Saumur CCI3* - Burton Places 5th

It was an excellent result for the nine year old given it was his first outing at this level and Burton was pleased with his horse he performed.

"Great result for Graf Liberty who came 5th in his first CCI3* at Saumur," Burton declared on his Facebook page.

The pair finished on a score of 50 with the winning score of 41.20 posted by Maxime Livio returning the Saumur title to the host nation for the first time since 2007.

Warren Lampered finished in 35th position after incurring 16 jumping penalties.

After bowing out early of the CCI3* with Cheeky Calimbo, Andrew Hoy finished his campaign in the CIC2* Rutherglen on a positive, finishing in second place overall.

Full results are available at the event website: http://www.saumur.org/cci/accueil-gb.html. 

Mixed results for Australia on Cross Country Day

There were mixed results for Australia on Cross Cross Country Day at Saumur but Chris Burton and Graf Liberty are well placed leading into Sunday's Show Jumping phase.

Burton and Graf Liberty produced a clear round within optimum time to end the day in third position overall. They are flanked by French riders with the home nation currently occupying first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth positions. Burton enters the show jumping on his dressage score of 46 and is less than two rails off the the leading score of 39.2, set by Luc Chateau.  

Andrew Hoy and Cheeky Calimbo, Australia's leading pair after dressage, retired on course after having a refusal at fence 8. Warren Lampered and Silvia are sitting in 33rd position after having some time penalties.

Hoy is also at Saumur with his London 2012 Olympic mount Rutherglen competing in the CIC2* in prepation for next month's Luhmuhlen CCI4*. The pair is currently in 2nd position after the show jumping phase was held today with cross country to be contested on Sunday.

Full results are available at the event website: http://www.saumur.org/cci/accueil-gb.html. 

23 May 2014

Hoy and Burton currently sitting in top two positions on dressage leader board at Saumur CCI3*

Andrew Hoy and his Hanoverian gelding Cheeky Calimbo have had a dream start to Saumur, with the combination comfortably sitting in first place on their dressage score of 39.20 penalties.

Currently in second place by 6.8 penalties is 2012 champion Chris Burton who is riding Graf Liberty.

With one more day of dressage to come and our last Australian representative Warren Lamperd and his Holsteiner grey mare Silvia to compete today, the possibility of an Australian taking out the Saumur title for the fourth consecutive year is looking promising.

Competition will conclude on Sunday. For more information and event results please visit the websitehttp://www.saumur.org/cci/accueil-gb.html. 

22nd May 2014

Burton looking to bag a second Saumur title

Australia will be looking to continue its recent domination at Saumur CCI3* this weekend and leading the charge is the 2012 winner Chris Burton who is lining up with his Rio 2016 squad horse Graf Liberty.

Australian riders have won the main event at Saumur on the last three occasions with Burton famously finishing first and second in 2012. It was the thoroughbred Haruzac with which he won the event and HP Leilani, with whom he went on to pair with at the London 2012 Olympic Games who claimed the runner-up position.

In 2013 Bill Levett (Shannondale Titan) was the victor, while in 2011 it was Clayton Fredericks aboard Bendigo who claimed the title.   

Seven time Olympian Andrew Hoy (Cheeky Calimbo) will also be competing for Australia this weekend as is Warren Lamperd (Silvia).

Competition will commence on Thursday and conclude on Sunday. For more information and event results please visit the website http://www.saumur.org/cci/accueil-gb.html.