced two immaculate jumping rounds to climb into the lead.

“I’m super happy with Sommersby,” said Jenny. “He was very consistent in all three phases. He was so workman like and very professional all the way through the weekend. I really couldn’t have asked much more from him to be honest. He just went out there and did his best in all three phases and was really happy to take home the win.

“It’s quite special to be the first American winner of Burnham Market. Being able to come here and support the event is amazing and to take home that title is incredible. So, super special.”

Jack Pinkney took second place with Ayrton Senna, completing on their dressage mark of 28.2, and Hector Payne and Hidalgo continued their rise up the leaderboard to finish third (29.5).

With thrilling competition and a vibrant atmosphere from start to finish, Burnham Market once again proved why it remains a standout fixture in the eventing calendar. Energised by exceptional crowds who turned out in force to enjoy the sunshine and cheer on the action, the weekend delivered an unforgettable celebration of world‑class sport.

Full results from across all three days of competition, including the national classes, are available here.

All the cross country action from Saturday and Sunday’s international classes is available to view via ClipMyHorse.TV.