Christopher Burton winning the CIC2* class at Barbury

© William Carey Photography/Barbury International Horse trials

With temperatures soaring well into the 30s over the weekend, Leg 4 has definitely been the hottest yet in every sense of the word. All three phases produced their share of leaderboard shuffling drama with France’s Tom Carlile and Upsilon taking the win and Gemma Tattersall (GBR) and Pamero 4 in second place. Chris Burton and Polystar I took 3rd place and with it the top spot on the Series Leaderboard.

Having never seen a joint leader in an ERM Leg, Saturday was to be the day with both Liz Halliday-Sharpe (USA) and Thomas Carlile tying in 1st place going into the Show Jumping on a score of 24.9.

The USA’s Liz Halliday-Sharp, riding Fernhill By Night dropped into 2nd place after the show jumping, opening the door for favourites Carlile and Upsilon to hold their lead heading out onto the Cross Country, which they did in style.

In an afternoon that saw “Mr Stickability”, Andrew Nicholson (NZ), part ways with Swallow Springs and less than 20 riders jump clear around the Captain Mark Phillips’ designed Cross Country course, the jumping proved just as significant as the time.

Riding a mature confidence-giving round, the Frenchman and Upsilon proved their class once again and re-affirmed their place as the new Kings of Barbury. Adding just 0.4-time penalties to their leading dressage to finish on top of the ERM podium.

Chris Burton, named "fastest male event rider in the world", didn’t disappoint out on course. Delivering a masterclass in Cross-Country riding an incredible clear inside the time, the Australian and Trisha Rickard’s Polystar I finished on 34.8 and in 3rd place and with it taking the Series lead from Laura Collett.

With Burto sitting pretty at the top of the Series Leader Board after a foot perfect performance here at Barbury and all of the Series top 6 heading to Leg 5 at Haras de Jardy the race to take a place on the 2018 Series Podium is seriously hotting up.

To read more about Christopher Burton’s success in the 2* and Novice classes from the event, click here!

To watch the dressage from the event, please click here.

To watch the show jumping from the event, please click here

To watch the cross country from the event, please click here.

The Event Rider Masters now heads to Leg 5 at Haras de Jardy in France, from the 14th to the 15th of July.

Source: Equestrian Australia (EA) website

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