The 2026 Defender Burghley Horse Trials will be remembered for a remarkable first – Gemma Stevens finally conquered one of eventing’s biggest prizes with the horse she always believed had a major victory in him.

After 25 years of trying, Gemma and the 16-year-old Chilli Knight, who was bred by his owners Chris and Lisa Stone, produced an incredible performance across the week to complete on his dressage score of 29.6, securing a commanding 13.4-penalty victory in the process.

For Gemma, 41, the result was the culmination of years of belief, disappointment and persistence. For the riders behind her, Burghley once again demonstrated just how quickly fortunes can change at five-star level.

Here are the final top 10 in pictures…

1. Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight

There was barely a dry eye in the house as Gemma completed her clear showjumping round and finally secured the title that had eluded her for so long.

Chilli Knight had already won the one-off five-star at Bicton in 2021. But Burghley was different – it was the “big B” Gemma had spent a quarter of a century chasing.

“I’ve been working for 25 years to try and win a big B, and finally I’ve managed to do it,” she said. “I honestly cannot believe it. I’m chuffed beyond expectations.”

Her showjumping round was particularly significant. Gemma retired Chilli Knight across country at Badminton this spring and in 2025, they picked up 20 penalties in the showjumping there in 2024. But Gemma followed the advice of the British eventing performance manager Dickie Waygood to treat the final phase as though she were jumping at her local Hickstead, and produced the round of her life.

“Honestly to jump a clear round is just so damn cool,” she said afterwards. “I’m so proud of that little horse and proud of myself for holding it together. I had no idea I had three fences in hand going in.”

The victory also provided the perfect sporting response to the disappointment of Aachen. After her World Championships elimination across country with Flash Cooley, Gemma had spoken openly about the emotional toll, but at Burghley, Chilli Knight delivered the answer.

“I feel like I’ve been doing this a long time. I can’t tell you how amazing this feels – to win a big B is a dream come true, it really is.”

2. Katie Magee and Treworra

Katie Magee produced one of the week’s great climbing acts, turning 19th after dressage into second at the finish aboard the brilliant 12-year-old, owned by Angela Hislop.

Treworra was faultless across country, picking up just 2.4 time penalties, and the pair went into the final phase with every chance of a career-defining result. One rail at the World Horse Welfare upright cost them the win, but second place represented Katie’s first five-star podium.

“He was brilliant,” she said. “He was actually quite fresh and a bit lit up in the crowd, so he was a wee bit tight at times, but he tried his absolute heart out.

“He will have a very well deserved holiday now. He’s had an amazing week.”

3. Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake

The USA’s Caroline Pamukcu arrived at Burghley carrying the emotional baggage of her World Championships fall with HSH Blake, but she left with a podium finish in third and also a certain amount of redemption.

This combination had been fifth overnight, but one fence down in the final phase did not prevent them moving into third.

“He’s an amazing jumper, isn’t he?” Caroline said. “He was just unreal all-around, he was jumping out of skin.”

She accepted responsibility for the rail at the first fence, adding: “It was my fault.”

4. Tom Jackson and Hawk Eye

Britain’s Tom Jackson and Hawk Eye were ninth after cross-country, but a clear showjumping round lifted the British pair into fourth.

It was a fitting result for a horse whose potential Tom had identified for some time.

“To finish with a double clear here and with a top 10 result is brilliant,” he said.

Tom’s week was a reminder that Burghley is rarely a smooth journey from start to finish. The rider joked about the “squidgy boots” and the rollercoaster of competition, following a fall in the Trout Hatchery with his other ride, United 36 across country yesterday.

“That’s our sport, isn’t it? You can have a good day, have an amazing round, and then end up rather soggy.”

5. Nadja Minder and Toblerone

For much of Burghley, the 26-year-old Swiss rider Nadja Minder and the remarkable 19-year-old Toblerone were the headline story.

They led after dressage with a score of 29.5, becoming the first Swiss combination to top the competition after the first phase.

Their cross-country round cost them ground picking up 13.2 time-faults, but the veteran gelding showed his extraordinary resilience to finish fifth with 4.4 penalties added in the showjumping.

Nadja said she went into the final phase relatively relaxed.

“I knew like whatever happens today won’t take away what he has achieved and done.”

A final fence down still could not disguise what the pair had accomplished. Their week was testament to experience, partnership and the extraordinary durability of a horse who, at 19, was the oldest competitor in the field.

“It is not his strongest phase, and one down is, well we need to be really happy with that.”

Nadja also refused to automatically rule out another five-star appearance.

“Although 20 is a big number, I don’t want to say it was his last one,” she said, emphasising that such a decision should be based on how the horse is feeling, rather than just his age.

6. Yasmin Ingham and Goliath du Loir

Yas Ingham’s Burghley debut could hardly have gone better. Riding the 10-year-old Goliath du Loir, she jumped clear across-country, picking up 14 time-faults, and then produced a clear showjumping round to rise to sixth.

“It honestly just feels so surreal to come here,” she said. “My first Burghley, this horse’s first five star.

“Burghley’s renowned to be the toughest cross-country test out of all the five stars, and to bring a young horse here, you’ve got to feel quite confident in your partnership.”

7. Will Coleman and Very Dignified

The USA’s Will Coleman’s seventh place was another significant result for their country, with the 11-year-old Very Dignified proving herself on her first trip across the Atlantic.

The mare, owned by Jerome Broussard, Gloria Callen and Elizabeth Lendrum, had shown enough during the week to convince her rider that she belonged at this level.

“I was excited before I came here, but I’m very excited now,” Will said. “She’s given me a great spin all weekend and she’s risen to the occasion.”

For a first European five-star, there were inevitable unknowns. Will admitted that travelling across the pond brought plenty of variables, but his mare answered them convincingly.

“I think she’s a really good one,” he said.

8. Benjamin Massie and Filao de Perle

France‘s Benjamin Massie produced another top-level result for France with Filao de Perle, finishing eighth. This combination came to Burghley with a reputation as a fast and increasingly accomplished five-star partnership, having finished ninth at Badminton earlier this year.

Benjamin’s Burghley performance was particularly notable given that this was his first visit to the event since 2013. Filao’s cross-country speed and jumping ability made them a genuine threat, and eighth confirmed their place among the sport’s leading combinations.

9. Jonelle Price and Chilli’s Midnight Star

New Zealand’s Jonelle Price rounded out the leading international contingent in ninth with Chilli’s Midnight Star.

Jonelle was delighted with the 12-year-old gelding’s showjumping performance, saying: “I’m delighted to jump a good round today. He’s been pretty consistent on the last day for the last sort of 12 months.

“He just is a true Badminton and Burghley horse.”

10. Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal

Harry Meade completed the top 10 with Cavalier Crystal, rising impressively from 31st after dressage to finish inside the top 10.

The pair had just six time penalties across country, and Harry and this 16-year-old mare then picked up four faults in the final phase.

“She’s a lovely jumper and she jumped beautifully today,” he said. “I haven’t quite had the result I was hoping for this week, but there are no guarantees around this course.”

Images by Tim Wilkinson

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