Phillips to return to Burgie but without Toytown
world champion to face strong field
Published:
Zara Phillips will return to where it all began for her in eventing when she competes in the Burgie international horse trials near Forres.
The world champion and former BBC sports personality of the year will compete in the CCI* event on High Kingdom and Tiger Lily IX, while Secret Legacy will take part in the CCI** competition.
In 2001, the Queen’s granddaughter made her eventing debut at Burgie on her chestnut gelding Toytown, at that time an eight-year old.
Following a faultless cross-country run the pair had one fence down in the showjumping ring to finish an encouraging 13th. Last year the same combination triumphed at the World Equestrian Games and they are also set to represent Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics.
Burgie organiser Polly Lochore is delighted Phillips is returning to the venue this week and is sure her presence will ensure a strong support for the event which runs from tomorrow until Sunday.
She said: “We were delighted when Zara decided to enter as it is great to see a rider of her calibre competing at Burgie. She is the world champion but she is far from being a certain winner as there is a strong field.”
Internationally-acclaimed course builder Hugh Lochore believes this year’s cross-country stage could prove crucial in determining the winners of each event.
He said: “We always bear in mind Burgie is renowned as being quite a hilly track, while other two-star events at this time of the year are on fairly flat land, so we usually cut 400 to 500m off the length of the track, as the hills are demanding enough. We can still produce some fairly big obstacles to go along with the terrain, so the course will be pretty demanding. The rain we had last week has done a lot of good as the ground had been on the firm side.”
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