Chris Burton and Clever Louis, pictured here at a previous event. Image: FEI / Libby Law Photography.

Chris Burton wins Strzegom Spring Open CCI4*L

By Equestrian Life

The second event of the Strzegom Spring Open in Poland saw plenty of success for our Australian eventers.

Olympian Chris Burton led from start to finish in the CCI4*L with 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding Clever Louis, adding 7.2 cross country time faults to a dressage score of 28.2 to finish on 35.4 – 11.8 faults clear of second place.

Chris previously rode Clever Louis before switching to show jumping and for the past two years the horse was competed by Great Britain’s Bubby Upton and New Zealand’s Jonelle Price. Chris has retaken the reins this year and Strzegom is their third CCI4*S since reuniting. The pair still need a CCI4*L or CCI5*L qualification to complete their Olympic MER.

Clever Louis has been owned by Chedington Equestrian since 2022.

Chris also finished sixth with 14-year-old gelding Shadow Man, placing second to Clever Louis in the dressage (30.8) before taking it slow in both jumping phases and accruing some time faults to finish on 59.2. Shadow Man is now fully qualified for Paris.

Chris Burton and Shadow Man competing at Strzegom Spring Open I. Image by Leszek Wójcik.

“I can see why [former rider] Ben Hobday has such a hard time handing him over to me, he’s been a pleasure these last few weeks,” said Chris following the event.

“We achieved our target; I had to get qualified before qualifications start to run out at the end of April. I ran him as slow as I possibly could in all three events before running in the long here in Poland. We’re now qualified for the Paris Olympics.”

Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos, pictured here competing at the 2022 FEI World Championships. Image: Michelle Terlato Photography.

In the CCI4*S, Andrew Hoy and rising 15-year-old Vassily de Lassos finished second on 33.4. The Tokyo Olympic medallists were third after the dressage on 31, before adding just 2.4 cross country time faults to their score. They then produced a characteristically clear show jumping round.

Vassily is owned by Linda Mars (Dreams Come True V LLC).

“There is one thing to sum this day up: thank you, Vassily!” said Andrw following the event.

“It’s been an incredible performance from day one of the competition and Vassily gave me an amazing feeling in the showjumping arena. He just loves competing, he loves jumping, he loves our journey.

“He seems to grow a few centimetres every time he enters a competition arena and [Strzegom Spring Open] was no different – ‘Vassily Airlines’ delivered a fast clear round to finish the competition in second place.”

Andrew was also 12th in the CCI3*S with Cadet de Beliard on 39.3.

Congratulations Chris and Andrew!

Full results from Strzegom Spring Open II can be found here.

Published 22 April 2024.

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