Celebrating the top 10 finishers of Defender Burghley in pictures

“I hope he will go down as a legend of the sport,” announced Ros Canter about Lordships Graffalo after they became the runaway winners of Defender Burghley for the second year running.

The duo posted a flawless performance to make history as the first pair to win both British CCI5*s, Burghley and Badminton, twice.

Meanwhile, Austin O’Connor posted the highest placing for Ireland since 1966 when piloting the experienced Colorado Blue into second.

This was ahead of two horses for the world number one, Harry Meade, who finished third with Cavalier Crystal for the third consecutive year and fourth with Annaghmore Valoner.

He also steered a third horse, Et Hop du Matz, to a top 10 finish.

View images of the top 10 below.

1, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo

This historic victory comes just a few weeks after their withdrawal from European team selection, when Ros announced that she is expecting her second child.

“It’s a big deal announcing a pregnancy when in the back of your mind you might be coming to an event like this,” she confessed.

“It was a necessity for me because everyone was going to know that I wasn’t selected [for the Europeans].

“I can’t believe that I haven’t had a single person that said, ‘what are you doing?’ I’ve had nothing but huge support.”

Ros called ‘Walter’ her horse of a lifetime and “an inspiration to many”.

“I hope he’ll go down as a legend of our time and a legend of the sport in total,” added Ros.

2, Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue

Austin O’Connor said riders have one iconic horse and Colorado Blue is his.

“Horses like him don’t come into our lives very often. No matter who you are, there’s always one iconic horse and he’s certainly my one,” said the 51-year-old Irishman.

“The way he finished and jumped, it’s so exciting. He’s 16, but I think he thinks he’s six.

“Statistically, I’d say himself [Colorado Blue] and Lordships Graffalo are in a league of their own at this level.”

Colorado Blue is a veteran of two Olympic Games, won the 2023 Maryland CCI5*, and finished third at Badminton this spring, matching his podium placing there two years earlier.

Austin added that the grey, nicknamed ‘Salty’, entered the main arena to showjump today feeling exceptionally well.

“He’s never gone in the ring that fresh and full of himself, which is extraordinary,” he said.

“He was just pulling my arms out, which, if that’s the reason I had a rail [down], it’s a great complaint.”

3, Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal

Harry Meade equalled his third here last year aboard Cavalier Crystal for the third consecutive year and fourth with Annaghmore Valoner. Harry bettered last year’s result by ending with three in the top ten.

“I’m really pleased with all the horses,” said Harry with a smile.

“Cavalier Crystal’s showjumping round was about as good as it ever gets. I felt the same last year and the year before.

“They’re not machines, and that’s why it’s so important to believe in them. We’re all fallible, and it’s about delivering that proper performance.

“They’ve been three superstars, thanks to my whole team.”

4, Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner

5, Alice Casburn and Topspin

Alice Casburn came to Burghley seeking her fourth consecutive top 10 finish aboard her family’s homebred Topspin, and achieved just that.

They had one showjump down to finish fifth, equalling their final place here in 2022.

“To be on a jumper like him is such an unreal feeling. If anything goes wrong, it’s certainly not on his part,” said the 23-year-old rider.

“This is the place I always dreamed of riding as a kid. Burghley’s my local. We came here every year and he [Topspin] seems to light up in this atmosphere and is so settled in the stable, which he normally isn’t.

“We both just love it here and it’s always really exciting to be back.”

6, Tim Price and Vitali

Tim Price and Vitali occupied third place after cross-country and finished sixth after rolling two showjumps.

“I’m glad I wasn’t in the lead, then having a couple of rails down and losing it like that. He jumped really well for him and I think ultimately we’ll get there,” said Tim, who attributed the falling poles to a long stride.

“He actually jumped well. His stride was longer than I expected down to the treble and he doesn’t need an opportunity to have a rail, but I got a little close to the start of the treble and then the same at the plank.

7, Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza

France’s Gaspard Maksud piloted Zaragoza into seventh.

This duo were contesting their second Burghley, having finished sixth and best of the first timers in 2024.

“Last year just gave us the experience and the belief that we could do it and be competitive, but it was the blind leading the blind,” said Gaspard.

“Now we’ve come back [and] we needed to prove we can do that again.”

8, Caroline Powell and High Time

New Zealand’s Caroline Powell and High Time showjumped clear en route to finishing eighth.

“He’s a relatively new horse, he hasn’t come up through the grades with me so we’re still getting to know each other but now we’re finding all the buttons to make him work,” said Caroline.

“I’m really quite happy with him. He’s been absolutely foot perfect. He is a horse that is going to get better and better; he’s exciting for us.”

9, Harry Meade and Et Hop du Matz

10, Laura Collett and Bling

Laura Collett signed off from her first Burghley appearance in 14 years with 10th place aboard Bling.

“With a horse like her, I can’t wait to come back again,” said Laura.

“After what she did yesterday, to come out and jump as well as she did today and just cope with the atmosphere, I’m delighted with her.”

Images by Tim Wilkinson, unless stated

Final scoreboard

Great Britain’s Ros Canter on Lordships Graffalo, 23.6
Ireland’s Austin O’Connor on Colorado Blue, 32.6
Great Britain’s Harry Meade on Cavalier Crystal, 33.3
Great Britain’s Harry Meade on Annaghmore Valoner, 37
Great Britain’s Alice Casburn on Topspin, 39.8
New Zealand’s Tim Price on Vitali, 39.9
France’s Gaspard Maksud on Zaragoza, 41.4
New Zealand’s Caroline Powell on High Time, 42.7
Great Britain’s Harry Meade on Et Hop du Matz, 43.5
Great Britain’s Laura Collett on Bling, 44.2

View the final standings in full