“This Is Very Special”: 40-Year-Old Olympic Equestrian Goes Candid After Achieving Huge Feat at 5-Star Event

The prestigious and highly-regarded equestrian championship, the 2023 Defender Burghley Horse Trials, has concluded. The event spanned four days and featured dressage, cross-country, trot-up, and jumping competitions. Initially, the event had 58 participants, but it was narrowed down to 32 for the final jumping event.

This year’s edition of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials was won by the British Olympic equestrian Oliver Townend. The equestrian who participated with three horses claimed the podium with the one with whom he won the Olympic medal. The forty-year-old had to face tough competition during the event but he showed his skills riding Ballaghmor Class.

British equestrian grabs the Burghley

According to Horse and Hound, Oliver Townend entered the last showjumping phase being second in the list of trial positions. During the event as the day progressed, it became clear that it was gonna be a tough round as only one rider was able to clearly jump the bar without any fall of rail. Oliver Townend started his ride abroad Ballaghmor Class and successfully jumped every barrier until the last one which jumped but pulled the top rail during the jump. Townend completed the task in the required time. Now, he has to wait was the leader of the last phase New Zealander Tim Price who rode Vitali.

Tim Price started the Burghley Trials with form and set the record in the dressage event of the competition. He started his show jump only to drop three rails during it. With the three rail drops, Oliver Townend was crowned the champion. After winning the 40-year-old olympian said, “This is very special“. He further said, ” I got to the second last and thought ‘goodness, we’re still clear“. This is the third time the Olympic equestrian has won the Burghley Horse trails. Prior to this, he claimed it in 2017 and in 2009. Townend was happy with the performance of his horse and had good words for him.

British equestrian praises Ballaghmor Class

Ballaghmor Class was the horse that Oliver Townend rode during the Olympics and won the gold medal. He rode the horse in his last Burghley win in 2017. This was the second win for the Ballaghmor Class. Speaking on him the forty-year-old equestrian said, “I’m incredibly proud of this horse“.  He said that he had been here before and after a bad year, he bounced back this year.

Read More: Eventing World No.1 Oliver Townend And Other Former Olympians Return At The Chedington Bicton Horse Trials In Devon

Oliver Townend thanked the team who took care of the horse back home since he was four years old. He said that time spent on his training and perfect management of his affairs resulted in a positive outcome today. Townend had earlier mentioned that he was the horse of a lifetime.

The win of Oliver Townend is incredible and makes it even more special after his horse Ballaghmor Class won the event for the second time. The pair showed incredible talent and skill to win the title.

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