Parsonage and Wilson have high hopes for Burghley challenge

He was 24 then and living in Cheshire.

But 26 years on, there are strong reasons to believe the ‘adopted Yorkshireman’ can enjoy his best Burghley ever.

Parsonage, who is now based at Beverley, will send 11-year-old Sligo Luckyvalier into battle at this week’s CCI four-star.

Parsonage is feeling quietly optimistic about his prospects with his rising star who gained his first experience at Burghley last year.

The 2012 event saw the duo finish a respectable 32nd with Parsonage’s best Burghley finish coming in 2000 when Just So II took him to ninth.

Hopes are high that Sligo Luckyvalier might surprise the game’s bigger names and do something similar but, either way, merely competing at Burghley will be something of a trip down memory lane.

“Burghley brings back lots of memories for me and over the years we have done quite all right really,” said Parsonage.

“If I remember correctly, off the top of my head, 1987 was my first so that’s a long time ago!

“I’ve ridden there probably 15 times over the years with one of those times being when the European Championships were there for the British team.

“Then we went there last year with the same horse as this year and he was 10 which, for an event horse, is relatively young and inexperienced.

“So, this year, I am hoping for a slightly stronger performance, all being well.”

Sligo Luckyvalier will arrive at Burghley in decent form following strong showings this summer, notably at another of the sport’s six CCI four-star events at Luhmuhlen.

The combination were a highly respectable 20th in a star-studded field.

Parsonage dreams of his modern-day ace matching or even bettering the achievements of 2000 star Just So II who was initially ridden by Parsonage’s wife, Camilla, who brought the eventing rider to Yorkshire through their marriage.

“Just So was the mother-in-law’s horse and my wife Camilla used to ride him,” sad Parsonage. “But he got very strong so I ended up riding him there and he was a brilliant horse – very good.

“I also won the Hickstead Eventers Grand Prix on him as well. He was a good horse and my wife also won a young premium riders’ bronze medal on him.”

Assessing his 2013 prospects, Parsonage mused: “It’s a difficult because you never know what the weather is going to do but they look after the footing very, very well at Burghley.

“It’s one of the best places in the world really from that point of view. His dressage wouldn’t be his strong point - he’s not a bad horse but he’s not a real flashy dressage horse.

“But he comes into his own in the jumping phases so if it rains or is a bit wetter and the going is a bit sticky then it might suit him.”

Parsonage will certainly line up against some illustrious names with New Zealand’s world No 1 Andrew Nicholson represented by last year’s winner Avebury as well as his Pau and Luhmuhlen CCI4* heroes Nereo and Mr Cruise Control.

World No 2 William Fox-Pitt – a six-time winner at Burghley – has three horses entered in Parklane Hawk, Neuf Des Coeurs and Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials winner Chill Morning.

World No 3 and Kiwi Jock Paget has entered Clifton Promise and Clifton Lush – his heroes of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the British Eventing Open Championship at Gatcombe Park,

Sir Mark Todd, whose first Burghley came in 1987, has entered new ride Oloa and Ravenstar while Pippa Funnell, the only rider so far to win the Rolex Grand Slam at Burghley in 2003, has entered 2010 World Equestrian Games mount Redesigned.

Rising stars Izzy Taylor and Tom McEwen also feature among the top-class entry with Kbis Starchaser and Dry Old Party, respectively, while further Yorkshire representation comes from Northallerton’s Nicola Wilson on her London 2012 hero Opposition Buzz plus Beverley’s Gary Parsonage on Sligo Luckyvalier.

Wilson reports Olympic ace Opposition Buzz in fine fettle.

Now 16 years of age, Opposition Buzz took Wilson to a team eventing silver at last year’s London 2012 Olympic Games with the grand servant having competed just five times since.

Opposition Buzz is again threatening to peak to perfection with his latest outing at the Blair Castle International being one of his strongest since last summer.

Opposition Buzz, affectionately known as Dodi, finished third in the CIC three-star Scottish Open Championships at Blair behind the victorious Lucinda Fredericks on Flying Finish and runner-up Lucy Wiegersma on Mr Chunky.

Now it is all systems go for Burghley and ther forthcoming Blenheim Horse Trials.

Wilson, 36, reported: “Dodi was a joy to ride in all three phases at Blair Castle, performing a lovely dressage test before show-jumping clear and then having a lovely spin around the challenging cross-country course.

“He felt fantastic and very much on form for Burghley.”

After Burghley, Wilson will head down the motorway to Blenheim with Annie Clover and Beltane Queen.