Burghley stage set for eagerly-awaited duel

Event director Elizabeth Inman said: “With everyone very much on a sporting high after London 2012 and many overseas riders who didn’t get to ride at London heading our way, this year’s Burghley will certainly be one of the most international, most competitive and one of the best yet.”

This year there is even more at stake at Burghley, as for the first time the HSBC FEI Classics series that began at Les Etoiles de Pau in France last October, reaches its climax with the champion taking home a $150,000 first prize.

Andrew Nicholson, the new world No 1, will be putting in a determined challenge to gain points with a high place, or even better, a win. It is 12 years since the British-based New Zealander won Burghley.

There will be plenty of opposition, not least from William Fox-Pitt, the current HSBC FEI Classics series leader who had a record sixth Burghley win last year. He is bidding for a 50th international three-day event success.

After a season dogged by bad weather, luck was with the North Eastern Driving Trials Group for their two-day event at Newby Hall, where the going was near perfect. In the intermediate horse class Steve Nichols from Denby Dale posted a personal best of 46.0 penalties, ahead of John Wilkinson from Halifax on 50.4.

Sunday’s marathon section was keenly contested. In the pre-novice, Robin Earnshaw won by almost 50 penalties. Kim Usher from Richmond won the intermediate pony class.

Results – Pre-novice: R Earnshaw, Wakefield. Novice pony: P Carter, Hexham. Inter Pony: K Usher, Richmond. Open Pony: R Mold, Northumberland. Novice Horse: K Henderson, Newcastle. Inter Horse: J Wilkinson, Halifax. Open Horse: J Hilditch, Flockton. Pairs: J Stafford, Newcastle. Tandems/Teams: A Saville, Lockerbie.