A catch ride for Queenslander and London Olympian Chris Burton, 31, resulted in a surprise triumph for him at the prestigious Australian International 3 Day Event in Adelaide recently.
Born in Toowoomba, a former Brymaroo Pony Club member and Downlands College graduate, Chris spent his childhood on a grain and cattle farm at Box Ridge, Brymaroo before moving to England to increase his chances of making the 2012 Summer Olympics equestrian eventing.
After top equestrian rider Will Enzinger fractured his leg in three places from a horse fall, he asked Chris, who was in Australia to support the event, to ride TS Jamaimo in his place in the equestrian world’s triathlon.
It was an extraordinary achievement given Chris first rode Jamaimo just three days before the event.
"It's unexpected, that's for sure,” Chris said.
"I sat on him for the first time on Wednesday and I thought he's a lovely horse, what a little ripper.
"He's been brilliantly prepared and a treat for me to ride. It's something I won't forget in a long time.
"We knew he was a good jumper, but I was just the jockey, the credit really belongs to Will and his team."
The event is the second leg of the 2013/2014 FEI Classics, a six-leg series made up of the world's four star event competitions and is the only four-star event in the southern hemisphere. At this annual event, riders vie for a spot at the World Equestrian Games held in France.
Over the three days, spectators were treated to precision dressage, a grueling cross-country equivalent of galloping four Melbourne Cups with jumps and accuracy in the final show jumping round.
The dressage phase set up the competition with a test of elegance in motion, challenging horse and rider to complete a series of choreographed movements with precision and flair.
The cross country was a thrilling display of determination, courage and trust between horses and riders soaring over imposing obstacles on a challenging course set among the trees, creeks and lakes at Adelaides’ striking east parklands.
On day three, Chris and Jamaimo ranked sixth moving into the final stage – showjumping and performing one of only two clear rounds of the day, victory was theirs.
It was Chris’s second win at Australia's only CCI4* three day event, capping off an amazing year in which he also won the Aachen three day event in Germany.
Following the cross-country, Olympic gold medalist Stuart Tinney and silver medalist Shane Rose were unable to produce the clear showjumping rounds needed to uphold their leading positions and defending champion Craig Barrett placed third when his mount Sandhills Brillaire knocked the final showjumping rail.
Olympic silver medallist Sonja Johnson placed second when, like Chris, she produced a clear round on her mount Belfast Mojito.
This year’s Australian International attracted record crowds with more than 20,000 attending over the three days. An annual event, it also featured a twilight polo match, VIP marquee, marketplace, food and wine court and master classes.
Australian International
Four Star
1. Chris Burton (TS Jamaimo) 49.70
2. Sonja Johnson (Belfast Mojito) 51.40
3. Craig Barrett (Sandhills Brillaire) 52.80
Two Star
1. Cassie Lowe (Koko Doro) 48.10
2. Stuart Tinney (Annapurna) 49.30
3. Crystal Conning (Mustang) 54.70
