Burton takes 3rd place at Blenheim Palace, last leg of the Event Rider Masters series

Chris Burton was one of few riders to produce a penalty-free cross-country round leading to a third place on the Blenheim Palace podium, final leg of the 2017 Event Rider Masters (ERM).  Riding Graf Liberty, who Chris also rode into second place at Leg 6 at Blair Castle, he completed a masterclass of cross country riding to finish on a final score of 43.4.

Burton said “Isn't it fun - what great competition ERM is, and what a thing for the sport! The cross-country caused more trouble than we thought it would - I'm gutted for my mate Shane. I thought we might have another Aussie 1-2 on the podium, which would have been fun but that's the thing about this sport  and in  ERM the reverse order really  does put the pressure on."

It was a great day for 'Burto' as he also won the 8/9yo CIC3* with Cooley Lands. Slightly less demanding than the CCI3* with a less technical and shorter cross-country course, the special CIC3* 8 & 9yo class attracts some of the very best up and coming horses of this age group. 

Britain’s Izzy Taylor led the competition from start to finish. She secured her first ERM podium finish at the series finale held in Oxfordshire (UK).

Riding the eleven-year-old gelding “Be Touchable”, Taylor maintained her overnight dressage lead, producing clear jumping rounds in both the showjumping and cross country.  She added just 1.8-time penalties on the demanding cross-country phase, finishing on a score of 36.9.   Taylor continues a tremendous run of form, with this win being her remarkable eighth at FEI international level this season and a first in the ERM series.

Tim Price (NZL) secured his first podium place in the series finishing in second place, riding the nine-year Ascona M. Tim produced one of only two clear rounds inside the time cross country to finish on a score of 42.6.  He added four penalties to his dressage score after knocking a rail in the showjumping. 

Our second Australian, Bill Levett took 5th position riding his 14yo Irish Sport Horse, Shannondale Titan, on a final score of 47,40.

Shane Rose and CP Qualified, sitting in a strong position (0.1 penalty behind Izzy Taylor), after the Dressage phase, finally finished in 21st place with a cross-country phase that didn't quite go to plan! The duo faulted at the influential third element of the Shires Equestrian Wooded Hollow, a narrow, angled brush.

View the full results of our Australian Riders across the weekend on http://eventridermasters.tv/live-scores and https://www.blenheimhorse.co.uk/

All the action from the series finale can be viewed again at eventridermasters.tv. 

The Event Rider Masters will continue to grow in 2018, with details of Legs and countries to be announced soon.