Nicholson three-peat creates Burghley history 8 Sep 2014
Duncan Johnstone
New Zealand equestrian star Andrew Nicholson held his nerve over the showjumping phase to claim a historic third consecutive Burghley Horse Trials over the weekend.
Jock Paget completed a Kiwi quinella when he finished second.
Nicholson had two fences in hand after dominating the crosscountry on his grey mount Avebury on Sunday where he lifted from fourth to first overall and they became the first rider and horse combination to claim the famous event three times in a row.
They had their moments in the showjumping arena, brushing a few fences, but the poles stayed in place and they incurred just two time penalties which didn't do any damage to their overall standing.
"He [Avebury] has been in the right place at the right time. He's always been a winner and horses that are consistently winning have a chance to do what he's done. This means an awful lot," Nicholson, 53, told media after his victory.
"It is an amazing feeling. But it is such a team effort. When you have a horse that wins something like this three years in a row, it's not just me. I have got the luxury to be able to ride him.
"It's three phases (dressage, cross-country and showjumping), and I know he is good in all three. I have got to do my job, and he will do his.
"It's a special moment for me after what has been a very bad year.
"I threw away Badminton, where I shouldn't have fallen off my horse Nereo. I felt he had a real chance of winning there.
"And at the World Games the other day, I was ninth when I wanted to get a medal, so I put a lot of pressure on myself to win here to dig me out of the doldrums a bit."
The win did much to ease the pain of last week's World Games disappointment where Nicholson's personal slump on the final day mirrored the Kiwi effort where the New Zealand eventing team crashed to 15th.
Burghley was also a significant step for Paget after his all of his legal troubles in recent times.
He and Clifton Promise lifted from fourth to second in the showjumping after a perfect display.
"You draw your confidence from the horse you're sitting on and in the warm-up he was giving me a really good feeling," Paget said.
"Had he been booting the fences down outside you might have seen me with a different expression on my face."
In a clean sweep for the Antipodeans, Australia's Sam Griffiths and Happy Times finished third. Two rails down dropped them down from second and ruined any chance of taking the title and keeping them in the hunt for the grand slam after their Badmintoin success.
William Fox-Pitt was the best placed British rider, jumping clear with My Hero to take fourth.
New Zealand's Jonelle Price (The Deputy) was ninth. The other Kiwis, Neil Spratt (Upleadon), Megan Heath (St Daniel), Craig Nicolai (Just Ironic) and Tim Price (Ringwood Sky Boy) were all eliminated in the crosscountry.
- Stuff and Telegragh
Photo credits:Getty Images and PA
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