London bound Burton beats world class line-up at Aachen
Chris Burton and Underdiscussion with the CICO3* at the World Equestrian Festival at Aachen Germany Photograph:Courtesy of the World Equestrian Festival website |
Australian Eventer Chris Burton can do no wrong at the moment - The 31 year old, who recently gained selection to this first Olympic Games team on Australia's five member Eventing team, has beaten a world class contingent of riders over the weekend at the prestigious World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany.
Burton and his 14 year old gelding Underdiscussion were third after two phases of competition and went on to produce a clear cross country round in the final phase of the CICO3* event to clinch victory.
While Underdiscussion won’t be the horse that Burton takes to London (he will compete on his top horse the 16 year old mare Holstein Park Leilani), his victory shows he up to the challenge of a major international event.
“Everything went brilliantly for me today and I am very happy. It is only my second time here in Aachen and it is thrilling to win here,” Burton said.
Burton is currently ranked ninth in the world and finished the event ahead of the fifth ranked rider Michael Jung of Germany who was competing on his top horse La Biosthetique Sam FBW and the combination is among one of the favourites to take individual gold in London.
Burton is the sole debutant on Australia’s five member eventing team which will include Andrew Hoy who will make his seventh appearance at an Olympic Games at London 2012. Also on the team is Beijing 2008 silver medallists, Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks and Shane Rose.
Eventing competition will take place at Greenwich Park and gets underway on day one of the Olympic Games, just 20 days from now.
