Gemma Tattersall’s victory in the Holme Dodsworth Metals CCI2*-S at Hambro Sport Horses Burgham International Horse Trials (28 July-1 August) on Djakota EB was her second of the week at Northumberland’s premier equestrian event.
The West Sussex-based rider had captured a section of the Howard Russell Ltd CCI3*-S on Friday with Flash Cooley – who, like Djakota EB, is owned by Pru Dawes.
Djakota EB, a Dutch-bred 13-year-old, had been second after dressage behind Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall. However, he was faster across country and added nothing to his dressage mark of 24.6, while six-year-old SBH Big Wall accrued a couple of time-penalties and dropped to second.
“I’ve taken over the ride on him from a pupil of mine, and he’s for sale”, said Gemma. “He’s a real dude – a proper Junior, Young Rider horse. I could see him winning a gold medal at that level; he’s super-flashy on the flat, a super showjumper and really fun and easy to ride across country.
“I think Burgham is a good hunting ground for me! I’ve been here twice, and the first time I won the CCI4*-S on Chico Bella P [in 2015] and I think I was third on [her World Equestrian Games team gold medallist ]Arctic Soul, and this weekend I’ve had two wins and also two horses in the top 10.”
Izzy Taylor – winner of the week’s feature class, the Hambro Sport Horses CCI4*-S, incorporating the British Open Championship – with Monkeying Around – also took third place, this time on Jaeger Master.
This year Hambro Sport Horses Burgham has stepped in to host the British National Championships, following the cancellation of the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park. The Open, Intermediate and Novice Championship classes were decided yesterday (Saturday, 31 July), and today it was the turn of the amateur riders in the British Restricted Novice Championship to take centre stage.
The prestigious class was won by Rio Hall, who took first place aboard the nine-year-old Jack Of Diamonds mare Gorsehill Jewel on her dressage score of 29.1, and also third place with Georgie Girl. In between Rio’s two rides, Katy Mousdale snatched second spot on I’m The One.
“I’m absolutely gob-smacked – it’s amazing,” said Rio, 23, who is studying for a masters in International Business at the University of Chester. “All weekend both horses have tried their little hearts out for me. Jewel produced the best test she has ever done, showjumped unbelievably well and then, across country, I couldn’t fault her – she gave me the best round of my life. I’m speechless!”
This has been a bumper edition of Burgham International Horse Trials, sponsored for the first time by Jonathan and Lexi Hambro’s Hambro Sport Horses. It has been run with one eye on the eventing competition at the Tokyo Olympics – all three of Britain’s team horses, who are in gold medal position going into the final showjumping phase, have competed at Burgham in recent years. Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class, who lie in individual gold medal position in Tokyo, took the CCI4*S class here in 2018 and 2020 – we wish them the best of luck tomorrow.
Event Director Martyn Johnson said: “It’s been a fantastic week, and we are so grateful to our brilliantly supportive sponsors, and the riders, owners, grooms, volunteers, contractors and spectators who have combined to make Hambro Sport Horses Burgham 2021 particularly special. We have four very worthy new national champions in Izzy Taylor, Polly Stockton, Kitty King and Rio Hall – congratulations to them – and we hope we can continue to grow our wonderful event while keeping its trademark friendly, relaxed atmosphere.”
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Rio Hall riding Gorsehill Jewel took the Novice Restricted Championship