Burghley - Who impressed you?

RachelFerd

RachelFerd

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After the negativity threads... lets see the rounds that really impressed you - perhaps from the less 'celebrity' riders who might not have been shown in the BBC highlights.

I haven't watched everyones round, but have to say I thought that Joy Dawes on Finnisterre had a fantastic ride around the XC, what a brilliant partnership. And then to go and jump clear in the SJ around a course that troubled a lot of the big names... that's impressive!

http://youtu.be/C3grwLvN4Ug
 
I'd agree with you regarding Joy, I thought her and Finn did an AWESOME job round the course. And it may be 'fluffy bunny' of me, but to see her give him a pat all the way around the course when he was doing well, reassuring him he was doing a fab job for her, and to finish with big smiles and lots of pats for him made me realise what it's about for most of us.
 
Francis W - havent seen his ride on Easy Target, but he gave Percy a lovely round and they both look like they loved every second of it.

Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos - can not get enough of them as a partnership!!
 
For me for who I saw briefly I thought Tom McEwan on his debut rode a class XC round and kept his cool when stirrups etc went flying and there was no "harshness" about his round which we've seen other young inexperienced men do!!.

I also thought Clea Phillips rode a beautiful round too and her horse was a very slick machine and full of running and came across the finish line as though he had been out for a Sunday hack. Big credit to her and her fitness programme!
 
Lauren Shannon: I didn't see all of her XC round as I was walking round the course but I saw the SJ and it looked very balanced and rhythmical. I would love to be able to ride like that!
 
Actually, having seen pretty much everyone 'in the flesh' over at least one fence, I just thought the whole thing was a spectacular display of top class riding. I really, really loved it this year.
 
Francis Whittington rode a classy round as always. Also very impressed with Jock Paget having 2 finish in the top 12 at his first Burghley - nice to see some younger NZ riders doing well.

I'm only catching up with the youtube videos now; saw the highlights yesterday so I'm sure that a lot more will impress me :)
 
Cross country; Jeanette Brakewell...very classy riding and also Emily Llewelyn, super job, especially when that dratted dog was chasing them, they didn't falter.
 
i agree Francis and Jock, both rode lovely rounds, but also for me i agree with Joy, she is such an inspirational lady and her partnership with Finn is second to none, she has produced him from a 4 year old and i am priveledged to have her as a friend. Well done to Joy Pod and Finny!!
 
Definitely agree about Joy Dawes - She was brill around badminton too.

And Boyd Martin. Such an amazing achievement to even get there after the year he has had, and Neville looked fantastic. He was obviously emotional aswell.
 
Craig Nicolai. True, top class riding and one of very few inside the time. He adores Spider and you can hear him saying 'good boy' after the corner at the maltings complex. It brought a tear to my eye!
 
Kitty King has to be one of the highlights for me. I watched a fair few at the Cotsmore Leap and she was by far one of the best. FW I always love and I thought Zara rode High Kingdom perfectly, that horse couldn't have asked for a better first 4* :)
 
Great thread, I was going to start one on the same topic!
Francis W looked just as slick on Easy Target, doing his first 4*, as he did on Percy. Very impressive that he showed no emotion at that annoying early run-out, just calmly went the long way and then proceeded to give the horse a peach of a ride the whole way round.
Joy Dawes - lovely to watch.
Boyd and Neville made me very emotional, what a great end to a terrible year for him.
Sinead and Tate - class class class.
Like SC, I saw a lot of very very good riding. A couple of eeek moments, but they're to be expected.
 
Another who thought Joy Dawes looked brilliant - even more respect for her after reading the article in Nag and Dog and seeing how much she has to overcome to even be there (not that you'd know from her riding).
Also Tom McEwan looked brilliant, and came across so well in his interview.
 
