CORK'S Austin O'Connor was best of the Irish contingent at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, finishing in a very respectable 14th after rolling two poles in the final phase on Sunday afternoon.

Home soil victory went to Paris Olympic team Gold medalist Rosalind Canter who was impeccable throughout the competition, setting the mark of 22 penalties in phase one and adding just 1.6 time penalties in the final show jumping phase to win on a score of 23.6.

O'Connor and his mount, Kate Jarvey's Colorado Blue (Jaguar Mail x Rock Kind), were 37th after dressage on 33.9 but a superb clear across the country on Saturday with just 4.8 added for time saw them jump up the standings on 38.7 overnight. In fact, only four horses managed to come home clear and inside the time.

O'Connor's cross country performance saw him overtake the next best placed Irish rider, Ian Cassells, who was 30th after dressage with Master Point on 32.4 and who also had an impressive first outing over the Burghley hills to finish Saturday in 23rd on 53.4. Unfortunately his show jumping round did not go to plan and 20 jumping penalties saw him drop down to 29th on a total of 75 penalties.

The third Irish rider to complete was Susie Berry who finished 30th with Irene Leva on 75.1 after rolling two rails and adding 26 for time across the country in what was otherwise a clean round.

Speaking to The Irish Field after show jumping O'Connor said he the round was slightly disappointing but overall he was happy with Colorado Blue's performance.

"He jumped a good round, he had a couple of rails and that's disappointing but it's not that he's gone and jumped badly, he jumped well, he was just superb yesterday and he owes me nothing. At the end of the day this is eventing, you'll have that, it's a bit frustrating but we've had some incredible days too and today it didn't go our way but he still has a very good five-star event under his belt.

"He's ready for a good rest but there is no reason why he won't come out just as good if not better next year, he's a superstar."

Regarding the cross country, O'Conner was thrilled with how 'Salty' performed.

"He jumped really well. He tried his heart out. The course rode stronger than what I expected, it was a decent, decent Burghley. The last three minutes ride a bit smaller, but to me that's almost a hindrance because they get a bit insignificant. It's just so nice to have a Burghley under his belt. It's a big box ticked for a horse like him. He's galloping better than ever. It went to plan other than Discovery Valley I'm not sure why but we got from A to B and that's what matters."

Leaderboard

Second and third going into the show jumping were New Zealand's Tim Price and Great Britain's Harry Meade and that is how the leaderboard remained by the close of business.

Price could afford one rail to stay in second, but not two, and despite an inconsistent show jumping record with Vitali this year, he closed out with just four jumping penalties to add to finish second on 29.5.

Meade, who rode the highest placed Irish Horse Sport Horse, Cavalier Crystal (Jack Of Diamonds x Cavalier Royale bred by Thomas Horgan), was one of only two riders to finish on their dressage scores, his being 31.3.

Proud winner

Despite having huge success on the world stage in recent years including winning a gold European medal, a team Olympic gold medal and Badminton Horse Trials in 2023, the significance of the win was not lost on local Lincolnshire girl Ros Canter.

"I just had a text message from my pony club friends saying 'I can't believe you just won the event we used to come to every year together as children' and that sums it up really," she said.

"We've worked toward this for years and to be honest I wasn't sure I'd ever tick the Burghley box.

"It was just such an amazing opportunity with Paris being so early to also be able to bring Walter (Lordships Graffalo) here. If there was ever an event horse and an event that could match each other this is it - Walter and Burghley.

"I've been really lucky to have achieved some great things and I came into the week saying 'I dont really need this' but at the same time I really really wanted it and I just had a good feeling about it all week.

"I tweaked some things at home about how I ride Walter since Paris and I was excited to put them into practice here and show what he could do. It was fantastic to bring a horse here that I had such faith in and to really let rip on the Burghley terrain."