Back-to-back Burghley wins for Ros
Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo enjoy a historic win at this year’s Defender Burghley.
Following a superb clear show jumping round, Lincolnshire’s Ros Canter rewrote eventing history to win Defender Burghley 2025 with Archie and Michelle Saul’s 13-year-old Lordships Graffalo.
Known affectionately as “Walter”, the 13-year-old gelding is the first horse to win both Burghley and Badminton twice, and only the third horse to win back-to-back Burghleys.
“I really hope he will go down as a legend of our time and a legend of the sport, not only for the performances he gives, but his character as well. He is an unbelievable horse to have at home,” said Ros, who is pregnant with her second child.
“He absolutely thrives on these occasions. I could have dropped the reins and waved at the crowd for 15 minutes and he would just have thoroughly enjoyed himself. I don’t think there are many horses in the world that would do that.”
Runner-up, Austin O’Connor, achieving Ireland’s best Burghley result since Harry Freeman-Jackson won in 1963, also has a special horse in the Salty Syndicate’s Colorado Blue, and was quick to pay tribute to the winner.
“Being second to this lady [Ros] is as good as winning because this combination, as history will show, is the best there is,” said Austin.
World number one Harry Meade was third with a clear round on Charlotte and Peter Opperman’s 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Cavalier Crystal for the third consecutive year at Burghley.
All the action from Defender Burghley 2025 is available to watch via playback on Burghley TV.
For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk
Photographs: DBHT/Peter Nixon
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Lincolnshire Life Magazine Newsletter 12/25 - mailchi.mp/lincolnshirelife.co.uk/lincolnshire-life-magazine-newsletter-12-25