Tom McEwen - First 4*, only 20 years old, had a lovely clear XC

Joy Dawes - Can see how much she adores her horse and isn't in it "just for the money"

Jeanette Brakewell - Classy riding, lovely horse

Boyd Martin - such an emotional ride for the guy and amazing recovery the horse has made, would love to see them in the team next year and getting an individual medal.
 
Janette rode a class round, Boyd Martin really deserved to do well after such a *****y year in which I doubt many of us would even bother getting out of bed. Francis was lovely to watch also.

I also agree about Tom McEwan who was very mature for his 4* debut and ride a brilliant round.

It is a shame that all the negative posts have taken precedence, not one post yet has congratulated WFP on his outstanding achievment - six wins and the history books rewritten! xxx
 
I've only watched the highlights and I thought WFP was class class class. Also very impressed with Tom McEwen - impressive ability and attitude for a 20 year old.
 
XC - just about everyone to be honest! I saw a few "eeek" moments but they weren't riding error as far as I know (which is very little!) - just things that didn't quite go to plan - duff strides, tired/lazy-kneed horses etc - which aren't always rider error.

Emily Llewellyn (sp?) SJ round stood out as being mighty impressive - so elegant and so still in the saddle, and of course WFP Sj round looked amazing, and Clea Phillipps rode as lovely as ever.
 
I really enjoyed watching Caroline Powell and Lenamores xc round.
Also Zara and high kingdom, and to be honest the majority I think rode fab rounds, some were unlucky and WFP had some hairy moments but rode fantastic as did a couple of others.
Loved it this year. Will really have to make a point of getting their next year.
 
I granted only saw the highlights plus a few 'full' rounds via Burghley TV but overall was impressed. Even riders who I'm not a 'fan' of rode good rounds and so I must give credit to where its due ;)

Yes there were some moments that weren't too pretty but they were relatively few and far between and the horses seemed to be coping a hell of a lot better than Badminton. I think a few were fitter for having the season behind them rather than a stunted fitness program due to the new year snow/cold weather.

I thought WFP was truely exceptional as was Parklane Hawk. again there were moments but as a 4* first timer it was a good round although could have been very different with a different jockey ;) (for the worse that is!). the pure skill and talent really showed in the SJ when PH was giving each fence at least a foot despite jumping out near same again worth of mud, he would probably fair rather well as a pure showjumper with the hind end power he was displaying!

High Kingdom and Zara impressed me as well, seems like she may finally have another horse capable of being competitive at 4*.

and well Lenamore and Caroline, what a pair, shame about the poles but you can't blame him in that mud, other than that what a great performance :D
 
thought Jim Newsam rode a lovely cross country and SJ - though wasn't well placed as he and lara's song were a little slow XC but seemed to give the horse a lot of nursing especially in the SJ on the sunday - just my thoughts though
 
I saw a lot of impressive riding. :)

Joy was great to watch and so, so happy on Saturday, it was very entertaining. :D

Craig jumped a top class sj round, never looking hairy, which wasn't the case for everyone!

Was great to see Boyd do well and he looked suitably emotional at the result after his rollercoaster year.

I thought Zara rode that horse really well and very maturely. I think it's very tricky when you've had results like hers so early and with relatively little coming before. It's a bit like "second album syndrome" - you have your whole life to produce the first one and no expectations, but once you have a hit everyone starts pushing for the next one. There's a lot to be said for labouring in obscurity and not having your learning curve splattered all over the media for everyone to dissect!

I know no one else is going to care, but I'm going to vote for Jessica Phoenix, too, as boy, that horse can jump and she rides him really well. Plus I know what she's given to get there (and similar events), not to mention get another 4*DC - I don't think people here can really understand what it takes to come to somewhere like Burghely from not only North America, but Canada. Talk about worlds away. And Hawley, of course, because that horse is so fun to watch and California is even further away!

I think lots of people rode really well on Saturday afternoon, in awful conditions, even without all the galloping around the day before. What really impressed me with WFP's round was not just that he rode it well, but how well schooled/prepared the horse was. It was a real "It takes a villiage" performance.
 
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