A highly successful Burgham International Horse Trials 2023 concluded with victories in the two CCI2*-S sections, sponsored by Encon Technical Solutions Ltd and NIS Group Ltd, for Harry Meade and Katie Magee.
Harry, a regular traveller from his Wiltshire base to Burgham in Northumberland, won section E aboard Mandy Grey’s seven-year-old Uvera Z on a dressage score of 28.
“He’s a lovely horse and one I’m really excited about,” said Harry. “Burgham has totally lived up to our hopes and expectations. We all drive a long way to get up here predominantly because the jumping tracks are consistently flowing and horse-friendly. The ground stood up really well to the conditions and it was nice to let the horses run at their own pace, knowing they weren’t on tiring ground.”
Second was Tom Jackson, who makes his senior team debut for Great Britain next month at the European Championships, on Richard and Sarah Jewson’s My Star Turn. North Yorkshire’s Lucinda Atkinson was third with Frankfort Pointllexi.
Katie Magee, who lives in Co Durham, took section F with Sharon Parnaby’s Cushlas Indigo, ahead of Wizz Leyland on her own Mr Poker Face. Irish rider Danielle McCormack finished third on Hildare Regarde Moi.
Although the weather in the build-up to the event and during the first three of the five days of competition posed challenges at times, around 750 horses competed at Burgham this week – a huge number for any horse trials.
Event Director Craig Anderson said: “I cannot thank everyone involved enough – our incredibly kind and generous landowners, all our amazing volunteers who give up so much time to make Burgham happen, our officials, contractors and committee, our riders, owners, grooms, wonderful sponsors, and possibly most of all, the tractor-drivers who pulled so many lorries and vehicles in and out of the site. It has been a brilliant week; a lot of people have worked exceptionally hard to pull it off, and that is what makes Burgham so special – the atmosphere, the can-do attitude and the desire to do the best we possibly can for everyone.”
For more information, visit burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk
The attached picture of Harry Meade (Uvera Z) is courtesy of Peter Nixon.
