Oliver Townend Cooley Rosalent.

© Rupert Gibson Photography

Oliver Townend sets new winning record at Burgham

Britain’s Oliver Townend set a world record at Burgham this weekend for the highest number of international eventing classes ever won at a single event in the modern era.

On Sunday at Burgham, Oliver, the reigning world number one, added victory in the Holme Dodsworth Metals-sponsored CCI2*-S section P on Paul Ridgeon’s Cooley Rosalent to his brace of wins in Friday’s Howard Russell Construction CCI3*-S classes (Miss Cooley and Cillnabradden Evo) and Saturday’s success in the feature AW Jenkinson CCI4*-S with Ballaghmor Class.

Cooley Rosalent, a six-year-old mare by Valent, was competing in her first international class and added nothing to her leading dressage mark of 24.7.

Oliver said: “I’ve had a fantastic week at Burgham, which has always been one of my favourite events. All the horses have gone exceptionally well; to win four classes is a lovely bonus, but the important thing is that they all felt great, were comfortably within themselves and enjoyed the good ground.

“Cooley Rosalent is a mare I have always thought a lot of and is a very exciting prospect for the future.”

Oliver’s new record was established and confirmed by EquiRatings, the Irish equestrian sports statistics company.

Olympic rider Kitty King won Holme Dodsworth Metals CCI2*-S section Q aboard Monbeg Hendricks, a Harlequin Du Carel six-year-old owned by Adrian Sweet. They also completed on their dressage score, this time 27.7.

Kitty King Monbeg Hendricks.

© Rupert Gibson Photography

Burgham’s Event Director Martyn Johnson said: “The vast majority of riders never win an international class - to win four, all of which were of an exceptionally high quality with a large field of runners, shows us once again just how good Oliver Townend is and why he is the world number one. It is the icing on the cake of a fantastic weekend at Burgham.

"It hasn’t been easy to put on such a large international event in the current circumstances, but the Burgham team have worked extremely hard to make sure everything has been as safe and enjoyable as possible for everyone attending. We are very grateful to our landowners, the Hogg family, who play a huge part in this event's success every year. We very much look forward to welcoming spectators back to what has become the North East’s premier equestrian event in 2021.”

Keep up with all the news and results from Burgham via our website, www.burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk, Facebook page and Instagram page (@burghamht).

Source: Event press release

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