September 4, 2022 
“I can’t quite believe it really, I’m just so relieved. She deserves [to win Burghley]. I just didn’t want to let her down.”
That was Piggy March (GBR) on Vanir Kamira after being named the 2022 winners of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI5*-L in England on Sunday.
On a score of 22.6 after dressage March and Vanir Kamira climbed from fourth place into the lead with a near perfect cross-country round on Saturday, adding only 0.4 in time. On Sunday, they were able to claim the title after what proved to be a difficult show jumping course.
With the spectators settled in their seats and HRH Princess Royal in hers, tension mounted as the order drew closer to the top five.
Historically, Burghley holds a one-in-five average clear show jumping rate (EquiRatings) and Sunday was no exception. Returning in fourth position, Tom Jackson (GBR) and his long-time partner, the 11-year-old Capels Hollow Drift rode into the ring on a score of 32.5, at their first Burghley no less, and posted brilliant round to deliver one of only a few double clears on the day.
“I came here with high expectations for myself and my horse but to actually be here and be second is amazing,” Jackson said of his Burghley debut. “I’m just really pleased that all the hard work and dedication had paid off. I was very happy with his dressage…and yesterday he dug so deep and it just showed what a class horse he is and the same again today.”
Just 0.3 penalties ahead of Jackson and six penalties behind her husband Tim, Jonelle Price (NZL) and the 19-year-old Classic Moet looked to close the gap in show jumping. However, the dynamic duo had two rails, ultimately slipping into fourth, while three rails pushed Tim and Vitali from second to third.
“I’ve got to take it as a really positive experience for Vitali. I think it has set him up for his future at this level and especially around Burghley, I couldn’t have been more pleased with that,” Tim said. “He’s a super horse but he’s not quite ready to win at this level and I’m really looking forward to bringing him on for the future.”
The Prices’ rails propelled Jackson into second place.
With two rails and 1.5 time penalties in hand, March and the 17-year-old, ISH Vanir Kamira entered the ring to a cheering crowd, but all fell silent once they toward HRH Princess Royal for the salute. Bogey fence two was not a challenge for the pair, but they faulted at the oxer into the double at fence four. With eight more jumps remaining, the crowd held their breath until the pair crossed the finish line to claim March and Vanir Kamira’s first Burghley title.
“I was so desperate for [Vanir Kamira] I think she deserves her name up there on the plaques at Winner’s Avenue. She is definitely a Burghley horse through and through,” March said. “This is her fourth Burghley with me. She’s been second twice, fifth and now won and she has a total of 4.8 time faults in the whole four runs,” March said of her mare.
At age 17, Vanir Kamira is the third mare and joint oldest horse to win Burghley (tied with Lenamore) and only the second mare ever to win both Burghley and Badminton (2019), according to EquiRatings.
